Author Topic: XJ barely starting... (Read 1555 times)

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?

RckyMtnTJ · « **Reply #1 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.

dubbleJs · « **Reply #2 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!

Dragonmaster · « **Reply #3 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.

dubbleJs · « **Reply #4 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...

rws · « **Reply #5 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.

dubbleJs · « **Reply #6 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.

Author Topic: XJ barely starting... (Read 1555 times)

Dragonmaster