Ok so my jeep was sitting in the 0 degree weather for about 3 days without being started. I started it, drove it for about 3 munites then shut it off, went inside came back out tried to start it, nothing. All the lights and the door buzz still work but when i turn the key too start it, nothing happens and all the lights go off, it dosent even try to turn over. Whats the deaL????? I tried Jumpstarting it, and it didnt do anything.

 

Sounds like it could be a Starter, there is a big wire to your starter and a small wire to your starter, the big wire comes from the battery and the little wire is what makes the starter turn
on. First step is to take a test light and make sure it lights up at the big wire. Second step if first is good you test the small wire and test with the test light when you have someone try to crank the motor over. If the test light illuminates on both steps you need a starter.

 

If you keep trying to start it the starter motor may catch and start your jeep. that is If you do have a bad starter.

 

make sure your battery terminals are clean and tight...

 

Bingo^^^^ lights going off is either a battery or connection problem not starter .

 

THANKYOU guys!!!!! heres some more of the symptoms, it goes like this, i get in the jeep, everythings normal. put the key in turn it to right before it starts, then when it goes too start, it clicks one time and all the lights on the inside die

 

Do the lights stay off or come back when you release the key? Most of the relays that operate in the RUN position are off in the START position.

Is this an automatic transmission? Have you tried the NSS trick to start it in Neutral or wiggling the shifter? If it's a manual, is your floor mat stuck under the clutch?

 

When i release the key the lights slowly come back on like the battery power is low or something, ANd i have a manual Tranny if that makes any differance

 

Oh yeah. The engine will get nowhere near starting if your battery is pooched. Clean and reassemble all connections and have the battery load tested.

 

OK so i went and got the battery tested and its all good, they said it was a little low but they said it should be good, what would be the next major thing too check??

 

TEST STARTER!

All of your lights will turn off when you attempt to crank because that's how its designed; to give the starter max avalible power. Second if your starter is shot it can make a very high internal resistance. If you have power at your power feed and trigger wire like I said to test. Have someone hold the key in the start position and smack the starter with a hammer. If the starter moves at all or sounds like its trying to move you have a bad starter.

 

Not true

 

How about you take the starter off and take it to autozone and have them test it. 2 bolts and it comes out. By the sounds of if your gonna have to take it off anyway. It could be the solenoid on the starter. Put the key in the on position and there are two terminals on the cylinder solenoid on the starter. Use a screwdriver and complete the circuit in between the two. Either way as far as I know you can't just get the solenoid for an xj starter, that's what autozone told me. But definitly try giving it a good whack too.

 

So i tried smaking the starter with a hammer while my friend was holding the ignition and it started up, Does that mean that my starter is the main problem?

 

Yes you need a new one