I replaced the battery 3 month ago with a Die Hard Platinum with 880 CCA.

I've completely ruled the battery out since it's so new. ---until now

I'm going to test it tmr.

 

Battery checked out fine....

The random crank has gotten worse with the engine starting only half the time, and sometimes taking up to 30 min to crank!

This may be actually good

I also now have a "throttle control light" in the dash:



What I do know is that this problem IS NOT:

-The starter/ solenoid
-Starter Relay
-Battery
-ACC/ Run Relay
-A ground / amp drop to the starter

What's left: (that I can think of)

-New Power Control Module/ reprogram
-Mechanical binding in tranny/ engine
-Tranny shifter sensor (behind valve body in tranny)
-Ignition control issue in the steering column


The dealer can take it from here. I'm spent.

If I'm missing something easy to check please let me know!

I'll post the dealer's findings

 

I just got back from a long road trip and the next morning (yesterday) in the driveway the Jeep was dead. Nothing. I ended up pulling the battery and getting a Optima yellowtop. Yesterday it ran fine but I still don't trust it to start yet.

 

If your having to put in nuteral and rock it ; most likly its going to be the park sensor not ingaging fully.

 

When I first had this problem I put it in neutral to start it, but now the shifter position / rocking has no effect.

I'd be happy to pay the dough to fix this rediculous problem!

Of all things I want my jeep to do -- it's START when I turn the key

 

count me in my JK is doing the same thing . going to dealer in the AM lets see what dog and pony show they put on . Im sure there are going to blame me lol

 

Have you found out the probelm?

 

My dealer spent two days troubleshooting and could not narrow it to one specific component. They want me to drive it another week or so and verify the shifter has an effect on the no-crank issue. I plan to tally & compare the number of times I initially start in neutral with crank; and the number of times it initially cranks in park. Second crank attempts won't be counted since it may start with/ without shifting & I wouldn't know the difference.

If the numbers are close: new TIPM ($400)

If I definately get more initial cranks in neutral: new shift sensor ($50 plus 4 hrs labor)

 

Sometimes, when my Jeep "starts" the first time, it will "dry" crank for about 3-5 seconds before hesitantly starting. I always have it in 1st gear when starting (manual). This no crank hasn't happened to me since I got stranded. I'd think this option above would be a last resort. I still think it has something to do with the sentry key and it's recognition under the column. But, as usual, the dealer wants me to pay to investigate.

 

You are correct. The dealer told me a new crank sensor would fix this and eliminate the possibility of it not starting at all. This was last year when I had about 32k miles on the jeep. Now they want me to pay for something that has never really been fixed. I can live with the hesitation. What options do you have on the jeep?

Mine is a plain jane X package (S) with no power options. No alarm. Wondering if we could find a common trait amongst our problems. Also my dash lit up just as yours did.