joepeace87

1989 Cherokee 4.0L AT. New NSS, BATT, Starter, fuses and grounds all good. But still won't crank. I hear the pump kick on when I turn to start but nothing from starter not even a click. Any ideas? Thanks for your help!

FL Denmark

do you have signal from ignitionswitch to starter ?
have friend turn the key while you are testing at the thin wire on the starter.
if the is no signal, there is your problem. trace it backwards to the ignitionswitch

good luck

FL Denmark

also check your groundwires from battery to body

Xjjeep93

If you replaced all of the things u said then it could be the ignition switch or ignition module. But before u spend money on parts you may not need I would jump a hot wire to the small wire on the starter solenoid to make sure you didn't get a bad starter, I've put on bad ones before. If the starter dose not engage replace solenoid or take it back to where you got it. If the starter turns over then for some reason the wire from the ignition switch is not becoming hot when the key is turned over. Pull the covers off the steering column and the dash below. Find the wires coming down the column and test each one with a test light while the key is in the start position. One wire should hot, if not then problem lies towards the ignition switch if it is hot then the problem is towards the module.

joepeace87

Thanks for your help! Will troubleshoot some more asap

Bustedback

WTF? The ignition module has nothing to do with the engine cranking over.

bigjustice91

My guess is if it does absolutely nothing when turning the key (no click and the lights don't dim) and the battery fully charged, then there's a bad connection somewhere. But given the circumstances there are alot of suspects, so don't go buying parts blindly. If there is a click when turning the key I would say it's the starter

Bustedback

Put a test light on the small terminal on the starter when turning the key in the start position, if it lights up and the starter does nothing you need a starter. No light means there is an open in the circuit between the switch and solenoid.

bigvig

Im with bustedback on this one. Youve more than likely got a bad connection or starter. Ive heard of people KNOWING they had a bad starter, getting a new one only to have it make no difference, making them think it wasnt the starter. You can get a bad starter off the shelf.

Xjjeep93

Your right I was wrong about that but there's no need to get rude a simply your wrong would have done.

joepeace87

Latest update is starter has power and trys to turn over engine. But starts to smoke and can't turn engine. I turned over engine with breaker bar and it turns over fairly easy except for one small spot. It's not crazy hard but alittle more stiff. Bad starter? autozone tested starter but thats on a free spin with no load on gear. Any thoughts?

Bustedback

You already have the starter out, might as well put a new one in.

joepeace87

Finally fixed!!!! Bad starter. Tested good by autozone, but it was bad. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowlegde.