I've got a 96' Cherokee with the 4.0 liter and it hasn't started since last week. I have noticed in the last few weeks that the car was becoming slower and slower to start.

It's done this before way back around March, but I left it alone for a day and it started up normally the next.

I am out of ideas, but here's what I do know.

The battery is good, there's power throughout the car (I initially thought it was the battery and even ended up replacing it), dome lights come on, lights come on no problem, and the voltage meter on the car dash states that the battery is in good health.

The starter is also good apparently as I yanked it out yesterday and got it tested at the auto store and it passed 3 times. When I went home and reinstalled the starter, the car started up again but did so barely. I went back out this morning and tried to fire her up again but nothing.

So....anyone want to give me any tips or ideas as to what is wrong with her? I am trying not to tow it anywhere as I like having the satisfaction of fixing this thing on my own.

That's all I have got....

I'll try and answer any questions I can.

 

So the battery is good, even when its not starting. Does it start if you try to jump it?

Im guessing the battery itself isnt being drained, and you're not having to charge it..?

Something sounds like you're not getting power from the battery to the starter...wiring? Maybe theres a crimped wire that works but is easily jolted to not work if moved or something...

When it wont start, can you turn the ignition to accessory and get full ampage, use the radio, headlights, etc? If the battery is good, and not drained, then its simply not getting voltage to the starter..

 

Yep, I can turn the ignition to accessory and get full power throughout the car. Windows, door locks, radio, lights inside/out. How can I fix the voltage problem to the starter? Would a battery cable be the culprit?

 

if the ignition position is at 'accessory' and it reads full amps, Im doubting its a battery cable...if a cable was bad or loose, it would show the ampage dropping...but it sounds like you have full power from the battery to most things, just not to the ignition system itself..I wonder if because of the type of starter, there is a solenoid in your engine bay that needs to be replaced..but id imagine something like that (like a fuse) goes bad, its bad.

im not an expert in electronics, Im more mechanical. Hopefully someone with more insight on this can chime in...Im currently dealing with a similar issue with an alternator not charging a perfectly good battery

 

maybe you should consider other things.

One is the possibility of hydrostatic lock. You can get this a couple of ways including unburnt fuel building up in the cylinders and when the pistons goes to the top of the chamber, it gets harder and harder to crank since gas (or water or oil) is incompressable.

How can you tell? You take out a spark plug and peek inside a chamber. If it is full of fluid, you know why it is getting harder to crank.

Something to think about.

 

Is the starter turning over or is it just cranking without catching? If it's cranking and not catching maybe it's not getting enough fuel. Longer cranks have meant fuel pumps in the past for me. Maybe it's been going bad?

 

Does the motor turn over when you are trying to start it or does it just click? If it is turning over it is defiantly not the starter. The next thing i would look at is spark and fuel delivery.

 

wat....

 

I know the fuel pump is working because I can hear it chime in when I turn the ignition to accessory on. But the starter won't even try to engage now, I'll turn the key all the way and it just doesn't fire up. So I am thinking that insufficient power is being supplied to the starter and I would like to know what I can do to correct this.

I also checked the starter fuse and...it looks okay.

 

tap the starter with hammer if ti turns over replace starter

 

You may just have a bad starter. Tapping it with a hammer may jar the internals and get it to work. Some of the auto shops test the starter under no load. The starter may work under no load but may not have power to turn the engine over.

If the battery is good, the cables are good and the ignition starting circuit is good. I would look at the starter.

 

another option...

buy a new refurbished, replacement starter.
install it.
if it runs flawlessly non-stop now, its the starter.
if it doesnt start and does the exact same thing off and on, remove the new starter, make sure its perfectly clean and presentable, and take it back. Shouldnt need a reason or excuse, just say it was the wrong one and it'll have a return policy.

trial and error. If its not the starter after that, move on.

EDIT:: or even better, go grab a starter from a Junk Yard/Pick n Pull for cheap! or off CL

and like freegdr said, Ive done that on an old Pathfinder, it worked when id hit it, but otherwise wouldnt work right. so i replaced it and the problem went a way. dont beat it, just give it some good taps with a thick screw driver or hammer and turning it over (ignition)

 

Hah, you guys were right. It ended up being a bad starter.

Despite the old one passing the tests I bit the bullet and got a new one and installed it just 10 minutes ago and she fired right up.

Thanks for the input dudes!

 

 

it probably was the soleniod cuz when you take it to auto shops to test them they usually bypass the soleniod, this just happened on my jeep and had to get it replaced