My 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 l won't start. When I turn the ignition, no clicks, starter won't turn over but the display panel lights illuminate randomly...some of the idiot lights just go on and off randomly....starter doesn't engage. The headlights and interior light come on strong so there seems to be electrical power....I charged the battery anyway. When I jumped the car's battery, I could get the car to start and it seemed to run ok including the display screen but I had to keep my foot on the gas (1000 rpm) to keep the engine running until it heated up, then it ran ok. Before I take it to the dealer and get soaked for a bunch of ECM and sensor replacements ($!!!) what do you think is wrong? I've replaced ECM's and sensors in this car before.

I would tap on starter sound like the Bendix is stuck in not letting the starter turn over

Reset the timing and check starter ot see if working. Verify fuel pump is actually pumping fuel.

Change the starter solenoid,the contacts may be burnt

Remove it & open it up to see

change the wires that go to the starter i had the same problem fixed now with no problems

Hope this helps:- Factory Disarm Purple/Yellow (-) Driver's Kick Panel Black Connector at ECM -slice into this wire, & wire it to ground, this disables the alarm.
Cavity/Fuse Diagram (1996 Grand Cherokee, passenger side kick plate to find, Owner's Manual pgs 205-206): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Row 1: 1-6 (left to right) Row 2: 7-12 Row 3: 13-18 Row 4: 19-22
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Fuse Panel (Passenger Side kick panel) Reply

CAVITY FUSE DESCRIPTION 1 -10 amp (RED) Radio 2 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Cigarette Lighter 3 -10 amp (RED) Rear Washer Switch, Body Controller 4 -10 amp (RED) Airbag 5 -10 amp (RED) Lamp Out Module, Overdrive Switch, OBD II 6 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Vehicle Information Center/Graphic Display Module Park & Side Lamps, Overhead Console Lighted Visor, Automatic Dimming Mirror 7 -20 amp (Yellow) Body Amp, Cluster, Body Controller 8 -20 amp (Yellow) Rear Wiper Motor, Flipper Glass Solenoid, Cargo Lamp, Trailer Tow 9 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Brake Switch 10- 10 amp (RED) Rear Window Defroster 11 -10 amp (RED) ABS Module 12 -10 amp (RED) Heater-Ventilation-A/C Control & Recirculation Motor 13 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Hazard Switch, Turn Signal Switch 14 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Spare 15 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Spare 16 -10 amp (RED) Right & Left Courtesy Lamp, Glove Box Lamp, Halo Lamp Cargo Lamp, Underhood Lamp, Dome/Read Lamp Right & Left Visor, Automatic Dimming Mirror 17 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Radio Illumination, Tail Lamp, Graphic Display Module, Park & Side Lamps, Headlamp Switch, Body Controller 18 -20 amp (Yellow) Spare 19 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Passing Light 20 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Radio, Heater-Ventilation-A/C, Vehicle Information Center 21 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Power Outlet 22 -10 amp (Blue) Airbag Module -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Alarm, Remote Starter, Keyless Entry Wiring Information Constant 12V+ Pink/Black Ignition Switch Harness Starter Yellow Ignition Switch Harness Ignition Dark Blue/Gray Ignition Switch Harness Ignition 2 Red/Black Ignition Switch Harness (for AC) Accessory Black/Orange Ignition Switch Harness Tach Gray/White Coil Brake Switch White/Tan Brake Switch Trunk Pin n/a Works with Dome Light Parking Lights Blue/Red (+) Left of Steering Column or Light Switch Head Lamp Tan/Black Light Switch Factory Disarm Purple/Yellow (-) Driver's Kick Panel Black Connector at ECM -slice into this wire, & wire it to ground, this disables the alarm. Door Trigger Yellow (-) Driver's Kick Panel see notes Door Lock 5/Wire in Driver's Inside Driver's Door Orange/Purple Lock Pink/Black Unlock Door Unlock and Passenger's Doors Inside Passenger's Door Black/White L Pink/Black Unlock Horn Wire Gray/Orange (-) Steering Column Windows Up LF=Light Blue, RF=Brown/White, LR=Blue/White, RR=Gray/Black Doors Windows Down LF=White, RF=Purple/White, LR=Red/Black, RR=Green/White
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Hope this helps:
Cavity/Fuse Diagram (1996 Grand Cherokee, passenger side kick plate to find, Owner's Manual pgs 205-206): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Row 1: 1-6 (left to right) Row 2: 7-12 Row 3: 13-18 Row 4: 19-22
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Fuse Panel (Passenger Side kick panel) Reply

