JT4x4

The Mud Pit => Wrenching => Topic started by: footman on February 18, 2009, 01:01:42 AM

Title: Wont start, please help!
Post by: footman on February 18, 2009, 01:01:42 AM
So heres the history
Drove into work last week, everything was fine.  Jeep wouldnt start for the ride home had to get jumped.
Tried to charge battery, still wouldnt start.
Bought a new battery today, still wont start.  I can jump start it off another vehicle and it runs.
I called Azone where I bought my battery to see if my old one was still there to see if they could tell me if it was good and they said it was.  (my stupid move for not having them check first but all arrows pointed to dead battery) 
So now I have a new battery that I didnt need and my Jeep still wont start(no lights or interior lights) and I can jump it!
Any ideas?
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: Swagger on February 18, 2009, 01:12:01 AM
check ground cables. If you have a multimeter, put it on the ohms setting and check from battery to engine block or to frame.  Are you jumping it off with your battery installed? gimme a call 713- 213- 8472.
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: PaulW on February 18, 2009, 01:27:33 AM
bad connections.  put new battery terminals on it.
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: Axle on February 18, 2009, 01:47:44 AM
Alternator?  Ground strap?  Fuse?  Captorm needs to chime in here, he had the same problem with Cheekbones' jeep, I believe. 
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: zjorvis97 on February 18, 2009, 02:03:21 AM
I had the same issue, it was my battery wires. I would also check the distributor and spark plug wires.
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: Cheek-Bone on February 18, 2009, 03:26:40 AM
it was the battery with mine.
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: PaulW on February 18, 2009, 03:44:35 AM
i had 3 xjs do the same thing.  battery terminals every time.  change em and you should be  ok.
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: footman on February 18, 2009, 04:19:51 AM
If it is the battery terminals, are those somthing I should get from Jeep or can I get them at A zone or NAPA
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: Axle on February 18, 2009, 05:20:19 AM
Hope this helps...


Advance Auto:  http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductList.aspx?CategoryCode=3019 (http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductList.aspx?CategoryCode=3019)

Napa:  http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=481&Keyword=battery%20terminal (http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=481&Keyword=battery%20terminal)

Autozone:  http://www.autozone.com/R,5241471/store,5105/initialAction,accessoryProductDetail/shopping/accessoryProductDetail.htm (http://www.autozone.com/R,5241471/store,5105/initialAction,accessoryProductDetail/shopping/accessoryProductDetail.htm)
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: CaptORM on February 18, 2009, 01:09:43 PM
Alright here I am.  Ive had several different problems in this area.

Here are some questions.

Once you start it does it have lights/stereo etc...?
What happens when you turn the key? (noises, clicks)
Does it happen everytime you turn it off?
Do you have a battery gauge on your dash board?
   If so what does it read running?
   And while off what does it read with the key in the ACC position?
Have you cleaned your battery connections yet?

Let me know and Ill get back to ya.  Ive had issues with this stuff about 6-7 different ways over the past years in both my jeep and my Ram. 
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: rocket on February 18, 2009, 01:30:05 PM
Most likely is dirty/coroded terminals: take them off (ground first) and clean them (you can get a battery terminal wire brush @ any parts store).  Replace them (pos first).  If that's not it, it will take some troubleshooting.  Your symptoms as described point to this or loose terminal(s)
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: footman on February 18, 2009, 02:04:02 PM
Alright here I am.  Ive had several different problems in this area.

Here are some questions.

Once you start it does it have lights/stereo etc...?  Yes lights and stereo
What happens when you turn the key? (noises, clicks)  Nothing, no clicking or lights
Does it happen everytime you turn it off?  Yes
Do you have a battery gauge on your dash board?   Yes   If so what does it read running?  I didnt look when it was running
   And while off what does it read with the key in the ACC position?  I didnt look
Have you cleaned your battery connections yet?  Not yet, I'm going check the ohlms reading as pre Swagger before then clean them w/baking soda and a wire brush tomorrow and see what happens.
Let me know and Ill get back to ya.  Ive had issues with this stuff about 6-7 different ways over the past years in both my jeep and my Ram. 

Thanks everyone for your knowledge and guidance
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: Seabee_BUC on February 18, 2009, 02:06:42 PM
Definately sounds like a bad ground. I had a Blazer with the same problem after installing a Body Lift. It turned out to be a braided ground wire that ran from the back of the block to the firewall. It was stretched from installing the body lift and pulled off the firewall. Once that was fixed, it was perfect again.
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: footman on February 18, 2009, 04:07:44 PM
Oooh good call on that.  I will deffinetly check that out too.
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: footman on February 19, 2009, 02:25:16 AM
Boy do I miss my garage!!!  I was out in the dark cold rain cleaning the cable ends.  The positive bubbled way more than the positive.  I greased them up, reinstalled and .................................................................VAROOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!    Its alive, its alive!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks again guys for the info.
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: Gastank on February 19, 2009, 02:39:19 AM
While you have the multimeter out.... Jump the jeep off and remove the jumper cables. you should see between 13.3 and 14.4 volts DC at the battery. I have had a diode in the internal regulator go bad, the battery allowed me to drive to work but the alt wouldn't charge the battery. There is also a fusable link somewhere in that system Just can't remember where. Could just be the cabling or the ground but there's a couple more things to check for you.
Good luck!
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: mallcrawl on February 19, 2009, 04:40:50 AM
if you already have the replacement type terminals that the wire is clamped onto the terminal bt a couple bolts take them apart and clean the ends of the wires as well as the terminals.
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: CaptORM on February 25, 2009, 12:39:22 PM
Ok now for future protection check this:

There is a cable that runs from your battery to your fuse box.  Where that cable mounts to the fuse box loosen the bolt and run a wire brush around the connection.  Then tighten the bolt back down.  Ive had a bad connection on that mount several time. 
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: rocket on February 26, 2009, 04:55:11 AM
Ok, now that you have read all the various suggestions, have you fixed it yet?  What was the prob?
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: footman on February 26, 2009, 05:34:06 AM
Boy do I miss my garage!!!  I was out in the dark cold rain cleaning the cable ends.  The positive bubbled way more than the positive.  I greased them up, reinstalled and .................................................................VAROOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!    Its alive, its alive!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks again guys for the info.

Ummm didnt you read it???????
Title: Re: Wont start, please help!
Post by: rocket on February 27, 2009, 12:23:27 AM
missed it, sorry.  I always click the last page and unless it looks like i missed something by the first post on the page, i usually dont' go back.  I interpeted gastanks's post to be another suggestion to find the problem. oops!