1985 Jeep CJ7 electrical issue

Tiny
CRWILKIN55
  • MEMBER
  • 1985 JEEP CJ7
  • 4.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 134,000 MILES
So Ive been working on my jeep for a while and I just ran into an issue I dunno what it is. I was driving it around today and after about 5 min of driving the whole jeep just cuts off. No lights, nothing when I turn the key just nothing. The only thing that is working is the radio, as it is hooked directly to the battery. Moved some wires around and checked out some stuff under the hood and then bam power. I drive it the 5 min back to my house and it dies again in my driveway.

So Ive checked all the grounds and the battery terminals, they all check good. It's not the battery as I literally just changed it the other day. The only thing I can think of is a possible loose wire connection, so I started moving some wires around trying to see if there is a loose connection but no dice.
I have no power to anything, the jeep wont even try to turn over and dont know what to or where to look. Is there an emergency cut off somewhere? I'm super confused and would appreciate any help

Thanks in advance
Thursday, September 3rd, 2015 AT 6:05 PM

17 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,912 POSTS
Follow the smaller positive battery wire to the under-hood fuse box and be sure that connection is clean and tight. Also, follow the smaller black negative battery wire to the body and be sure that one is tight and not rusty. The positive wire causes a lot of trouble on all car brands.

If that doesn't solve the problem, you'll need a voltmeter or test light. And you'll need to get it to where the problem is occurring so we can do some testing.
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2015 AT 6:24 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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I'LL BE ON STANDBY IF YOU NEED SOME PICS DOC!

THE MEDIC
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2015 AT 7:20 PM
Tiny
CRWILKIN55
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  • 8 POSTS
Followed the + wire to the fuse box and is good. My ground wire from the - battery cable is connected to the engine block and is cleaned and good to go. Still no power.
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Friday, September 4th, 2015 AT 8:51 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
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YE OLE "+" WIRE DOES NOT GO TO THE FUSE BOX

IT GOES TO MR. SOLENOID!

THE BIG "+" CONTINUES THRU THE SOLENOID TO THE STARTER (WHENEVER THE SOLENOID IS ENERGIZED)

THE CABLE, "+ TYPE" COMES OFF OF THE BATTERY AND GOES TO THE SOLENOID

ON THE SOLENOID POST (SAME POST THAT THE "BAT +" IS ON) ALSO HAS SEVERAL OTHER WIRES STACKED UPON IT.

THESE ARE THE POSITIVE BATTERY FEEDS TO THE ENTIRE JEEP (ALTERNATOR, FUSE BOX, HEAD LIGHTS, ETC!

THE OTHER POST GOES TO THE STARTER, NUTHIN' ELSE SHOULD BE ON THAT POST, ONLY THE STARTER CABLE!

THERE ARE 2 OTHER LITTLE BITTY POSTS ON THE SOLENOID

THIS MIGHT BE YOUR PROBLEM! I WILL EXPLAIN IN A BIT AND W/ PICS!

I WANT YOU TO READ THIS POST, IT PERTAINS TO THE BATTERY--LONG AND BORING, PICS AT THE END, AND OF COURSE, IN CJ MEDEVAC STYLE!

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1996-chevrolet-tahoe-wont-start-sounds-dead-battery-jumpbox-get-same-reults

NOW LETS DISCUSS MR. SOLENOID
X
X
X
X
IN MY PICS, I HAVE THE GOODIES ON THE BIG POSTS REVERSED FROM WHAT YOU HAVE (FROM FACTORY)

I HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR THAT, WE CAN DISCUSS IT LATER ON IF YOU WISH!

IT WILL WORK EITHER WAY, AS LONG AS THE STARTER CABLE IS ALL BY ITSELF!

JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT, SO YOU WOULD NOT FREAK OUT ON MY SET UP!

MY PIC WILL EXPLAIN THE REST

I FEEL SURE, WITH ALL OF THIS INFO, THAT PUPPY WILL AT LEAST CRANK (HOPEFULLY START TOO!) UNLESS MR. BATTERY OR MR. STARTER LACK

ANY MORE CJ ISSUES? I CAN LINK YOU TO HUNDREDS OF JEEP CJ ANSWERS I HAVE GIVEN, I HAVE MANY MANY FIXIN' PICS!

RETURN WITH A GRIN!

THE MEDIC

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+5
Friday, September 4th, 2015 AT 4:06 PM
Tiny
CRWILKIN55
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
When I was saying the + battery cable going to the fuse box I was talking the small wire, I also have the one to the starter and the one tu the solenoid. The solenoid is not my problem, I know it's hooked up properly. The jeep ran and started started for about 10 min then shut off. I've checked the grounds, cleaned them and made sure they are nagging good contact. Still nothing, not even headlights
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Friday, September 4th, 2015 AT 4:14 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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JEEP IN NEUTRAL

KEY OFF

STAND BESIDE THE JEEP, NOT IN FRONT

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU TOUCH A JUMPER WIRE TO THE POSITIVE BATTERY POST AND THEN OVER TO LITTLE POST "C" (YELLOW "C") IN MY DIAGRAM (ON THE SOLENOID)

WHATEVER HAPPENS, DO NUTHIN' ELSE!

