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she wont start!!

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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 09:59 AM
  #1  
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From: chandler AZ
Year: 1992
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Default she wont start!!

my 92 xj wouldnt start yesterday. i checked the battery it was fine. when i turn the key on everything turns on (lights, radio, etc.) but when you turn to start everything turns off. i dont know what to do. HELP!!!
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 10:19 AM
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when you checked the battery, how did you know it was "fine"

you could have a bad alt. you could have a bad battery.
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 11:31 AM
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Sounds like a bad battery not holding a charge. Same thing happened in my 2000 WJ. Radio turned on, etc but not enough voltage to turn starter. Go get the battery tested at auto parts store. It's free.
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 11:35 AM
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sounds like your nss.

try shifting into neutral to start.

you may have to hold the key in the start position while you wiggle the shifter slightly between reverse and drive, in neutral.

or you can try jumping the starter...

check to see if you have any reverse lights.
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by jakbob
when you checked the battery, how did you know it was "fine"

you could have a bad alt. you could have a bad battery.
i checked the voltage and the cca the battery is rated for 525cca and it tested over 600 cca the bettery is only about 6 months old
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by caged
sounds like your nss.

try shifting into neutral to start.

you may have to hold the key in the start position while you wiggle the shifter slightly between reverse and drive, in neutral.

or you can try jumping the starter...

check to see if you have any reverse lights.
this didnt work either... and the reverse lights do come on.

im leaning towards the alternator or the ignition coil?
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Muaddib420
Sounds like a bad battery not holding a charge. Same thing happened in my 2000 WJ. Radio turned on, etc but not enough voltage to turn starter. Go get the battery tested at auto parts store. It's free.
the battery has almost 12 volts and the cca is over 600
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 01:23 PM
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pretty sure your battery should be at 13.6.

or it could be your starter relay

or it could be your ignition switch
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 05:57 PM
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My bet, there is a thin crust of oxidization preventing current from getting from the post on the battery to the terminal. It can look fine, even good, but you gotta have shiny lead there. I've been trouble free there there for over 10 years using plain old bearing grease, but nobody will like that idea.

Battery gasses coat the lead on a "micro" scale. You can feel the crunch when your pocket knife cuts it away. shiny! (Lol), good luck!
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 09:53 PM
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Originally Posted by DFlintstone
My bet, there is a thin crust of oxidization preventing current from getting from the post on the battery to the terminal. It can look fine, even good, but you gotta have shiny lead there. I've been trouble free there there for over 10 years using plain old bearing grease, but nobody will like that idea.

Battery gasses coat the lead on a "micro" scale. You can feel the crunch when your pocket knife cuts it away. shiny! (Lol), good luck!
I'm thinking the same thing. Bad connection to the battery, starter or one of the main grounds. They'll pass enough current to operate the accessories but not enough to turn the starter.
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 11:02 PM
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i figured it out! it was the ignition switch.... just a little bit of pounding on the steering column fixed it
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 11:12 PM
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Originally Posted by wilson00777
i figured it out! it was the ignition switch.... just a little bit of pounding on the steering column fixed it
better get a new one and carry it around never seeen that repair method in any vechicle repair manual...lol...
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 11:36 PM
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Originally Posted by freegdr
better get a new one and carry it around never seeen that repair method in any vechicle repair manual...lol...
ha me either!!! but the switch is only $13 so i hope its easy!!
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 11:37 PM
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Originally Posted by wilson00777
ha me either!!! but the switch is only $13 so i hope its easy!!
the electric or key switch
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 11:39 PM
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Originally Posted by freegdr
the electric or key switch
the electric switch
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