Starting problems

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B&K - 02 Apr 2007 16:37 GMT

I have an 86 Grand Cherokee. It's have strange starting problems. I
turn the key and will just get a click,from the starter.But not tuning
over. If i hold the key in the on position it will eventually crank
and start. But not allways. Sometimes i need to turn the key on and
off a few times till it finally starts.
Does antone have any suggestions for me,it woukd be a great help.

Thanks in advance.
Brian.

brian_49@sympatico.ca

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Mike Romain - 02 Apr 2007 16:50 GMT

You are describing a dirty connection. I would start by cleaning the
battery cables on both ends.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
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> I have an 86 Grand Cherokee. It's have strange starting problems. I
> turn the key and will just get a click,from the starter.But not tuning
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> brian_49@sympatico.ca

Reply to this Message

B&K - 02 Apr 2007 16:59 GMT

> I have an 86 Grand Cherokee. It's have strange starting problems. I
> turn the key and will just get a click,from the starter.But not tuning
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> brian...@sympatico.ca

I have replaced the battery, the connections are clean. Not sure what
else to do.

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Carl S - 02 Apr 2007 17:46 GMT

Are the connections clean at both ends? Battery + to starter, battery - to
engine block?

HTH

Carl

>> I have an 86 Grand Cherokee. It's have strange starting problems. I
>> turn the key and will just get a click,from the starter.But not tuning
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> I have replaced the battery, the connections are clean. Not sure what
> else to do.

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RoyJ - 02 Apr 2007 18:44 GMT

Given that you have a new and **fully charged** battery (it is fully
charged isn't it?), here are some tests you can do: Turn on the
headlights, then flip the key to start. If the lights dim, you have a
bad/low battery or bad cables. If the lights don't dim, your starter is
bad or the cable to the starter is bad. Second test: hold the key to the
'start' position while someone else looks for hot connections on the
various battery and ground cables. Be carefull! The connections can get
quite hot after 30 seconds or so. Look for a little wisp of smoke, burnt
smell, crackly noises, etc on the cables.

This vehicle is 11 years old, I'm betting on a bad cable or connection
somewhere. The crimped fittings tend to corrodue inside the fitting. You
have not only the battery clamp ends but the other ends that go to the
engine block and the starter solenoid.

If I were trying to avoid a trip to the dealer, I'd just replace the two
battery cables for perhaps $8 each.

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Lon - 08 Apr 2007 22:05 GMT

Adding to that.

Buy a cheap voltmeter.
Make sure your battery is fully charged.

Turn the key to start.

Measure from the negative post [not the cable, the post] to a clean spot
of metal on the body and again on the engine. No more than 0.2
volts--and that is quite high.

Measure from the positive post to the input of the starter solenoid.
Then again measure to the output, to the direct input of the starter
[should be pretty obvious] and again no more than 0.2 volts.

The typical Sears heavy screwdriver can be used to short across the
solenoid while the key is in start to see if there is a problem in that
area.

RoyJ proclaimed:

> Given that you have a new and **fully charged** battery (it is fully
> charged isn't it?), here are some tests you can do: Turn on the
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>>
>> brian_49@sympatico.ca

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