First, thanks to all who have answered my previous questions on this
Newsgroup. I never had a Jeep before so my ignorance is only slowly
clearing.

I inherited a 2000 Wrangler and have pretty much gotten used to its quirks.
In fact, I've bonded with the thing and now don't really want to drive much
anything else. Admittedly it's primitive...not in a bad sense, but more in
the sense that the morphology of a shark is primitive.

Anyhow...it has the 4.0L with an automatic. Every now and then when I put
the key in the ignition it won't start; the shifter is also frozen in Park.

I'm guessing that this has something to do with the shift lock ignition
feature. When this happens I'm able to get it started in about 3 tries.
Any thoughts on this?

michael-linux ru#224791

 

There is a switch that detects the shift lever in the P position, try
turning the key and moving the shifter at the same time to see if there is a
sweet spot. If you find one, then you then have to decide if the switch is
going bad or is simply maladjusted.

When the key is set to the ON position, you shold be able to move the
shifter out of P and into N, then it should start.

I think the trouble is in the selector detect switch, not the ignition
switch.



"mpresley72" <mpresley72remove@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:cXVOa.47894$bK5.1374845@twister.tampabay.rr.c om...
> First, thanks to all who have answered my previous questions on this
> Newsgroup. I never had a Jeep before so my ignorance is only slowly
> clearing.
>
> I inherited a 2000 Wrangler and have pretty much gotten used to its
quirks.
> In fact, I've bonded with the thing and now don't really want to drive
much
> anything else. Admittedly it's primitive...not in a bad sense, but more
in
> the sense that the morphology of a shark is primitive.
>
> Anyhow...it has the 4.0L with an automatic. Every now and then when I put
> the key in the ignition it won't start; the shifter is also frozen in
Park.
>
> I'm guessing that this has something to do with the shift lock ignition
> feature. When this happens I'm able to get it started in about 3 tries.
> Any thoughts on this?
>
> michael-linux ru#224791

 

I have been having a similar issue for a while with my '98 TJ and recently
discovered that it shifter-position related. Sometimes I will put the key in
and it won't start. Like Jeff stated if I put the shifter into nuetral it
will fire up right way. Shift back into park and nothing (no action from the
starter). Shift into nuetral and it starts.

When it happens test this and see if it is able to be duplicated. I have
successfully done this 3 times now so I am 100 percent confident that I have
found the problem.

Good luck -

Dave


"mpresley72" <mpresley72remove@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:cXVOa.47894$bK5.1374845@twister.tampabay.rr.c om...
> First, thanks to all who have answered my previous questions on this
> Newsgroup. I never had a Jeep before so my ignorance is only slowly
> clearing.
>
> I inherited a 2000 Wrangler and have pretty much gotten used to its
quirks.
> In fact, I've bonded with the thing and now don't really want to drive
much
> anything else. Admittedly it's primitive...not in a bad sense, but more
in
> the sense that the morphology of a shark is primitive.
>
> Anyhow...it has the 4.0L with an automatic. Every now and then when I put
> the key in the ignition it won't start; the shifter is also frozen in
Park.
>
> I'm guessing that this has something to do with the shift lock ignition
> feature. When this happens I'm able to get it started in about 3 tries.
> Any thoughts on this?
>
> michael-linux ru#224791