1983 cj5

[stelander13]

Hello All

I'm new to this site. was hoping i could get some help with my 1983 CJ5 . i think i may have an electrical problem. new starter, new solendoid, new carb, new plugs, new switch. started just fine at the beginning of the summer. now it won't even turn over or make any clicking noise. any ideas?

 

[rr41mag]

I'd say the battery was dead, take it in and get it checked

 

[stelander13]

not the battery. I have a charger and it seems to be fully charged. Plus the battery is only 2 years old. I'm thinking wiring... all though it was working fine one day and then just didn't start the next...

 

[Tommy]

You really should have the battery checked. I had a drain on mine, only 6 months old, and it drained it past the point of being able to take a charge. The cause was a connection that was draining the battery just sitting there. Similar to a dome light not shutting off. Using a different, good, battery will tell you right off if the battery is the problem. Jump starting a dead battery doesn't usually work. If it's the battery, then you need to track down the bad connection. Usually a bad selenoid will make some sound and a dead short at the starter usually sends up a little smoke.

Tommy

 

[rr41mag]

The battery is dead

 

[gliryan]

For what its worth, I had a similar issue in my 76 BMW 2002. Turned out the starter signal wire was grounding itself out somewhere. So I just ran a new wire.

 

[stelander13]

i'm gonna have to check to starter wiring. put a new battery in this weekend and it still won't start. i didn't think that was the problem but i thought i would try it anyway considering it would have been the easiest fix.
gliryan... if you could walk me through where to find that wire it would be helpful.

 

[gliryan]

i'm gonna have to check to starter wiring. put a new battery in this weekend and it still won't start. i didn't think that was the problem but i thought i would try it anyway considering it would have been the easiest fix.
gliryan... if you could walk me through where to find that wire it would be helpful.

Well, I'm not going to be of much specific help. But start at your starter. I don't know where it is on your cj and I don't know how they are wired up on these either. It'll need a ground (usually grounded through the motor not a wire), it'll need a main power source, and it'll need a smaller "signal" wire. The signal wire will be your culprit if this is the problem.

If in fact it is grounding out you can check it a few different ways.

1. grab and multi meter and ohm out the resistance between that signal wire and a ground (the block should work, but really any bare metal). If it goes down to any single digit number or smaller its grounding out for sure. There should in a perfect world be no fluctuation in resistance as it shouldn't have any contact.

2. If step one doesn't work you can check it this way. Try to start the vehicle, and hold the key in the start position, so the starter would theoretically engage. If you have a buddy touch that signal wire, or if you can figure out which it is off the ignition, touch it. It shouldn't really get warm at all and if it is HOT then release the key immediately and run a new wire because that's your issue.

3. Make sure everything has power. Make sure power is going to the starter, make sure the starter is grounded to the frame (.4 ohm when checking for resistance), and make sure the motor is grounded to the frame. Good continuity will be a very small ohm number, around .4 or less.

Ninja edit: that signal wire will receive 12 volts with the key in the start position. Also another check.
Edit #2: hit starter with hammer, try to start afterwards. Also just plain make sure the batter has good connections. Make sure it is grounded well to the body and motor if it has both wires.
Good luck

 

[snakes78cj5]

battter-rryy