SPONSORED LINKS

Jeep electric shot off when starting

Tiny
DUNEHOPPERZ
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
2000 Jeep Cherokee 4.0L. Turn ingition to on, all electric comes on normally. Turn ignition to start, and all electric shuts off. Immediately turn ignition off, then on, no electric. After a few minutes with the ignition off, turn ingition on and the electric returns. Sometimes hear the starter solenoid click before electric shuts down, other times, not. Have replaced the starter (same w/ old and new starter), checked the starter and ingition fuses, battery is OK (behavior is the same while jumping) voltage on battery and dash are >12V. Haven't checked the starter relay, don't know how. Checked for obvious shorts, all seems OK.

Anything else a DIYer can check before sending it to the mechanic to diagnose apparent electric problem?
SPONSORED LINKS
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 AT 7:27 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
Lets follow every big cable from the battery to where it ends--and from the solenoid too--spare none! REMOVE EVERY CONNECTION (anything bolted or clamped!)And clean both surfaces. Pos and Neg. As you do them one at a time, see if it will start. Just so you know, which was the troubled connection----DO NOT SAY, "THAT LOOKS GOOD". DO 'EM RIGHT, AND TIGHTEN STUFF WELL. YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY TIMES, PEOPLE SPEND MEGA BUCKS FOR A LOOSE, EZ TO FIX CONNECTION. LET ME KNOW WHAT CONNECTION IT WAS!--THE MEDIC
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 AT 4:28 AM
Tiny
DUNEHOPPERZ
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Checking connections, all good so far.

An definitive answer to this would help the focus diagnosis greatly:

Would low amperage indeed cause the electric to turn completely off, or just not engage the starter completely?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 AT 5:10 PM
Tiny
DUNEHOPPERZ
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Found it - positive battery terminal wires. The wires clamped to the terminal were corroded under the clamp, looked fine from the outstide, good call. 3 years ago, it was a corroded negative ground strap, very different symptoms - voltage meter pegged at max then.

So, the electric does indeed shut down if amperage isn't adequate, that threw me a bit, important to know.

Don't mind having replaced the starter. Original starter had 160K on it, and was going. We recently installed a rebuilt engine, so committed to keeping it on the road for a while (the common blown head gasket, cracked head, worn main bearings, and low oil pressure, milked another 2 years out of it before it died).

Thanks very much!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 AT 9:54 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
Incrediwonderful! I just got in really late (plumbing problems for 2 different friends), yours was my only response today. I really look forward to "reading smiles", from posts I have answered. As I began reading, It really started looking sad.I sorta dropped my head a little bit. Then I saw more writing, Now I'm Smiling! I really know little about Cherokees, the only reason I jumped on your question was it really sounded like a bad connection. Something common to all vehicles.I'm a CJ guy and I go way out of my way to help and teach them. I have no clue whether you donated or not, when I answer, I don't look at that.I start with "CJs" then "Jeep" then "Ford"----Thats about all I am familiar with. I do the Common mechanical issues, or older carburetor rigs I understand well. Computer Crap. Slowly learning, mostly here at this site. Imma Plumber--Me, Mine, Family and friends. Self Certified Rear Lawn Vehicle Technician (SCRLVT!) Started here, when I broke my foot/ w/ complications, 2 years ago at work. Laid up 2 times, about 4 months each time. Now have no Job (go figure, workers comp!) Never touched a computer till then! Click around on here, lots of good info here! If you have another problem, sometimes it pays to go to "YOUR SPECIFIC FORUM" and look for other people who have had your new problem. May be able to fix yours without even asking another question. If I can help you later (maybe) just add to this post, I will be alerted---The Medic
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, April 4th, 2011 AT 3:38 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Electrical Shut Down Content

VIEW MORE

Sponsored links