Very likely the plastic pin that the key turns that then in turn turns on the ignition switch that in turn tells the ECU to tell the starter to crank.

See test/jumping procedure at viewtopic.php?f=5&t=61233&p=678574&hilit=+brother#p678574 and switch install video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5m31g0- ... plpp_video

Hey Dudes!

Ok I came out of the store today with my son hopped in my jeep, turned the key, all lights were normal but no starter. I haven't had any issues with the jeep in a while its been running like a top. Well I checked a bunch of stuff while in the store parking lot but nothing. Finally my son asked me if I could just hotwire it which gave me an idea. I turned the ignition on, pulled the starter relay and jumped the contacts with a paperclip. The starter cranked and the old Italian oil crusher burst to life. I hoped in and drove us home without incident.

Once home I turned it off and tried to restart. The same thing, all seemed normal but no starter crank. I swapped the starter relay for the one next to it to figure out if it was that, it wasn't. I put a multi-meter on the relay coil contacts and there was no voltage with the key turned to start. I check the other fuses in the box and they were good.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Please keep in mind that because I was able to start it by jumping the relay I don't think it is one of the transmission interlocks (park brake). But...homestly I don't know, which is why I'm here.

I suspect the ignition switch itself does anyone know how to verify?
Are their wiring diagrams available?
I'm being led to believe there is a switch in the transmission that may also crap out to cause this.

While your reading this I will be actively searching, diagnosing.

Thanks I look forward solving this.

As you stated in your next post....the actuator that turns ignition switch is broken. There are so many cases of this happening on all of the KJ forums that we need to open a Sticky on this problem.

The main thing is to follow the different leads on where to buy the actuator assembly...the Dealers do not stock it and insist that you have to buy the complete steering wheel assembly

Your fix with fitting a switch in the Starter Relay Socket will work fine....otherwise you can remove the ignition switch off of the actuator assembly and turn the switch with a small flat screwdriver....you need to remove this switch in any case to see if the actuator tip has indeed broken off and this will prove if the ignition switch itself is working.

By jumpering pins 30 and 87 in the Starter Relay socket you have completely by-passed the interlocks such as transmission in Park, transfer case in Neutral etc. so there is still a possibility that there is a problem there....turning the ignition key with a flat screwdriver will clear up that issue.

The ECU basically has little to do with the starter solenoid getting power...the Starter Relay Interlocks basically interrupt the negative side of the Starter Relay Energizing coil....you can download the relevant year KJ Service Manual here...includes the circuit diagrams: http://www.colorado4wheel.co/manuals/Jeep/KJ