CAVITY FUSE DESCRIPTION 1 -10 amp (RED) Radio 2 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Cigarette Lighter 3 -10 amp (RED) Rear Washer Switch, Body Controller 4 -10 amp (RED) Airbag 5 -10 amp (RED) Lamp Out Module, Overdrive Switch, OBD II 6 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Vehicle Information Center/Graphic Display Module Park & Side Lamps, Overhead Console Lighted Visor, Automatic Dimming Mirror 7 -20 amp (Yellow) Body Amp, Cluster, Body Controller 8 -20 amp (Yellow) Rear Wiper Motor, Flipper Glass Solenoid, Cargo Lamp, Trailer Tow 9 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Brake Switch 10- 10 amp (RED) Rear Window Defroster 11 -10 amp (RED) ABS Module 12 -10 amp (RED) Heater-Ventilation-A/C Control & Recirculation Motor 13 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Hazard Switch, Turn Signal Switch 14 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Spare 15 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Spare 16 -10 amp (RED) Right & Left Courtesy Lamp, Glove Box Lamp, Halo Lamp Cargo Lamp, Underhood Lamp, Dome/Read Lamp Right & Left Visor, Automatic Dimming Mirror 17 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Radio Illumination, Tail Lamp, Graphic Display Module, Park & Side Lamps, Headlamp Switch, Body Controller 18 -20 amp (Yellow) Spare 19 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Passing Light 20 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Radio, Heater-Ventilation-A/C, Vehicle Information Center 21 -15 amp (Lt Blue) Power Outlet 22 -10 amp (Blue) Airbag Module -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Alarm, Remote Starter, Keyless Entry Wiring Information Constant 12V+ Pink/Black Ignition Switch Harness Starter Yellow Ignition Switch Harness Ignition Dark Blue/Gray Ignition Switch Harness Ignition 2 Red/Black Ignition Switch Harness (for AC) Accessory Black/Orange Ignition Switch Harness Tach Gray/White Coil Brake Switch White/Tan Brake Switch Trunk Pin n/a Works with Dome Light Parking Lights Blue/Red (+) Left of Steering Column or Light Switch Head Lamp Tan/Black Light Switch Factory Disarm Purple/Yellow (-) Driver's Kick Panel Black Connector at ECM Door Trigger Yellow (-) Driver's Kick Panel see notes Door Lock 5/Wire in Driver's Inside Driver's Door Orange/Purple Lock Pink/Black Unlock Door Unlock and Passenger's Doors Inside Passenger's Door Black/White L Pink/Black Unlock Horn Wire Gray/Orange (-) Steering Column Windows Up LF=Light Blue, RF=Brown/White, LR=Blue/White, RR=Gray/Black Doors Windows Down LF=White, RF=Purple/White, LR=Red/Black, RR=Green/White
• Cruise Control Information • Stereo Information • View all Jeep Vehicles

if so just turn the key to run position ( not start) then one click back. Do this a total of 3 times ending in the run ( or on; not start) position. The odometer will display the code(s) or in an older model the check engine light will flash out the code. Have your pen and paper ready to jot down the results.

Try gently tapping the starter motor with a hammer or bar. There may be a bad contact in the sollenoid or the starter motor brushes worn to their limit. Tapping may give you a tempory fix if the problem lies in the starter motor.

check for ignition voltage at the purple wire in the starter when you open ignition to the crank position , with a test light,, if the light light on them you need to change the starter..

Do you have an alarm on this? If you do, that is most likely the problem. There seems to be a problem with the alarms. You may want to have a new key made just in case. Sometimes the keys are magnetically charged and after time, it wears off.