Help! I think my alternator died!!!
CF Veteran

Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 9
From: Georgia
Year: 99 94
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: I6
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 15,016
Likes: 11
From: +34° 25' 35.67", -81° 21' 12.04"
Year: 1993
Engine: 4.0
Before I get long winded about how to check for that I'm still confused by how all this started. It was running fine, you smelled smoke, heard a whining noise, lights flickered and then you cut it off and it wouldn't start back up? Is that right?
Happens to the best of us.
Forgive me for not going back and reading this whole thread but what year is it? An oft overlooked culprit for a non start issue is the cam sensor if newer than 00. A whirring noise could be a bad bushing in that shaft.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Year: 1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport
I heard a low whining noise over the last few days but Monday night it was constant. I smelled a burnt smell, off and on that day too. I pulled into the driveway, lights went dim and flickered. Then I cut the car off and started it back up but the headlights weren't on. Only the park lights. Then I turned it off and cut it back on and the same thing happened so I just went into the house. Next morning, I tried to start it up, lights and radio were fine but the car wouldn't fully start.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Year: 1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport
Ok, but I might not get to this until the morning because I gotta go get my daughter now. Please hang in there with me. I bought the voltmeter like you said. Please stay with me.
Where do I get the wiring diagram? Online?
Wait, is the voltmeter and multimeter the same thing?
Where do I get the wiring diagram? Online?
Wait, is the voltmeter and multimeter the same thing?
Last edited by WomanNeedsJeepExpertise; Apr 9, 2014 at 03:25 PM.
Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: Lawrence, MI
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Whoa back the pony up. Lets start simple. From the video the engine sounds like it has compression.
Lets find out if it has spark. Pull off the spark plug wire closest to the front and remove the spark plug. Connect the wire to the removed plug and lay it on top of the Ac compressor.
Now very important step pull the dipstick and smell the oil. Does it smell like gas? If so STOP your jeep is flooded. You will need to pull all the plugs and dry them and then drain and refill the oil.
If the oil smells like oil then you can simply have someone crank the engine while you watch the plug and see if it sparks.
If it sparks then we can move on to fuel.
Lets find out if it has spark. Pull off the spark plug wire closest to the front and remove the spark plug. Connect the wire to the removed plug and lay it on top of the Ac compressor.
Now very important step pull the dipstick and smell the oil. Does it smell like gas? If so STOP your jeep is flooded. You will need to pull all the plugs and dry them and then drain and refill the oil.
If the oil smells like oil then you can simply have someone crank the engine while you watch the plug and see if it sparks.
If it sparks then we can move on to fuel.


