Jeep won't start

[ttuseth]

My 82 CJ7 has been running great then ask the sudden now it won't start.
When I put the key in and turn it I get 1 click and nothing.
I tried jumping it and no difference. The lights radio and other auxiliary equipment seem to be fine so I don't think it's the battery.
my house is situated that I could try a rolling start but if it doesn't work u will be away from the house with a dead jeep.
Any thoughts tips or pointers?


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[Hedgehog]

Dead battery. Often a truly dead battery will drain the jumped battery to the point where there isn't enough juice to start.

 

[Posi]

Make sure all connections are clean and tight, starter solenoid, battery, and starter.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

How old is this 'dead' battery?
The dead battery is 'sucking' all the power from the second battery. That is common.
Disconnect the Jeep battery POS(+)termnial and try the jumper battery again.
IF the jumper battery is in another car-Have that car run'n on fast idle also.
LG

 

[ttuseth]

Well it's officially not the battery, took it out and went to the store and replace it.
They tested it and all the numbers were good (even higher than what it's rated).

Again. .. it's not clicking, there is just 1 click. Should I replace the starter or solenoid?
I'm going to check with a voltmeter to ensure everything is getting power but nothing changed from me driving it around for the last 7 months? ????


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[tarry99]

Check all of your battery cables and primary wire leading up to the starter solenoid.........cable's can look good but be corroded inside the connections. This holds true for the ground cable also.........take it off and clean it up.........

A quick cable check can be had by taking a pair of jumper cables and jump between the existing old connections...........positive Bat to your starter and also find a new ground path.........If it starts or turns over......then a cable may be your problem. Could also be starter or solenoid........but check your cables and connections first.

 

[ksouthw80]

starter relay

 

[ksouthw80]

try taking a screwdriver and jump the 2 small terminals together on the starter relay.. should turn over.

 

[Hedgehog]

I'm a KISS sort of guy, if it looks like a dead fish, and smells like a dead fish and the maggots crawling on it act like they are eating a dead fish I tend to suspect I'm looking at a dead fish.

So, you can save tearing your jeep all to pieces looking for an improbable issue that suddenly popped up over night try removing the positive battery clamp (removing the battery from the system), hook a set of jumper cables directly to the clamp with the battery removed from the circuit. If the Jeep starts, I bet it will, get a new battery ... Okay, have the old battery tested first. I bet it doesn't produce a full 12+ volts when under a load.

If you feel, and I don't blame you, that your connections might be bad use an ohmmeter and check for resistance issues.

 

[jdcaples]

Just curious (and I'm not trying to send you on a hunt): Do you know from whence the "click" is coming?

-Jon

 

[Hedgehog]

99.9% of the time it's the solenoid that is doing the click. There's enough juice to activate the solenoid, but not enough to do anything else. Multiple clicks usually means the same thing but when the solenoid makes contact there isn't enough electricity to maintain the contact (click) so it lets go, finds enough electricity to make contact again (click) ....... on an on. This can actually lead to solenoid failure in itself where the contact becomes burnt from not having enough power to make a solid contact. When I have had a solenoid failure it was that the thing stuck in the on position. A gentle smack with something hard usually made it let go. Unfortunately I've had it stick while the engine was running ruining the starter.

 

[ttuseth]

Problem solved, thanks for your tips and help.
As stated the battery was fine... while using jumper cables between connections I found that the positive cable to the solenoid connection was just ever so slightly loose and arched on the fender wall.
Moved it clear and tightened it up and all works fine now.
Thanks guys


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[jdcaples]

Problem solved, thanks for your tips and help.
As stated the battery was fine... while using jumper cables between connections I found that the positive cable to the solenoid connection was just ever so slightly loose and arched on the fender wall.
Moved it clear and tightened it up and all works fine now.
Thanks guys


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Well done! You should pat yourself on the back for not going crazy and ripping out wires 'n parts tryin' to fix what ain't broke.

-Jon

 

[Hedgehog]

Well, that's even better. I assumed the cables were checked. It was foolish of me to think otherwise. Actually that is the very first thing I usually check ... IE wiggle the cables, then pull and clean the terminals. Usually a short like yours will announce itself with a big (little) fireworks show. Glad it turned out to be relatively nothing.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

THX for the follow-up.
LG