Summit County XJ
New member
I have had an issue with my starter on my 99 XJ for some time now. The starter engages, turns great and fires the engine. Once the engine fires and I bring the key back to the ‘on’ position the starter stays engaged. I pull the relay and the starter would disengage and the jeep would stay running. I put the relay back in and the starter stays disengaged. I replaced the starter and this issue went away for a couple hundred miles. The starter is a lifetime warranty product. The issue came back. I replaced the starter and the electronic portion of the ignition switch. Once again the issue is resolved for a few months. Recently the issue came back... the starter would not disengage. While the engine is running and the starter is still engaged I put the transmission in neutral and the starter disengaged... so I went to the neutral safety switch and replaced it. That too did not solve the issue.
I am convinced it is in the solenoid of the starter... every time I have replaced the starter, the issue is resolved for a time. I do have a very minor oil leak from the o ring of the oil filter which is located near the starter... I think this might be causing the issue but I don’t know. I have cleaned all of the ground points from the battery and the battery is an optima so there is charge.
Where do I go from here. I suppose I could fix the leak but it is very minor and not bad enough to get in there and go after it. It drips once every other week or so... there is some but minimal oil on the starter...
Help
I am convinced it is in the solenoid of the starter... every time I have replaced the starter, the issue is resolved for a time. I do have a very minor oil leak from the o ring of the oil filter which is located near the starter... I think this might be causing the issue but I don’t know. I have cleaned all of the ground points from the battery and the battery is an optima so there is charge.
Where do I go from here. I suppose I could fix the leak but it is very minor and not bad enough to get in there and go after it. It drips once every other week or so... there is some but minimal oil on the starter...
Help