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97 TJ won't start

1K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  Acidhouse 
#1 ·
So I posted last week but I accidentally did it in Gen Discussion. The problem started a little over a week ago. I came out of a store to the Jeep and when I went to start it, I got nothing, no clicks, lights on the dash but nothing else. With the help of a forum member and some research, I figured that it was the ignition actuator pin. I pulled the ignition cylinder out and used a flathead to start it. That worked for a day. After that, it was back to the same symptom. I have an extra '97 that I have been using for parts. Today, I swapped the actuator and the switch. Still the same issue. I also swapped the starter relay switch. At this point, I'm stumped. Is it the safety clutch feature? The starter?
 
#3 ·
Once you rule out starter and typical ignition items, keep the neutral safety switch in mind. (I have an auto.)

When my jeep wouldn't start (same symptoms as you), I spent an hour doing tests, then decided to just put in neutral, then a gear, back to park, and it started.

It does this about once a month, and when it does I just jiggle the shifter in and out of park and it'll start. One day, the switch may altogether fail at which point I may disable it...
 
#5 ·
Well I can rule out the battery now. I want to try and chase down the clutch safety switch. I removed the plastic holder to the cylinder and now I can't get it back on. I don't know if it is engaging. I would like to simply bypass it right now to make sure that it isn't the switch. I have read online that you can bypass it on a '97 by unplugging it and plugging it into a bypass. However, there are a couple of possibilities and I don't want to unplug the wrong thing. Anyone have any pics? It seems as though on later TJs you can do all of this via a fuse. I'm not so lucky with the '97.
 
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