Man it's been a while since I posted here. Hopefully someone here can help me.
Ok I've about had it with our TJs starter! We're on the 4th one in approx 3 years and the interval is getting shorter and shorter between problem.
What typically happens is that when the key is turned, there's a "click" from the solenoid and that's it. I can either keep trying and sometimes it'll catch and start, or lately what I had to do was disconnect the positive cable from the battery, reconnect it and presto it would start.
Had the system checked by a dealer and they told me it was a dead spot in the starter and that it could last a day, or maybe a year. Hard to say.
Anyone else had this problem with the 4 banger starter. Somethings gotta be going on with the electrical system to damage 4 starters in 3 years. Any ideas, suggestions?
We can do our starters in every year when we are mud running and off roading regularly. It only takes one good soak in muddy water to cause issues.
The dirt gets inside and gums up the brushes and the starters start clicking. Opening them up and cleaning them out with something like WD40 to free up the brushes does them wonders. It isn't a hard job. Then when the brushes finally wear out, a new set is less than $10.00.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
When I got home t'night, I called "Parts Source" (where I got the last starter from) and they told me that their starters are covered by a 5 year over the counter garantee (no pro-rating, no questions asked). Now I just have to pull the starter and go get the new one. I think after that I'll check all the ground connections and see if there's anything I can do to stop water/crud from getting into the starter in the first place.
Normally I wouldn't hesitate to take the starter apart, but with a garantee like that, it's faster for me to take it out, get a new one and put it in again.
Thanks for the info Mike.
Mike
98 TJ SE
Mike Roma>We can do our starters in every year when we are mud running and off
Well after replacing the starter with the new lifetime warrantied starter, it still didn't work. Went and bought a new relay, still no change. Checked all the grounds and cleaned them all again. Still no change. Took the starter out, left it connected to it's power source, and had my wife start it while I watched the starter. Nothing. Took the starter and battery out and had them load tested. Both tested ok. Now I was pissed!
I decided to do a voltage drop test between the post and clamp on the battery. BINGO! Power at the post, but hardly any at the clamp. Cleaned the battery connections again (did that just before we went on holidays), and that fixed the problem! Yahoo.....until....
Friday night we're leaving a friends place and the starter is making a horrible noise. Thought it didn't dis-engage from the flywheel, so I shut the motor off thinking that that the starter would disengage. Nope! The starter is still humming away like a bat out of hell. Before I could get to the battery to disconnect the power source, the starter went "ping" and died. That thing got so hot it discolored the case! Very ugly! Called the parts store and they tell that not only can they not get me a new one till Monday, but that the computer says they don't carry them anymore!!!!! That doesn't help me, since the jp is our only running 4 wheeled transportation.
I ended up push starting the jp, and spending Saturday morning looking for a new starter. Finally found one and all is well again.
But now I have to go back to Parts Source and resolve this starter and "non-honouring" warranty issue!
Thanks for lisening, and al the input/ideas you've given. In the end it was the battery connection.
What about the small one on the firewall where the 1st red battery cable stops at? If you have that, it is for sure suspect for a burn and weld contact...
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
If the starter jammed and smoked, it 'sure' didn't do good things for that relay. That relay is now suspect for an arc and weld which will cook the new starter just as fast.
I'll have to look. I might have some that I can send you. Every time we have to change out an "electrical center" at work, the new one comes with all the fuses and relays installed. Of course the fuses and relays out of the old one go in my tool box before the old fuse box goes in the trash. I guess your '98 would probably be the same as my boy's '02 as far as that goes.
-- Old Crow '82 Shovelhead FLT 92" 'Pearl' '95 Jeep YJ Rio Grande ASE Certified Master Auto Tech + L1 TOMKAT, BS#133, SENS, MAMBM, DOF#51
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