Jeep Cherokee Need some QUICK input

Hello. My 1994 Jeep Cherokee has been having an intermittent neutral starter switch problem for a few years now..Every few weeks it would not start (Nothing would happen actually except dash lights would come on. If I put it in reverse the backup lights wouldn`t come on at that point.)..If I put the Jeep in neutral it would start right up and go back to operating normally for weeks or months til it happened again. It got to happen more and more and finally today it wouldn`t start even in neutral. I HAVE to get the Jeep moving tomorrow morning as it is sitting on National Park property and the rangers were kind enough to let me leave it there overnight just this once. I tried taking the neutral starter switch off before we left so I'd have it with me when I went to get a new one but it seemed as if it wouldn`t pull off of the lettle stud it is mounted to. It almost seemed as if the stud was pulling out with it....The bottom line is I have to get that thing back home tomorrow...Should I be able to simply run a jumper wire between the battery positive post and the smaller terminal on the solenoid and have it start with the key in the on/run position?..I should have tried it up at the park but it was already dark and cold and I was flustered about them getting ready to lock up and it slipped my mind...Thanks for any quick input...PS: I am cross posting this as I need an answer by early tomorrow so I hope someone on some board will read this tonight and have some quick advice

Reply to
Programbo
Loading thread data ...

You should be able to carefully jump the terminal and field wire on the starter to get it to crank. Make sure you don't ground out the tool on the chassis. With the ignition in the on position, it should start as the nuetral safety switch just stops it from cranking. I would not use a wire. I usually use a long screwdriver or a pair of old plyers. Just be careful you don't ground the tool out. Good luck!

-Doc

Reply to
Doc

That`s more than enough help..My main concern was getting it started and off the National Park property today since none of the local stores have the switch in stock and must order it..Thanks

Reply to
Programbo

For what its worth, the Neutral Safety Switch used in the AW-4 transmission (used in the Cherokee, Wrangler, and Grand Cherokee when equipped with the 4.0 six) is a fairly common topic of a discussion on the Jeep forums. Every time I see one of those threads it makes me glad I've got a 5-speed ;-)

Get it home by "hot wiring" the starter as discussed, then go after the NSS. You can search the forums on Jeepforum.com (or one of the others) for threads on actual replacement.

Reply to
Steve

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.