jeep is pissing me off!!

[565matt]

Here is a puzzling electrical problem ive been dealing with for almost 6 months now. My 2000XJ randomly wont start. It only happens randomly maybe about once a month, maybe longer between times.

Ill use the power locks to unlock the jeep but then when I put in the key all of a sudden I will loose all power. no gauges, no MIL, no pinging with the key in. And Ill turn the key repetedly and nothing will happen.
Then all of a sudden ill hear a clicking under the dash. If I try to turn the key everything goes dead again. If I just let it go it will keep clicking for a minute then all the gauges will peg full on then everything stops.
If i try to start it now the whole cycle starts again.

After fiddiling with it it will eventually start.

a ferw of the times after it starts and im on my way it will peg the volt meter so ill pull over and shut it down. then it wont start again and everything goes haywire again.

Then it will work fine for almost a month before it does it again.
Sometimes for a few days other times i can go for close to a month with no problems.


I have check grounds and replaced the ignition switch. I thought i was past this untill it happened again last night.

Any help???

[Goonies.nsd]

Me and Bob checked for any TSBs on it and looked at the wiring diagram on All Data. No real smoking guns there. It does have a starter relay, but that may not be it since your losing all power. Search goes on.

[egodfrey]

DUH....Its Casper!!

[stwilson74]

On TJ's there is a part called the clock spring that causes alot of mischief... no time right now to look it up but if they use it on Cherokees too that might be your gremlin.

[evilpersona]

my truck did that the other day. all i did was clean the battery terminal and re connect the positive and i havent had a problem since. did the check gages light go on?

[egodfrey]

On TJ's there is a part called the clock spring that causes alot of mischief..
Clockspring? WTF...My Jeep has a digital clock! LMAO


But seriously I believe XJ's fo have a clockspring

[565matt]

Every vehicle has a clockspring. That is what gives power to the steering wheel for the horn and cruise control

[565matt]

my truck did that the other day. all i did was clean the battery terminal and re connect the positive and i havent had a problem since. did the check gages light go on?

When this happens all gauges go dead. Lose power to everything then something clicks then all the gauges will peg full on then all goes dead again.

[565matt]

Battery terminals have been checked.

[565matt]

The problem is that it doesnt happen every day. So like when I replaced the ignition switch the jeep ran ok then about a month later the problem happened again. So when I replace a part I have no idea if it fixed anything.

[stwilson74]

Every vehicle has a clockspring. That is what gives power to the steering wheel for the horn and cruise control

Right, but what I meant was the one on TJ's is a POS that causes mayham and I am not sure if XJ's have the same one... I know the two models share some parts but I don't know if it extends to steering column parts. I know guys have had issues with all manner of electrical problems that ended up being the clockspring on the TJ Technical forum in JF.

[565matt]

On previous XJs i had a problem with a broken clockspring but it didnt cause any of the problems that im having now.

[Tat2dfreak]

Sounds like you may be loosing BUS for some reason, I have seen crank sensor take down the bus system but usually when they go bad it it will not work until its replaced. Neutral safety switch is another common problem but they usually don't take out the gauges, just won't start. It's possible there are multiple issues going on as well.

[BermB1026]

tough issue man. I am having electrical probs myself and there is nothing worse. Wish i had some advise for you other then what you have already done...Batt terminals in good shape? Sealed connection or clamp type?

[BermB1026]

hey tat2 whats BUS?

[Tat2dfreak]

BUS is the communication system in the jeep that allows the modules to talk to each other.

[theone33]

change battery wires and or the battery .... clean connections

[theone33]

check all fuses under the hood and kick panel pass side.. and clean....

[565matt]

More problems... but this time with different electrical quirks..This morning xj gave me trouble starting but when I turned the key and it wouldnt start instead all my dash lights turned on. Weird huh. I kept turning the key and everytime the dash lights (for the Gauges) would turn on, then on the time when it did start the gauges stayed dark like they should have. the headlight switch was off this whole time... WTF...

[Bandit1]

sound like Jeeps fabulous wiring job working the way it should. Well at least it sounds like bad grounding and/or crossed wires somewhere. But like you said, "weird, WTF?!?!?!?!"

[565matt]

I just know that one of these days Im not going to get it to start and be stranded somewhere less than desirable.

[Goonies.nsd]

I know im less than desirable. But i would love it to act up at the shop so we can figure that bugger out LOL.

[565matt]

Last night the keyless entry wouldnt work then once i got in it would start and then stall imeadiatly

[Goonies.nsd]

Last night the keyless entry wouldnt work then once i got in it would start and then stall imeadiatly

Im gonna suggest ripping that alarm out if its aftermarket. If it is, ive seen alot of aftermarket alarms screw with factory systems. I dont care how well they are installed. Aftermarket alarms are all junk. Ive seen them fry ECMs and cause all sorts of havoc. We used to remove ALL aftermarket alarms when i worked at the dealer.

[565matt]

its not an alarm tho.. just an aftermarket keyless entry..idk

[!jbikes1]

this is gonna sound weied but i had a similiar problem with my first tj (19997) and i replaced th instrument cluster it wouldnt stall but i have a feeling that theres a short in your instrument panel or ignition switch and its triggering your other problems have. you gotten your dash and steering wet recently? thats what started all my problems itll take a few minutes to pull the ignition and test it with a volt/ohm meter good luck sounds like a fraustrating problem i hope you figure it out . Merry christmas

[Goonies.nsd]

its not an alarm tho.. just an aftermarket keyless entry..idk

Keyless entry may run through other components. At this point i know your looking to try anything. An aftermarket keyless entry runs through all the same crap as a full alarm.

[565matt]

Im ready to try a stick of C4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[!jbikes1]

dont give up its just gonna be a process of elimination start on one end and start testing i know youll get it just dont get upset and look at it with a clear head