So the previous owner had hot wired the jeep and had a hot wire switch to turn on the ignition switch. so it was real ghetto. I didnt mind it. it made it run funny because the fuel pump was constantly on and super loud. So it had a charging problem. So i decided to undo the switch. I replaced the alternator, ignition switch, and the starter solenoid. The problem was that there was no wire from the battery to the solenoid. I wired it all up the right way. But now i turn it over no problem with the key no problem, But now when it is in neutral or park the starter grinds. when my foot was on the brake the grinding stops. Any ideas of what this may be?

 

Something is seriously whack.

I'd guess you have the ignition switch portion wired up incorrectly.

Sounds like the starter is running constantly...

 

is it possible to have the ignition switch plugged in wrong? I dont think you can switch the plug in around?

 

Is it possible that the starter is not stopping and constantly going, so that is draining my battery? so would a starter relay do that?

 

I have the thick red wire going from the starter to the pos.battery terminal. Then i have a wire going from the pos. battery terminal to the solenoid. And i have the alternator wire going to the solenoid. At the moment i have the alt. wire going to the battery terminal. Is this all correct? the wires going to the solenoid are correct. im just not sure about the alt. wire. The wires from the ignition switch have not been altered, nor has the plug in wires going to the alt.

 

bump?!

 

no one?

 

One battery positive is supposed to go to the solenoid. A second wire feeds from the starter relay in the fuse/relay box under the hood to the small terminal on the solenoid that is the switch wire for the solenoid to activate and run the starter when the key is turned. Sound to me like you have something wired wrong causing the starter to just run and run. On my 95 this is how its wired up cause I just had to diagnose a starter issue so im 100% sure on this. Alt feed for mine runs directly to fuse box under hood. Running to the battery is the exact same electrical connection. Also the year of you jeep would be helpful for us to give you the right info.

 

its an 88. there is no fuse box. im guessing i dont have the solenoid wires correct

 

Even on the renix years the solenoid is the same as the later models to my knowledge. From what research got me when I was looking up my problem is that the renix jeeps had a starter relay separate from the power distribution side of the system. It worked the same as the later PDCs but just set up differently.

 

do you have a diagram of the solenoid or pics?

 

Of the starter side or the relay side?

 

The starter solenoid, with 5 prongs and a post.