Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: dubbleJs on September 19, 2007, 08:37:33 PM

Title: XJ barely starting...
Post by: dubbleJs on September 19, 2007, 08:37:33 PM
Over the past while my 91 XJ has been starting a little weaker and now it barely starts. I tested my battery and it came out fine, Im now leaning towards maybe a bad starter.

Anyone have any other ideas or had a similar problem?
Title: XJ barely starting...
Post by: RckyMtnTJ on September 19, 2007, 10:38:48 PM
Sounds like my TJ.  It was doing the same thing.  It finally went on July long so I replaced it with a rebuilt that I had with me.  It worked great for a few days.  Now it has gotten deathly slow.  I am assuming either a bad electrical connection at the starter or a bad rebuild.  Definitely interested in what you find.
Title: XJ barely starting...
Post by: dubbleJs on September 19, 2007, 11:20:39 PM
thanks for the info. Im hoping to figure it out asap, might just head to the junkyard this weekend and get a cheap used starter and hope it works alright...need the Xj back on the road soon its my DD right now!  :(
Title: XJ barely starting...
Post by: Dragonmaster on September 20, 2007, 02:37:33 PM
Might be bad battery/starter wiring.  If the wire has corroded inside the casing it can cause similar symptoms leading to weak current or an intermittent connection due to too high of a resistance in the wires.

Did you actually have the battery load tested?  I have a feeling the battery might be toast also.
Title: XJ barely starting...
Post by: dubbleJs on September 20, 2007, 11:23:11 PM
Yea I just took it to Crappy tire and had them test it, they said it came out fine. It started doing this with one battery then I got another one off a buddy who charged it up for me and it does the same thing...
Title: XJ barely starting...
Post by: rws on September 21, 2007, 08:16:07 AM
Check the resistance in your battery cables and clean the ground connections on your engine block by taking them right off and polishing them with a wire brush. Some people run a second ground cable from the battery neg. post straight to the frame.  Could also be your starter relay but unlikely.
Title: XJ barely starting...
Post by: dubbleJs on September 24, 2007, 10:39:00 PM
Thanks for all the suggestions, looks like rws won this one.. everything just needed a brush and a clean up!
I disconnected the starter wires and battery ground to motor and cleaned them all with a wire brush. Brushed the terminals in the dizzy cap a bit, cleaned some dust and crap out of the starter relay sockets...and after a couple clicks from my almost dead battery..it fired right up! Seems to be all good so far.  8)