1980 CJ5 Starting Issues

[jeepman1204]

Hello all,
I've had my 80 CJ5 for about eight years now and love it. Unfortunately, I moved away from home for university and so it has been sitting up for about two years now. My dad tried cranking it up a few months ago to find that the ignition key switch ceased to function. So last weekend, we pulled the steering wheel, blah blah blah, and installed a new key switch. Now that it is properly in, we insert the key and... no start. Installed a new battery the same day of the new key switch. When I turn the key to "on" position, radio comes on, blinkers work, about 12.5 volts read on the dash. When I turn to "start" position , voltage drops as if it were trying to start, but no reaction from the starter whatsoever. I checked the linkage from the key switch to the ignition switch behind the dash and it is working properly. I am thinking it is either the ignition switch or starter that is bad? New wiring harness about five years ago, so I hope it's not a wiring issue, however we have not eliminated this possibility. Next time I get the chance to go and diagnose, I plan to test the starter by putting a screwdriver across it. Any suggestions/comments would be much appreciated!

 

[Lumpy Grits]

:ww:

Try a known good battery. Volts don't mean much. You need amps.
Have the starter tested.

LG

 

[mriplaybass]

You can do the screwdriver thing across the solenoid to see if the problem is with your starter, but I would try a few simple, and safer things first. To begin with, make sure that your battery is fully charged. Then make sure you have the same amount of voltage on the hot side of the solenoid as you do at the battery. If that checks out, have someone turn the key to start while you have a volt meter hooked up to the battery. If the voltage drops significantly but the starter doesn't engage and turn, you probably have a bad starter. Next, disconnect the ignition switched wire from the solenoid and check it for voltage while turning the key. This won't tell you if the wires are good, only that the current is moving through the ignition switch. The wires could still be frayed, but the switch is probably good. Now would be the time to try the screwdriver across the solenoid. If the starter engages now, it is either the connection at the ignition switch or the wires from the switch to the solenoid.

 

[jeepman1204]

Thanks for the contributions! Next time I am in town I will check the mentioned suggestions for diagnosis. Will let you know