Author Topic: Problems starting Jeep.....solved (Read 3105 times)

Jafar · « **on:** July 02, 2007, 09:21:29 PM »

Hey,
Jump in my jeep to go to the store and it was dead all of a sudden. Brought my 2.5 year old battery to Part Source, young guy put it on the tester said the charge was down but battery was still good. So I trickle charged it over night, cleaned the battery connections and try it again and nothing. So I followed each battery cable and they didn't seemed to be damaged, made sure my belt was tight, cleaned connection on alternator and started, tried again, nothing. So I figured the battery was done and the young guy at Part Source read the machine wrong so I went and bought a red top Optima. Put it in and it started, I took one of the connections of the battery and it still ran so the alternator was working, and the gage was reading normal. Went to DQ, came back and parked, shut it off, and tried starting it again and nothing, dead.....

Anyone got any other suggestions as to what I should try next. Something’s draining the battery when im driving? shorting?

Thanks
TC

FiEND · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2007, 11:09:49 PM »

i'd disconnect the positive cable(s), stick a meter between the battery and the + cable and see how much current there is going through. then start pulling fuses and relays to see if you can get it down.

can get a 12v bulb like a brake bulb, solder on a couple wires and use it between battery and cable to see when the light goes out (or dim) while pulling fuses or relays.

good luck, not my favorite job

Rookie · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2007, 11:42:08 PM »

sounds like a starter

do the lights and radio work when it won't turn over ?

when it won't start try hitting th starter with a hammer or pull the starter and get it tested @ parts source or crapy tire

Jafar · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2007, 08:16:37 AM »

Quote from: "FiEND"

i'd disconnect the positive cable(s), stick a meter between the battery and the + cable and see how much current there is going through. then start pulling fuses and relays to see if you can get it down.

can get a 12v bulb like a brake bulb, solder on a couple wires and use it between battery and cable to see when the light goes out (or dim) while pulling fuses or relays.

good luck, not my favorite job

cool, ill give it a shot, i completely forgot about checking all the fuses and relays.
Ya i love electrical problems, makes me wanna trade for a scooter.

Jafar · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2007, 08:20:21 AM »

Quote from: "Rookie"

sounds like a starter

do the lights and radio work when it won't turn over ?

when it won't start try hitting th starter with a hammer or pull the starter and get it tested @ parts source or crapy tire

My starters less than 6 months old, and ya the first couple tries all lights and radio are on after 3 tries nothing.

I also tried smackin it a bit

rws · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2007, 09:29:51 AM »

What type of motor?

Jafar · « **Reply #6 on:** July 03, 2007, 10:32:58 AM »

Quote from: "rws"

What type of motor?

Jeep's a 97 with the 4.0L

rws · « **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2007, 11:05:25 AM »

Occasional loss of all electrical power is can be related to a ground connection. Check and clean your engine block connections and any block-to-frame connections or grounding straps. You can even try running a ground strap from your neg. battery post to frame to see if your problem disappers. These are simple things to try first.

Jafar · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2007, 08:24:27 AM »

Thanks for everyones input

Ended up being a faulty 4 month old starter, the silenoid was activating that rod only half the time and when it did it wouldn't turn the little gear.
Got another on warranty at Part Source.

TC