Hello everyone! Got an interesting problem for you to ponder. Got home from work, jeep ran like a champ, however, went to run to the store, and the she won't turn over. All the interior lights and buzzers would come on until you try to start her, then there's a a slight clunk, then no lights, buzzers, for like 10 minutes or so. I had a new starter and ignition switch on hand for another project, so I replaced those. Also threw a new starter relay in for good measure, since I was throwing parts at it. Battery terminals were cleaned, tested the (relatively) new battery, checked and cleaned the grounds. Still the same problem. So I started tracing down the wires. I only have the Haynes for schematics, and I might be missing something. Is there a circuit breaker that perhaps might be going bad? Only other thing of relevance I can think of is that I put led lights in the interior, domes and gauges. Thanks for your help!

 

Sure sounds like a loose battery cable.

 

Sure does sound like a loose or corroded connection with the battery cables.

 

i also agree with the battery cables

 

When I get home tonight I will try to run down both cables again, both ends. I do have new terminals on the battery end.

 

It could be the cable wiring itself if the cables are very old. New cables are relatively inexpensive - it might be worthwhile to just go ahead and replace them.

 

Note from DJ
Here is a simple starter diagram

 

What kind? The cheapo, better-than-nothing-in-an-emergency kind that the auto parts stores sell?


El Cheapo Battery Terminal. Good for emergencies only.



If that's what you used, it was probably because you had a corrosion problem. You might think you cleaned it up, but that corrosion can wick up the cable under the jacket and cause a lot of problems. The only cure is a new cable.

You need to get rough with your cables. Yank, pull, shove, shake. If it's in good shape, it won't mind. If it's not, you'll find out what you need to do.


Check both battery and ground side, at both ends.


By the way, you can get custom replacements made at BestBoatWire, and get . Much mo' bettah.

 

Got her going, indeed was a battery cable, at the fuse box. The one place I didn't pull off and scrub down.

 

Yep, that's always the one!