Starter not cranking the engine over?

Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
  • 4.3L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
As the winter months have come about, I’ve noticed my vehicle has become harder to start. This morning, I went out to start it and it was having a hard time turning over and then all of a sudden you could smell either burnt electrical or burnt rubber and now the vehicle will not start. Any help will be appreciated. Happy holidays. :-)
Sunday, December 1st, 2019 AT 6:23 AM

46 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

Let us start with the battery. Does it crank the engine over fast?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Have you checked anything else like spark and fuel pressure?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Roy
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Sunday, December 1st, 2019 AT 8:26 AM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
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Could any of those things you mentioned be related to burnt rubber or electrical smell?
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Sunday, December 1st, 2019 AT 6:25 PM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
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Also, thank you for replying to my question.
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Sunday, December 1st, 2019 AT 6:26 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Possible but need to narrow the area of failure first.

You are welcome.

Roy
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Sunday, December 1st, 2019 AT 6:38 PM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
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No, it doesn’t crank the engine over fast. We charged the battery last night, put it back in this morning and all it does it click one time.
And haven’t checked fuel or spark pressure.
Will be sure to check when I get off work. :-)
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 4:09 AM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
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Update: so, when we first went out there to try the charged battery, it clicked once and all the lights inside the car came on. After that we tried it again and nothing at all. Not one click or anything.
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 4:15 AM
Tiny
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Sounds like you need a new battery. I would replace the battery and go from there.

Roy
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 4:56 AM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
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You’ve got it!
I’ll update you once we get that new battery in.
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 6:36 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Sounds like a plan.

Roy
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 6:42 AM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
So, I put the new battery on and tried to start it, it started and I looked and none of the pulleys were spinning besides the very bottom one but then I tried again and was watching the pulley in the very bottom one was spinning but none of the others then when I went to take the belt off to put a new one on the belt wasn’t put on the tensioner so I’m letting the battery charge and then going from there. Also, another thing that happened was the drive side window started falling down, I don’t know if it could be related to anything going on. Just thought I would throw that in there.
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 11:07 AM
Tiny
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Let us get it running first, then we can address the window. It most likely needs a regulator.

Roy
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 11:20 AM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
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  • 16 POSTS
Okay, I thought it might have been related to what was going on with the car already, it was just convenient was all.
Also, the “new” battery died, so we charged it again, put it back in and nothing happened. Didn’t start, nothing at all.
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 11:28 AM
Tiny
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It needs to be charged to 12.6 volts. It should take about 2 to 3 hours to charge the battery.

Roy
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 11:30 AM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
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Update, so we were told to look at the fuses, we took out one fuse “starting relay” was extremely corroded replaced it and started right up.
Went out just a little bit ago and turned off and on twice on the third try it didn’t turn over, didn’t click.
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 2:18 PM
Tiny
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Go back to that fuse again and make sure the terminals are clean and tight. Then try it again.

Roy
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 2:51 PM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
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The terminals are clean. Put the new battery back in, made a bunch of clicking noises. Tried twice to start it and then on the third it didn’t do anything. It’s like it’s sucking the charge out of the battery. Have the batteries back on the charger.
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 5:18 PM
Tiny
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What is the voltage of the battery?

Roy
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 5:22 PM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
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I don’t know how to figure that out. All I could find on the battery is cold cranking amps which are 675. I know that’s not what you asked for, I don’t have any tests to figure out the voltage.
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 5:38 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You need to get a voltmeter for some checks. You can get a cheap one at a parts store for these tests.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Roy
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 5:46 PM
Tiny
AFRAUSTO94
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Okay. Thanks, sir.
I’ll be sure to get back to you once I get that figured out.
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 6:09 PM

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