1990 Cherokee not turning over
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Joined: Feb 2018
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Model: Cherokee(SJ)
1990 Cherokee not turning over
Have a 1990 Cherokee that quit starting. Charged battery overnight and it reads 13+ on volt meter. Pulled the starter and had tested at autozone. It failed test so replaced with reman version. Volt reading on starter terminals is ~12.5ish. Also replaced the ground battery cable as it was frayed. Turn the ignition key and get a single click but engine doesn’t turn over. Same result when I touched the posts on starter with screw driver.
what else to check?
what else to check?
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,786
Likes: 14
From: CT.
Year: 88
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0 HO
So you get 13+ on battery and 12.5ish at starter.
Put a test light on the battery cable at the starter. Route it so you can see it from the driver seat and see what happens when you turn key to start. If it dims or just goes out than your cable is bad or bad connection.
Or the engine is locked.
Put a test light on the battery cable at the starter. Route it so you can see it from the driver seat and see what happens when you turn key to start. If it dims or just goes out than your cable is bad or bad connection.
Or the engine is locked.
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Newbie
Joined: Feb 2018
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Model: Cherokee(SJ)
Looks like I was done in by an oil leak. Vinyl pvc material was mushy and peeled right off the cable. Off to replace the cable and find the leak. Dipstick looks like a possibility. Thanks for the help.
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,038
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From: PA
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
As far as the engine itself goes, stick a socket and a breaker bar on the harmonic balancer bolt. If you can rotate the engine by hand doing that (clockwise or counter, it doesnt matter), its not locked.
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Joined: Feb 2018
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Model: Cherokee(SJ)
JeepingDan and fb97, thanks for the help.
i tried the light trick and sure enough it died when I turned the key. I pulled the pos cable and found the pvc jacket was swollen and peeling away in a few locations. I believe due to an oil leak possibly at the base of the dipstick. In any case, I replaced the positive cable and everything worked again.
Now on to the oil leak. i seem to recall someone posting part numbers to repair such leaks, perhaps just o rings, but haven’t yet found them. In any case, I am curious to know your thoughts on whether an oil leak could eat away at the pvc jacket covering the copper cables though. Sound right?
i tried the light trick and sure enough it died when I turned the key. I pulled the pos cable and found the pvc jacket was swollen and peeling away in a few locations. I believe due to an oil leak possibly at the base of the dipstick. In any case, I replaced the positive cable and everything worked again.
Now on to the oil leak. i seem to recall someone posting part numbers to repair such leaks, perhaps just o rings, but haven’t yet found them. In any case, I am curious to know your thoughts on whether an oil leak could eat away at the pvc jacket covering the copper cables though. Sound right?
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