Hello all. I have a 94 Cherokee with the straight six engine. It wouldn't start.No lights, no click, nothing. triple A guy jump started me and said his opinion was that the Starter relay was bad (alternator is only 3 months old) I replaced that, but it still won't start by itself-jump start , no problem. Battery reads 12.8 volts by voltmeter-I don't get the Battery idiot light at all-wouldn't that come on if battery was no good? I know the battery can have enough volts but not CCA's-should I pull the battery and have it tested, or is there something I am overlooking ? Its a 3 year old Die Hard. Thanks

Hello, Try this after you jump started it. remove the positive terminal on you battery to see if it remains running and if it dies it is the alternator that is dead.

Check your battery cables at both ends, particularly the negative. When jump starting, the negative jumper cable is normally attached to the chassis somewhere, bypassing the negative battery cable.
Wouldn't hurt to load test the battery either.

No.....don't do this.

That was an old troubleshooting technique that was used many years ago, but is very dangerous to vehicles with solid state electronics in it. You can damage your alternator and/or your computer if you try this. I've personally repaired damage from people that have done this; and it wasn't cheap.

The vast majority of charging system issues can be diagnosed safely with a multimeter. For starters, try what Radi recommends in post #3.

Here is an article that explains why removing the battery cable while running shouldn't be done.

http://www.troubleshooters.com/dont_...ct_battery.htm

Test your starter solenoid. Put vehicle on run position. Then using a screwdriver cross the leads to jump the starter if ot starts then you have issues with why the power is not going to or through the starter solenoid.

Fixed mine by installing a switch that would jump it off anytime it decided to act up.

This is one thing that you DO NOT want to do. It's fine for the older vehicles but the newer ones with all the electronic it not a good idea. You could fry thing this way and end up with more problem then you started with.

Thanks for the info. I guess i am an old school guy. I will not do that either. Thanks.