Where is my starter located

JOYCE MOORE

MEMBER
2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
4.7L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
190,000 MILES

I drove my vehicle from work to a store about two miles. Went in got what I needed came out and my vehicle would not start. I turn the key and you hear a click. We tried jumping it, nothing. My dad found the click noise was coming from the one fuse box. He pushed down on the fuses making sure they are all in. Boom it started. They brought it to me at work shut it off and it started right back up. Now it is not starting again. Just the click. We tried pushing fuses down, still nothing. Someone said it is my starter. But we cannot find it. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

2 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,871 POSTS

You flexed the fuse box, that affected the problem, so it is the starter? You are going to have to explain that logic to me. What you did was to verify it is not a starter problem.

When the problem acts up gain, the goal is to keep it in the bad state so testing can be done. Do not push on any fuses or do anything to try to get it working. The first thing to do is feel the starter relay to determine if it clicks when a helper turns the ignition switch to "crank". If it does not, bypass it to make the starter crank the engine. That will verify the starter circuit is okay and the problem is in the relay circuit. Be sure the ignition switch is off and the transmission is in "park". You can bypass the relay by removing it, then using a stretched-out paper clip to connect terminals 30 and 87 in the socket, or you can pop the cover off the relay, reinstall it that way, then squeeze the contact.

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