Car Tech forum: 1995 Jeep cherokee won't start

I have a 1997 jeep grand cherokee that our son ditched in a ditch of water on the drivers side. We changed all fluids, new battery. The dash lights do not work and the battery runs down unless you unhook it. It does not want to idle, you have to keep foot on the gas and brake, but it fires right up . All the lighting, headlights and turn and signals are broken out but the drivers headlight which works. We are replacing them today. I am guessing the main computer is okay because it does fire up when you hook the battery up and with the anti theftlock I was told it would'nt if the main computer was on the fritz. My question is, what do I need to make those dashlights work and to make it quit draining the battery and idle better? Please help. No jeep dealer close here. Also if it is a wiring harness or dash module of some sort, will replacing that set off the anti theft lock and shut it all down? Is there a way to disable this stupid system? thanks tina/94tomtom

can you please tell me what is the way of doing to be able to read Flashing code on my grand cherokee 1995.I think the instrument is in under the glove compartment but past that i don't know what to do.

Hey thanks for the info!! i was finally able to retreive the code information it was 12 seems like the guy i bought it for might of unpluged the battery i don't know if it's possible that he was trying to erase the old code by doing that .in result I still dont know what's wrong w/ the box beside my shifter; it always indicate me that all my doors are opened by flashing some light in the diagram of that same box. Witch isn't the case.can you please help me on that? Thanks in advance.

REPLACE THE CRANK SENSOR,IVE DONE MANY OF THEM IN THE OLDER JEEPS.ITS MOUNTED IN THE BELL HOUSING ON THE LEFT SIDE

We inherited a 1995 Jeep Cheroke Ltd. Ed. from a family member. Everything has been great so far, the vechicle has been checked over, all is good. The other night I drove home and parked, nothing strange. The next day... dead, completely, won't turn over. When my husband tried to give me a boost, all the lights flash, headlights, dash, interior, clock resets to Jan 01 and a light on the dash that says security comes on... the Jeep turns over but does not seem to "catch." I was told to try to unlock the doors with the remote lock system but that has never worked since I got the vehicle... I don't want to call a tow truck... there is no Jeep dealership in town... is there something we are missing here? Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

This forum was very helpful to me. And we were able to get my jeep running again. THANK YOU!!!

I have a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited with the 4.0 engine. I have only had it since March and it came with no manuals or documentation.

Last Monday, it wouldnt start after driving it all over the place the previous 3 days. He replace the usual suspects.. coil, distributer and rotar, then the plugs and wires and it didnt help.

I got onto Google and typed in My Jeep Wont Start! and I got this thread.
I read it... did some of the stuff with the alarm to see if that was the problem... My husband was convinced it was. It wasnt..

So he was reading in the Haynes book about the Cam shaft Sensor and then I was reading about the Crank Shaft sensor... He bought both of them.. put them both on and it started!

I was so excited... But with out the help of this thread.. we would not have replaced the Crank Shaft sensor because there was no mention of it in the book he was reading.

Thank you!

Try the crank sensor, had this problem at begining of year. It is difficult to find. On top of bellhousing, L/H side of engine.

I think you are on the right track with the pick-up module, but go 1 step further and blow out the distributor base plate, rotor and cap with air and wipe out with clean rag. the residual dust that occurs naturally from sparks and heat can keep a perfectly good module from working. I have had this happen twice in last several years on my 95 in-line 6 cyl. First time I replaced and cleaned, last 2 times I just cleaned good. Worth a try! Ken

AUTO SHUT DOWN SENSOR....MY LOCAL STORES WERE SHUT, SO I SWITCHED IT WITH THE A/C SENSOR....IT STARTED RIGHT UP.....THIS IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD BY THE FUSES....

check if yo have voltage going to your ecm should have 12v. on terminals from switch. then if curretn is then go to ignition module. you should have battery voltage.if not replace ecm. if voltage available replace module, but check wiring and terminals as well. grounds, etc. remember you should start by the basics, and don't jump to conclusions. this is the quickiest way to spend on unnecessary parts.

Before you go anyfurtherr, did you checked for spark at the spark plugs, then is there voltage from the ecm? is there fuel going to the injectors? go back to the basics. forget about the codes until you're sure you have spark, fuel and air going to the cylinders, you still have an engine despite having fuel injection, an EGR will cause it to stall and run rich, on very extreme cases, won't start, the eccm on Chrisler products, aren't exactly the best. and, if you dont have current coing to the distributor 8 out of 10 the ecm is the culprit.I was a driveability tech specialized on GM products. but I diagnosed Ford and Chryslers as well and based on experience check your leads going to the distributor for voltage, check the distributor, that will give you a better picture of what's going on with yyour Jeep.

just happened to me this week. i have a 2000 jeep cherokee. the gauges werent moving, would turn over but not start. it was the crank shaft position sensor. about $250 to fix, only a couple hrs. hope this helps!

My jeep will just shut off in the middle of driving . The guage don't register and the key with a cross through it lights up on my panel. I take the key out and put it back in a number of times and when the guages register my jeep will start. I was wondering if it's my anti theft shutting my jeep down. Any suggestions?