Well I thought I was done working on the electrical, but I let the Jeep sit for 3 days and now it won't start again.


The lights are bright.


The starter was spinning, but not engaging into the flywheel.


After several tries the starter engaged into the flywheel and started the car.


I took out the starter, since now, it only takes me less than 10 minutes.


I hook it up to the Jeep battery with jumper cables and it seemed to work fine.


Put it back in and the starter just spins and doesn't engage into the flywheel.


Before I get out the voltmeter, again, I was wondering if any one would know why a new rebuilt started would spin, but not engage?


Well thanks!~John


I know my son drove the car while I was gone because the seat was moved up to close for me.
I asked him if any one else drove the car that doesn't know how to drive a stick.
I can't stand it when people try to use my vehicles to learn to drive sticks.
It's hard on clutches and everything else.
The Jeep was fine on Friday.

 

Pretty sure you have a bad starter there. Take it back.

"I was wondering if any one would know why a new rebuilt started would spin, but not engage?" >>

It's called the Bendix, the drive part of the starter that includes/extends the gear that engages with the flywheel/torque plate teeth. Of course if the teeth are gone from a spot on the flywheel, it won't have anything to engage with.

Bummer BTW, you will succeed in the end though!

 

When you had the starter out and tested with a battery, did the solenoid move the starter gear outwards? You should hear/feel a definite clunk when the power is applied. The starter motor may appear to work but if the power is not enough to fire the solenoid, it may just spin the motor and not engage to the flywheel. You need to have a good battery so leave on charger until finished.


I would check to make sure you put the wires to the starter correctly too so that you're not shorting something out. Run them back to the starter relay and make sure everything is where it's supposed to be.

 

I'll charge the battery today.
After work I will look at the flywheel / clutch plate teeth.
Didn't look like any teeth were missing.
67 GMC good engine 283, had one in my 65 Chevelle.
Have a 318 (beefed up) in my 67 W 200 Dodge.
Thanks ~John

 

Kids driving in between fixes doesn't help!!


Does the starter have shims that keep it a certain distance from the flywheel? I don't remember my '87 having them but other vehicles do. My wife usually drives the Jeep to work. One day she told me she was having a problem starting it and I could hear the starter spinning when she turned the key. Turned out that the starter was just hanging with only one bolt still attached. Can't believe it worked at all in that condition. Not sure if she hit something or what caused that.


Keep plugging away. Check grounding as well. Make sure all ground connections to the block are clean and shiny. Clean relay contacts. All the usual stuff. Something you find it's something simple.

 

Well it turned out that the starter drive (bendix) was bad.
Took the starter back and it's starting again.
Now I am having problems with the electric windows working one day and the next day they don't work. Also the turn signals are doing the same thing. Don't know one day to the next if the windows or turn signals are going to work.
Do either of these things have any thing to do with the ignition switch or starter relay?
What is shorting out these two things, but not all the time?
I think this was my original problem to begin with.

I don't know how these two accessories are wired in.
Always thanks!~John

 

Key must be on for either of those to operate. What about blower fan? Is it inop at the same time?

 

This is weird...started the 89 Jeep up and the electric windows are working.
The turn signals also. Shut the engine off and thought I wonder if I start it again if the window and signals will work.
Well the windows worked, but not the signals.
Messed with the key switch, but it had no effect.
So I started the engine a third time and I heard the flasher unit in the fuse box make a noise. I shut the engine off and pushed the flasher unit in and it went in a little way.
Started the engine up and the signals worked again.
Yes! The fan for the AC / heater is still work and before I replaced the ignitions switch it wasn't.
Have had problems with the clips that held in the fuses. Some were weak and others were broken. So I got another fuse box and wired in new clips.
Next time the windows don't work I'll check the fuse to see if there is power.
All windows and signals working today.
Thank you! Cruiser54, John
Body molding falling off drivers door and head liner falling down...got the stuff to fix it, just haven't had time.

 

Way to stick with it John!!