Starter

I do not know your particular vehicle well, so some of this may not apply to you.

Bear with me, I drive "Real Jeeps" and think they should all be built that way---Example CJ 5 started out in 1955 and ended in 1983 that's 28 years of production (it did change a bit over the years)----Going by the Forum numbers there are 91 Questions concerning itThe Cherokee has not got near as many years and has 9255 Questions concerning it.

(I rest my case!)

Does your starter drag or labor or turn slow to crank over your vehicle?

Does it not mesh in well and sounds like it's grinding when it 1st engages?

Anyway, I have a couple of possible solutions for you, the last one may not apply!

DO YOU HAVE A REPAIR MANUAL?---I HAVE MANY FOR MINE--AND ONE STAYS IN EACH VEHICLE FOR EMERGENCIES!

1) Is your Battery sized to your vehicle correctly?

2) Replace Old Frazzled Cables--and Crappy connectors, clean connections---ALL from the Battery--on the Solenoid--wire to the Starter--connection on the Starter----and the GROUND WIRE on the ENGINE---TAKE THEM LOOSE--"DO NOT JUST SAY THEY LOOK GOOD!!!" (a little labor now may keep you off of the side of the road.

3) Do you have BAD KEY HABITS?.... Continuing to "Start" after its cranked up and running....Or "Cranking" while it is already running?

4)Your FLYWHEEL TEETH may be badly damaged from previous starters---Now ruining the newer ones you put on----Pull the Starter and look at the flywheel teeth...you MUST!!! BE CAREFUL--CHOCK THE WHEELS AND INSURE THE BATTERY and COIL are disconnected---Vehicle in NEUTRAL and use a BIG SCREWDRIVER or similar to roll it around and inspect it thoroughly (Put a mark at the starting point)

And last, If your STARTER CAN BE "SHIMMED" get a set of shims from the AUTO PARTS STORE and install WHAT IS NEEDED ONLY!

Looks like Autozone has a universal type (below)

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Miscellaneous-Repair-Parts/Starter-Shim-Universal-Type/_/N-25l8?filterByKeyWord=starter+shims&fromString=search

Ask THEM---WILL THIS WORK ON YOUR RIG--DESCRIBE YOUR SYMPTOMS--ASK HOW TO CORRECTLY INSTALL THEM AND WHICH THICKNESSES TO START WITH--YOU CAN "OVER-DO" This!

OK NEXT STEP-INSURE YOU COME BACK HERE AND LET ME KNOW YOUR FINDINGS--I DO NOT GET PAID FOR EACH ANSWER AS THE OTHER FELLERS DO--THIS IS MY HOBBY AND ALL I GET IS A SMILING OR SAD FACE FROM MY "VICTIM"

LETS KEEP IT A SMILE!

YOUR TURN

THE MEDIC

With the NEW INFO

It sounds like the SOLENOID "Could" be a problem

But it really sounds like maybe your IGNITION SWITCH BEING "BAD" THIS WAS MY FINDINGS AT A POPULAR PARTS STORE:

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-Ignition-Switch/1999-Jeep-Cherokee-4WD/_/N-jdmfiZ9n859?counter=0&filterByKeyWord=IGNITION+SWITCH&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=223213_0_0_

IT REALLY LOOKS......CHEAP!.....THIS MAY BE THE PROBLEM--IT MAY BE SENDING A SIGNAL TO THE SOLENOID TO "START", WHEN IT SHOULD NOT!

ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS YOUR "S" WIRE TO THE SOLENOID IS SHORTING WITH A "HOT" 12 VOLT WIRE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE SOLENOID.....THUS ENGAGING THE SOLENOID, AND THEN THE STARTER STARTS TURNING!

REMEMBER, IMMA CJ KINDA GUY, I DO NOT KNOW SPECIFICS OF YOUR RIG.....I COULD BE DEAD WRONG!

YOU MIGHT ALSO INVESTIGATE VEHICLE RECALLS ON THE NET---THIS MAY BE ONE!

IF I WERE ON "LET'S MKE A DEAL" I WOULD CHOOSE DOOR #2---A BAD IGNITION SWITCH!!!!

GET YOURSELF A REPAIR MANUAL, AND REPLACE THE SWITCH, SURELY THAT HUNK OF PLASTIC, COULDN'T BE ALL THAT HARD TO INSTALL!!!

LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES!

THE MEDIC