RETURN WITH NEWS

THE MEDIC
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Friday, September 4th, 2015 AT 4:28 PM
Tiny
CRWILKIN55
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I am out of town this weekend but I will do that as soon as get back. Again thank you for your time
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Friday, September 4th, 2015 AT 4:40 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
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HOW COULD YOU JUST LEAVE YOUR SICK BABY LIKE THAT?

I'M ALWAYS HERE (IN THE EVENINGS ANYWAY)

WAITIN' FOR YOU

THE MEDIC
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Friday, September 4th, 2015 AT 5:21 PM
Tiny
CRWILKIN55
  • MEMBER
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What happens when we do that it jumps the solenoid. The problem is that our ignition is not sending power to the solenoid, and no power is getting to the lights or blower motor, but the solenoid does jump as it should
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Saturday, September 5th, 2015 AT 8:29 AM
Tiny
CRWILKIN55
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  • 8 POSTS
The ignition wrote on the solenoid is energized and it does turnover
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Saturday, September 5th, 2015 AT 8:30 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
YOU SORTA LOST ME ON YOUR LAST TRANSMISSION

DO YOU MEAN "I" TERMINAL IS ENERGIZED WHEN THE SOLENOID "MAKES"?

SO WE STILL DO NOT HAVE POWER TO "S WIRE", IF DETACHED FROM "S" TERMINAL ON THE SOLENOID (NOT USING JUMPER WIRE AT ALL) WHEN THE KEY IS ON "START" ?

LETS GO TO THE SOLENOID, THE SIDE WITH THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE (AND ALL OF THE OTHER SMALLER WIRES HOOKED ON)

LOOSEN/ CLEAN/ SCOOCH THE RINGS AROUND NEXT TO THE BATTERY CABLE- THEN TIGHTEN IT BACK UP GOOD!

NOW

IF YOU HAD THIS APART BEFORE, LOOK AROUND MAYBE YOU DROPPED A WIRE AND NEVER REPLACED IT?

LET'S DISCUSS THIS (IT'S AMAZING!) MIGHT COULD BE YOUR ISSUE ALSO

LET'S SCROLL DOWN TO "Dec 2, 2012." (BESIDE MY AVATAR) IN THIS POST. ACTUALLY MY LAST ANSWER ON PAGE 1.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1979-jeep-cj5-having-trouble-getting-starter-engage-taken-down-they-good

READ ABOUT THE FUSIBLE LINKS - DARE NOT TAKE THEM OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM! THEY ARE YOUR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE!

THE MEDIC
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Saturday, September 5th, 2015 AT 10:13 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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MAYBE THE END OF MY LAST ANSWER DID NOT SOUND RIGHT!

HERE'S THE DEAL - WE GOT 2 FUSIBLE LINKS IN THE SYSTEM AT THE SOLENOID

THE FUSIBLE LINK IS ONLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WIRE IT FEEDS (A FEW INCHES), THE REST OF THE WIRE IS JUST PLAIN OLE WIRE!

I'M SENDING YOU A CHUNK OF A 1979 WIRE DIAGRAM THAT I COLORED THE WIRES IN THE ENTIRE DIAGRAM

YOU WILL SEE THE 2 FUSIBLE LINKS BESIDE THE POST ALONG WITH THE BATTERY CABLE.

THE "CIRCLE" FOUND WHERE THEY MEET IS ACTUALLY 2 RING CONNECTORS STACKED ON EACH OTHER (THEY DO NOT ACTUALLY CONNECT, AS IT LOOKS)

YOU CAN USE A TEST LIGHT TO STAB INTO THE INSULATION OF THE WIRES TO SEE WHERE THE 12 V FEEDS END (PROBABLY REAL CLOSE TO THE SOLENOID)

LET ME KNOW IF THE FUSIBLE LINK IS FRIED, I'LL LOOK UP THE PROPER AMP RATING FOR THE ONE YOU "REALLY" NEED TO REPLACE IT WITH.

