# 2014 Jeep Cherokee Not Starrting Sometimes **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 12, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104 "2025-02-12T22:30:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/1 "2025-02-12T22:30:01Z")
Hello All. Most all the time we turn the key and nothing happens. It does start eventually…sometimes after 4-5 turns of the key. I don’t hear any sounds at all. Any idea what this could be or what I can check? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/2 "2025-02-12T22:32:44Z")
Try shifting the transmission into neutral and then see if it starts. If it does, it points to a problem with the park/neutral safety switch. Tester ---
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/3 "2025-02-12T23:05:19Z")
I greatly appreciate your help. I will try. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/4 "2025-02-12T23:35:39Z")
How old is battery? Have you ever cleaned battery terminals? Multiple attempts to turn key I’d say starter. ---
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/5 "2025-02-12T23:47:24Z")
About 4 years. Good battery too. ---
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/6 "2025-02-13T12:14:42Z")
It does not shift into neutral before starting. Only stays in park. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/7 "2025-02-13T13:06:36Z")
I’ve had to replace my batteries after about 4 years in all my cars built this century except the ones with the battery in the trunk. If you haven’t had the battery tested lately, it might be worthwhile to do so. Chain auto parts stores will test it for free. The Advance store near me has told me a couple of times that the battery was OK, so don’t expect that they are out to sell you a battery when it isn’t needed. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/8 "2025-02-13T14:37:07Z")
With the ignition switch on, step on the brake pedal and put it in neutral. Tester ---
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/9 "2025-02-15T13:37:55Z")
I can’t get it into neutral at all once I did but that’s it the shifter just won’t move no matter where I turn the key without turning it on ---
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/10 "2025-02-15T13:38:28Z")
Thank you for that ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/11 "2025-02-15T15:44:09Z")
Clean up your battery terminals really well, and check the cables for signs of corrosion. You also said “good battery too” - do you mean by brand/reputation? Or you mean it was tested? ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/12 "2025-02-15T17:13:39Z")
> [@mstrlucky74](#): > > I can’t get it into neutral at all once I did but that’s it the shifter just won’t move no matter where I turn the key without turning it on Are you following Testers instructions fully?? Are you depressing the brake pedal after turning the key forward a bit before moving the shifter handle?? > [@Tester](#): > > With the ignition switch on, step on the brake pedal and put it in neutral. When this happens (doesn’t come out of park), do the brake lights work??? +1 for cleaning the terminal ends and also check your grounds really good and not just your battery terminal one… Check for corrosion in and around the fuse box(s) and any loose wires… When you have the no start, is everything else working?? You might be in over your head and need to take this to a repair shop for a pro to diagnose the issue… ---
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/13 "2025-02-15T18:13:23Z")
Thank you very much for the advice so it’s only thing I noticed when I have no start is none of the dashboard lights work and then when I see them come on when I turn the key I know it’s going to start and it does ---
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/14 "2025-02-15T18:13:52Z")
I just know it was a good brand and expensive when I bought it but I’m going to definitely get it tested thank you ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/15 "2025-02-16T01:24:19Z")
It seems 2014-2015 Cherokees have braided battery ground cables which corrode pretty thoroughly and cause all sorts of problems. I found this link that shows you about changing the braided strap. there are a few ground straps but one is the most important one to check out and change. pictures included. I would check all the ground straps and also look at the positive cables too. even going to the starter. On the first post click on the SEE MORE to open up the pictures and more info. [Ground Strap Replacement (Step by Step) | 2014+ Jeep Cherokee Forums](https://www.jeepcherokeeclub.com/threads/ground-strap-replacement-step-by-step.250148/) ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/16 "2025-02-16T18:11:55Z")
there is a START relay that causes that problem on some models ---
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/17 "2025-02-17T02:04:02Z")
Cleaned terminals today. Still not starting on first, second third etc. try. No lights come on dashboard when turning key before it’s gets to the turnover position. When I eventually see the lights come on I know it’s going to start. It’s been taking about 5-8 turns of the key before I see lights come on then turn it further and it starts. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/18 "2025-02-17T17:54:42Z")
This has the classic symptoms of a bad ground, as I mentioned before, have you checked your grounds, as well as weekend-warrior’s post about a known ground?? There is way more to the electrical system than just the battery pos/neg terminals… You need a battery to engine ground, a battery to chassis ground, a chassis to engine ground strap not to mention all the harness grounds and so forth… ---
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/19 "2025-02-17T17:54:51Z")
Start relay? How do I determine of that’s it? Where is it? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![mstrlucky74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@mstrlucky74](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mstrlucky74)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104/20 "2025-02-17T17:55:36Z")
When no start…nothing works [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2014-jeep-cherokee-not-starrting-sometimes/199104.md?page=2)