KJ turn the key and nothing???

[heartfulaluv]

I was having issues with my driver's side headlight not working on low beam, and my brake lights weren't working, so l went through and cleaned up all my grounds, and since the KJ had very few grounds, I thought it'd be a good idea to add another, to the PDC. I had read that it was a good idea, but failed to get specifics on how. Beings that the PDC chassis is completely plastic, there was no metal to attach it to. I made the choice to slide the ground cable (running from the firewall) in-between the plates where the cables connect to the PDC. I didn't do my homework, and just saw a red and a green cable, so it, for the moment, seemed logical...umm, NOT! When I went to reconnect the battery, the negative cable sparked once it touched the terminal, so I quickly voided that move. I removed the new ground from PDC, disconnected the positive cable and connected it to the negative, and went to bed. This afternoon, I reconnected the cables to the battery, then checked all the fuses, in both the interior and under the hood, and found none were blown. I checked the fuses for power, and found power. I went on to replace my brake switch, resolving that issue, and went to move my Jeep, so I could work on my rear window not triggering the latch, and when I turned the key, it didn't start, it did nothing. Ur sounded like the fuel pump kicked in, had dash gauges and lights, door windows and locks worked, fob triggered gate window to open, and locked the doors. I connected the OBDii scanner, and got a P0113 code, cause my air filter and snorkel weren't back on, but no other codes. I've checked the battery, it's fine, just nothing happens when I turn the key, to initiate it to start...
Any thoughts, ideas?
Plz hold any snide comments about my dumb move .. I'm fully aware that I made a mistake... I just need to rectify whatever happened as a result. Im a 68 yr old women, living alone, in a town I kno no one, and have no one but myself to rely on, so any positive direction will be greatly appreciated

 

[mangoSeed]

I had a similar thing happen to me about three years ago. I didn't mess with any of the electronics, just stopped at a vendor to grab breakfast before work and the KJ would not start. Fuel pump yes, other functions yes, but no starter.]

Turned out to be the ignition switch actuator pin. It broke and was not engaging the ignition starter switch. Cheap metal there.

Had to start the KJ with a screwdriver to the ignition starter switch until I got a replacement in. I believe I had to have the key in as well for it to work ...

It's a direction, not sure if its the right one for your case. Some more experienced folks may point you right.

 

[Weazerdogg]

Probably fried something in the PDC. You might need another one, not sure if you could just take one out at a junk yard and drop it in or not. But if you can find the starter relay circuit, or something similar, you can try tracing it and see if something is melted or burnt through.

But something to try quick, if you haven't already, mine has that thing where the transmission sensor is getting wonky, I gently wiggle my shifting lever and give it a shove forward before trying to turn the key. It started that thing where you turn the key and get nothing, scared the crap out of me at first until I remembered I had a Grand Cherokee years ago that I had to do that to. Once you do that, starts every time.

 

[heartfulaluv]

No... I actually just figured it out. After doing some more research, I ran across something that made me trace my footsteps, and found I had not completely reconnected the main engine bay wiring harness connector. That mistake may have inadvertently saved my electrical system from some serious damage, that could have occurred as a result of my impatience, before connecting the new ground directly to the PDC!
I plugged it in completely, and my Jeep fired right up.
I'm still working in trying to figure out why my driver's side headlight isn't working, or my brake light. I replaced the switch on my brakes, but that didn't fix anything.
I switched the low beam and high beam relays, that didn't change anything. There's no power going to the headlight or brake light fuses in the BCM ..
Like I said, what I had just finished doing, before the ',no crank, no start ' that
prompted this thread, was cleaning and redoing all the grounds. I don't know if it's all KJs, but there is very few ground in the engine bay. To make matters worse in my case, the idiot I bought this Jeep from, painted it, and when doing so, painted every frikken ground! I previously spent days sanding every one down, and adding some as well.
In any case, it runs, now I gotta go back and figure how to get my lights working...
Thanks all of you for your input.. will keep that information stored for future reference..

 

[seafish]

That mistake may have inadvertently saved my electrical system from some serious damage, that could have occurred as a result of my impatience, before connecting the new ground directly to the PDC!

Good job…or lucky duck!!!
You get to decide

 

[heartfulaluv]

Rite??? Lol pheww