I have a 1990 Jeep Cherokee. It's not in the greatest condition. A couple weeks ago, it started giving me problems when I would try to start it. I would turn the key and nothing would happen, then I would try again and the starter would make a grinding noise, and then try it again and it started right up. It did that about four or five times in a couple weeks. Now, I can't get it to start at all. Turn the key, and nothing. There seems to be a humming noise when I'm turning it over, not sure if that is related or not. I tried to jump it with my girlfriends car and that didn't do anything. I was looking for the starter, but I can't seem to find it. Can anyone help please?

 

starter is right on the bottom of the engine, to the passenger side, at the back of the engine by the trans.

maybe its gone, thats why it won't start

 

Okay, I got the starter out. How do you tell if it's bad without actually buying a new one?

 

how does the teeth look on the gear on the starter? as well as the teeth on the flywheel?

take it to autozone/pepboys, and they will test it for free

 

well does it have a solenoid right on the starter?

 

Just got back from Autozone. They said it is good. So now I'm definitely confused. Only thing I could think of is fuel pump??

When I'm turning it over, there is a humming noise sort of. But it sounds like it's coming from the front of the Jeep not the rear.

This sucks, I hate cars!

 

check your flywheel and see if some of the teeth are broke off

 

I should be able to see the flywheel from where the starter goes into right?? It's dark outside, so I want to make sure I'm looking in the exact place with the flashlight so I don't miss it.

 

well your fly wheel is big but yes it is where the starter goes in but you can only see like 1/10 of the flywheel if you just look there.. you have to unbolt the tranny and move it back a little bit to look at the whole flywheel

 

Yeah, definitely don't have enough light to do that in my driveway. I'll have to try to tackle this project on Wednesday probably.

What are signs of a bad fuel pump or injectors?

 

you said it hum when you turn your key.. thats what the fuel pump should be doing and while your turning the key its trying to get gas flowing.. ending up in flooding when your starter isnt starting the jeep... i dont think the fuel pump or injectors is your problem.. now if you said its turning over and over but wont start .. id say maybe fuel pump or injectors but its not turning over at all so you dont know

 

i can't tell you how many starters auto zone has told people are good that aren't. about everyweek this thread comes up somewhere, and auto zone says the starter is good, and many more hours get wasted because of it, when the starter is bad.

to correctly test the starter, it needs to be on the vehicle. and you need a helper and a test light, and the starter has to act up to tell what the problem is. while the key is being cranked, you need to test power at the starter motor, if the starter does not crank, and power is there, the starter is bad. done.