Engine start nightmare

[Petej8]

I'm beating my head against a wall trying to get my 82 Cherokee to start. I have searched thru past topics, and have tried pretty much every suggestion out there. I just finished an I-6 engine change, and it was running fine until I tried to start it in Neutral. At first it didn't do anything, but I ran a straight ground to the starter solenoid NSS stud, and now it just clicks. It won't even turn the starter with the jumper wire between the solenoid and the + batt terminal. I have replaced the Neutral S.S., igntion switch, starter solenoid, and adjusted the transmission shift linkage. I have run the wiring diagrams from Chilton and Haynes and can't seem to find a problem. Is there a fused link in the harness that I don't know about? The ground wire for the block is run to the motor mount. It started great for a week and then nothing. I don't want to troubleshoot the whole engine compartment harness, but it seems to next step. Any help would be great. Thanks for saving my sanity. Additional info: 258 six, 727 TF.

[Damage, Inc.]

Just a quickie here...but how is the battery?

[Petej8]

The battery has a fresh charge on it, and I've tried using a charger w/ the engine start setting on. It won't even turn over when jumped from a running engine. I swapped in a known good ignition module tonight with the same result, nada. I'm almost ready to rewire the ignition system one wire at a time.

[ibnfe]

Get the battery tested. If it has dead cells it will not take or keep a good charge, but will still ready good voltage. The 12 volts won't start anything if the amperage isn't there to push 'em! I've had two batteries die in this fashion in the last few years. You could also try to read the voltage on the battery while a buddy tries to crank the engine and see how far it drops.

[FSJ Thing]

Have you tested the starter? If you've tried jumping it from a running vehicle, then that pretty much rules out the bad battery idea. The click noise is probably the sylinoid engaging, but the starter motor might be burnt up if it won't crank the engine. It's alot easier to take the starter out and have it checked than it is to rewire the entire engine compartment 1 wire at a time, so.... Good luck! Whatever the problem is!

[reddog]

If you jump the solenoid and it does not turn over then it is either the battery, battery cables, solenoid, starter or a problem with the starter grounding.

Take jumper cable and bypass the solenoid, if it turnsover then the solenoid is likely bad.

Sounds like either battery cables (bad connection) or starter to me.

Kerry

[turtlejoe]

Won't start in neutral? Will it start in park?

My knowledge is pretty thin here, but the 727 is an automatic, and I'm leaning towards checking out and/or adjusting the neutral safety switch if the battery and cables check out OK.

May the list have mercy on my total lack of knowledge! :D :eek:

[ September 14, 2002, 11:43 AM: Message edited by: turtlejoe ]

[zoomer]

Make sure all wire connetions are clean and tight. Soleniod, starter, battery Ect.

[zstrange]

i had a similar problem w/ my 360. would start sometimes, click other times. was a bad starter.

[ap90c]

i would agree and lean more towards looking at the starter

[LRRH]

there is a small cover plate on the starter. i can't remember if you can get to it without taking it off.....but you can check the contacts on the starter there. just swapped one out and in was charred(on a low mileage engine). swapped in a used one and presto starto.

and the clicking is definately the solenoid working.

[Petej8]

Thanks for all your help. I just recently got back, and started with the simplest issue first. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid). I tested continuity on all the ground wires-Good. Next I pulled the starter, and ran a hot ground off the neg battery post. When it was cranked, the starter would turn really slow, and wouldn't engage the flexplate. After reading additional posts about bad grounding, I ran the neg. battery cable to a new bolt on the frame. Eureka it turned over!!!!! I can't say enough about how thorough this forum is, thanks for all the help. Keep Jeepin'

[reddog]

Cool. Thats quite a while to go without driving your Jeep !! :D

Kerry