Hey all, trying to get back into the Jeep world. Found a 96 Sport 4dr 4.0 automatic for sale, I went and checked it out today and I need some advice. The owner says she was at a light and hit the gas when it turned green, and it died. So when I went out to look at it, I tried jumping it and it would turn over (barely, it was extremely slow) maybe three or four times and then just start clicking, acted like a dead battery, except it was hooked up to a jump vehicle. I've always been under the impression that this isn't the mode of failure for a starter. The gauge read 12 to 13-ish volts when connected but dropped below 9 when trying to start. Ignition and battery are brand new, (battery was just dead from sitting). Also, it wont crank in neutral, only park, but I assume if it was the NSS, it wouldnt crank in P either. The engine bay was super clean, and from a simple observation, the grounds looked good but I didn't mess with them too much. No blown fuses. Only code is an O2 sensor. I initially thought it was the alternator due to the stalling at the light thing, but it should still crank and fire with a jump, right?


The interior looks like its been set on fire at least three times, then used as a homeless shelter for two years straight, before finally serving as a bombing test site for the Air Force. Its bad. But functional for the time being. Rust has claimed half of the passenger rocker panel, started its invasion on the drivers rocker panel, and is currently on a side mission to the drivers floor pan as well. All still repairable. But it has 174k which isn't terrible for a 4.0, brand new tires, and most importantly, she needs it gone ASAP so she'll take $650 for it. For $650, I want to believe it's as simple as a starter but in the 20+ vehicles I've owned, I've been fortunate enough to never have to deal with a bad starter so I have no idea if this is a way that a starter can fail or if it's something more serious. Should I run or did I strike a diamond in the rough here?