Juanqui1202

Good evening all, did not see any information in the advanced search option. I have a 2000 Cherokee and while at a gas station Jeep wouldn't start. I heard one click and nothing. I have replaced the starter, battery and terminals along with fuses but no relays. Took apart the cables and clean every terminal along with motor ground connection. I have turned the motor over to ensure flywheel is not stuck. After all, still one click and nothing. The click is coming from the starter area and still nothing. Starter has been tested multiple times and it works at the bench so to ensure that it was not the actual starter a new one was ordered and replaced. Could someone please provide some feedback into what else I should be looking at? Thank you for your time and assistance.

caged

it's either the starter itself or not enough voltage going to the starter, whether it be the battery or a connection.
check the cables, sometimes they corrode inside the housing where you can't see it.
good luck.

ehall

Agree with caged. A single loud click ("thunk") usually means the starter solenoid is firing but the starter motor isn't able to to turn over. Most likely corrosion on the battery terminals or the wire leading to the starter motor. Could also be a weak battery or a seized starter motor.

madmanmarty

Try tapping lightly with a wood handle on the starter body. See if it spins.
Also try jumping starter terminals with a screwdriver.
After that test,I would also look heavily at all the cables.

Juanqui1202

Thank you all for your prompt responses. I followed your suggestions and after tapping on the wiring harness leading to the starter it turn over and Jeep started. I guess now it's a matter of taking the wiring cover and chase some wires. Thanks again for your help.

madmanmarty

By the way,is your starter covered with oil?

Juanqui1202

No oil present on the starter.

madmanmarty

If you need new wires xjwonders is making sets up for sale.

NM-XJ

The idiosyncrasies of each individual XJ's wiring never ceases to amaze me. Some never have problems. Some have tons of problems. Some have inane problems. Minimal regard for year or mileage, jut luck of the draw.

Now I've probably jinxed myself - knock on wood.

Waynerd

^^
Exactly!

Bustedback

Put the shifter in neutral and see if there is any change.

madmanmarty

the starter would not click if it was the NSS.
But he replaced the starter possibly without reason.

97grand4.0

Have seen Jeep rebuilt starters fail right out of the box. Good on the bench might not be good under load. Other than that sounds like you did most everything else.

In the infamous words of Apollo 13, "B Bus Undervolt!"

BigC9164

Had the same issue. It is not the relay or the starter or the battery. It is the BATTERY CABLES!! took me forever to track down. Sure enough it was the dang battery cables. I replaced the positive and it worked. Then i replaced the negative cabling and it worked really really great!