THESE 2 FUSIBLE LINKS DO ALL OF THE POWER FEEDING FOR THE WHOLE JEEP (TO INCLUDE THE "S" WIRE FROM THE IGN SWITCH, AS WELL AS IGN ITSELF)

SEE IF YOUR BODY GROUND IS GOOD (LAST PIC)

I'M SENDING SEVERAL PICS

SORRY IF I'M NOT HELPING WELL, I WANTED TO INSURE THE STARTER WAS FED PLENTY OF JUICE IN THE LAST TEST

THE MEDIC
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Saturday, September 5th, 2015 AT 4:27 PM
Tiny
CRWILKIN55
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Looks like you have two wires coming off your negative side of the battery. Do you have one grounded to the game and to the firewall?
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Tuesday, September 8th, 2015 AT 6:18 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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ALL RIGHTY THEN

PIC 1) SMALL WIRE GOES TO BODY FROM THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CLAMP

PIC 2) NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE GOES TO THE ENGINE, MINE IS ON THE HEAD, SORTA BEHIND THE HOSE CLAMP. THIS GIVES THE STARTER A DIRECT GROUND TO THE ENGINE BLOCK

PIC 3) THIS IS HOW THE GROUND GETS TO THE FRAME, A CABLE JUMPING FROM THE ENGINE MOUNT TO THE FRAME. SOMETIMES THIS "JUMPER" IS A FLAT WOVEN GROUND STRAP. BASICALLY BYPASSES THE RUBBER MOUNT

THE MEDIC
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Tuesday, September 8th, 2015 AT 8:42 PM
Tiny
CRWILKIN55
  • MEMBER
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Those pics are really helpful. My jeep doesn't have a ground going from the negative part of the battery to the firewall, it just had the one from your second picture.

Also I figured out the issue with the power, along the same lines as you were eluding to about the fuseable link, my jeep doesn't have the fuseable links but it does have a master fuse that goes to the solenoid. After testing it I realized there was no power there. Took the wire off and the ring that was connecting to the solenoid practically fell off. The wire wasnt making the connection, hence no power getting. To the master fuse therefore causing no. Power at all.

Again I want to thank you very much your words along with the pictures really helped me out, if it weren't for the in depth descriptions I wouldnt have found/fixed the issue. Thanks again!
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2015 AT 5:01 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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I'M SO GLAD YOU FOUND IT!

AT MINIMUM, YOU HAVE POSSIBLY LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT TRACING THINGS DOWN, STARTING AT THE SOURCE.

NOT KNOWING YOUR ABILITIES, BEING ABLE TO REPAIR YOUR JEEP WILL SAVE YOU HUNDREDS, IF NOT, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND MAKE YOU STRUT AROUND LIKE A BANTAM ROOSTER IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOUR NON-MECHANICAL FRIENDS!

IF YOU WILL GET A PAPER REPAIR MANUAL, PROTECTED IN A GALLON SIZE ZIP-LOCK BAG, SOMETHING TO KEEP IN YOUR JEEP, ALONG WITH SOME BASIC TOOLS, YOU WILL BE ALMOST INVINCIBLE!

I GO OVERBOARD, I ALMOST KEEP A SHOP-FUL OF TOOLS IN BOTH OF MINE AND A FEW SPARE PARTS. PARTS THAT ARE EZ TO REPLACE, BUT HAVE LEFT ME WALKING IN THE PAST. THE BIG ITEMS BEING, A COIL, AN IGNITION MODULE, AND A FUEL PUMP.

SINCE I STARTED CARRYING THESE ITEMS, I HAVE NOT NEEDED 'EM, HOWEVER, ON TWO OCCASIONS TWO OTHER CJs THAT I RAN ACROSS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WERE SO HAPPY THAT I HAD THE FUEL PUMP AND THE IGNITION MODULE!

JUST SO YOU KNOW NOW, AND IN THE FUTURE, I WILL HANG WITH YOU NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET YOU GOING. GO TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE IF YOU'LL LOOK UNDER "QUESTIONS" AND "MAKES" THEN CJ-5 AND CJ-7, THERE ARE SEVERAL QUESTIONS THAT HAVE RUN OVER 100 RESPONSES. THERE'S ALSO A BUNCH OF OTHER INFO ON THE HOME PAGE.

HERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT SOME OF MY JEEP ANSWERS. THE PICS MAY GET YOU INTERESTED, CLICK ON "VISIT PAGE" IF SOMETHING SPARKS YOUR INTEREST. SEE THIS LINK.

http://www.google.com/search?q=2carpros+cj+medevac+jeep&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=643&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIo9ni76TrxwIVx5-ACh2bnQ4Y

IF YOU EVER NEED ME, YOU CAN COME BACK TO THIS POST, OR SUBMIT A NEW QUESTION AND ASK FOR ME IN THE BEGINNING OF IT.

REMEMBER TO WAVE AT THE OTHER "REAL JEEPS"!

THE MEDIC

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Wednesday, September 9th, 2015 AT 6:48 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
OK

MR. LINK DID NOT WORK

HERE'S TRY NUMBER TWO

www. Google. Com/search?Q=2carpros+cj+medevac+jeep&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=643&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIo9ni76TrxwIVx5-ACh2bnQ4Y

THE MEDIC
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2015 AT 6:52 PM

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