Only starts in neutral?

Ongoing issue with my '96 XJ, 4.0, AW4, NP231, Sport, 4dr, 4x4, 150,000 miles. Sometimes it starts in Park, but often times I need to shift it to neutral and start it from there. Frequently it starts in neither. I'll leave the key in the ignition, and alternate shifting from Park to Neutral, with it eventually starting. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why. I'll go a few weeks with no starting issues and then a week or two doing the shift game. I've replaced the battery, crank shaft sensor, starter, scrubbed the battery terminal connectors,inspected the battery harness...still no solution. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds like you need to clean the Neutral Safety Switch. It's a common problem on XJs and it's a pretty easy fix.

Here are two excellent links to "refurbishing" the neutral safety switch. Between the two articles, you should have no problem doing this......well worth a try before replacing as this switch is not that cheap.

http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoNSSrebuild.htm

http://bc4x4.com/tech/2010/jeep-neutral-safety-switch-nss/

Good way to verify it's the NSS is the lack of reverse lights..

This is the link i followed, worked like a charm. Be gentle and dont force anything.

http://jeepin.com/features/nss

kdailey4315 said:

Sounds like you need to clean the Neutral Safety Switch. It's a common problem on XJs and it's a pretty easy fix.

Click to expand...

X2 Grab some gum cutter or carb cleaner and a tube of die-electric grease and rebuild it.