Dj5-F electrical problems

Clean your battery terminals.

Be sure to clean both ends of both cables.

Carl

I would first charge up the battery and on a 78 clean the battery terminals and cable ends.

The battery might be totally dead. A 78 will run on just the alternator once you jump start it.

Mike

Will the DJ start after it is cranked by jumping?

It's amazing what can happen to a vehicle that "was running great a year ago". I am sure we have all seen them. Heck, it is amazing what can happen to a vehicle that "was running great yesterday". On this vehicle I would look at battery connections, as others have said, points or whatever passes for an ignition system, and the contents of the carburetor bowl as a start.

Earle

The battery s brand new anb the cable ends are filed cleen but its still not working. Jacob

Befor i got the car a differant friend who has 24 years experiance as an automechanic cleaned everything, carborator incuded.

Yet it will work with a boost?

Mike

Need more info.

Will it crank without a boost?

Will it start with a boost?

If you look down the carb and give the throttle a shot, do you see gas squirting?

Mike

If he didn't get the vehicle running and drive it around the block once or twice, he's not much of a mechanic. There is always the possibility that this mechanic friend is responsible for what is happening (or not happening) now. How much of this "24 years experience as an auto mechanic" was spent wiping down new cars in the dealer prep bay?

Earle

Brand new batteries can be dra> When i turn the key nothing happens not a squeek. the battery

"Not a squeak." No click under the hood when you turn the key to START?

I just want to be clear on what you mean by "jump it" -- do you mean running jumper cables from another vehicle's battery to your DJ's, or do you mean "jumping" the starter relay to get the engine to crank?

If you mean jumping the battery, here's an easy field test: Without jumpers, turn the headlights on. Nice and bright? Good. Now turn the key to START. Lights dim and then come back when you release the key? Battery needs charging. Go out and don't come back? Likely a corroded connection someplace that carries enough current for lights but can't handle the high-ampere draw of the starter. If they don't change then there's a problem with the starter circuit.

Does your DJ have the 258ci I6 engine?

Yes its a 3.8l I6 And by jump it i mean taking the starter moter leed cable and touching it to the posative terminal on the battery Voila it cranks. When i turn the key after reconnecting the leed, nothing happens at all. Jacob

My friend has built 6 rock crawlers and sold them from 25 k and up. he has also fixed my mazda. I know he is a qualified mechanic, but he moved to Tahoe, I live in santa cruz 200 miles away. He didn't have time to check the electrical before he left. Which is why i'm doing it.

If you are crossing the terminals to start it then it sounds like the starter selonoid to me. Some engines have a combination starter/selonoid (two units attached together), some have a starter on the block and a selonoid on the fender. If you have the former, pull it out, take to to an auto parts store and have it tested. If the latter, pull the selonoid and go buy a new one. Selonoids only 10-12 bux so if it doesn't work, it's not really a big deal.

HTH, let us know.

Carl

Ok, that means you have a dirty connection on the starter solenoid likely.

Follow the positive cable to the fender and the box it bolts to. This is the starter solenoid or relay. You need to clean the connection to the battery cable and the connection to the starter cable and the little side small ones. In other words clean all the connections on this.

One of the side ones, the light blue comes from the key switch and fires this up. If the connections are clean and it still doesn't click when you put the key to start, then try using a jumper from this side terminal with the blue wire to the battery. If the starter turns, you have an issue with the keyswitch, if nothing happens then the solenoid might be bad. You can rap it with a screwdriver handle or gently with a hammer to see if it then works. Sometimes they get stuck when sitting. They are cheap, about $8-12.00.

Note: The body must be grounded for this solenoid to work so make sure the wire mesh cable from the back of the head to the firewall isn't broken.

Mike

Okay, now we are getting somewhere but you still haven't answered if the engine will actually start and keep running. "Yes" (pick one) 'No'

I suspect *not* from your descriptions.

Please provide more detailed descriptions of what EXACTLY was done and what the result, if any, was...

Is there 12v power to the starter relay from the ignition switch? It will not be a big battery cable but a small wire around 14 gauge.

Do you hear a 'click' when you turn the key?

Do you have any spark when cranking?

By 'filed clean" do you mean the copper lugs that bolt to the starter? What about the lead terminals at the battery end. They are best cleaned with a wire brush.

This reminds me of being an EMT, trying to get people to say what is actually wrong with them, why they called, what exactly are we doing at your house at 2:00 AM, etc. Sometimes, you have to ask, which person is the sick one. It is not always obvious.

Earle

Don't it though. Part of the art of diagnosis is persistent, deliberate questioning.

Earle Hort> This reminds me of being an EMT, trying to get people to say what is

Yeah, so far this appears to be a dead Ford-type starter solenoid, but I don't even know whether this vehicle has that type installed. No that I am retired, sometimes I adopt an "interrogation style" approach to problem diagnosis. If it doesn't get to the root of the problem, it at least makes the person with the complaint go away. ;^)

Jacob, do you have a black relay, about the size of a 35mm film can, with two big wires and one or two smaller wires bolted to it? Is that the place where you disconnected the starter lead? If so, you need that part, which will cost you $10-20.

Earle