Starter won't disengage until I shift gears
#1
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Model: Cherokee
Starter won't disengage until I shift gears
hey all, just purchased a 97 XJ Cherokee a few days ago. High miles (184,000) but the engine runs smooth and it drives well, the automatic transmission seems OK while driving, seems to shift smoothly.......
My problem just started today. When I start the vehicle the starter motor continues to spin and won't disengage until I shift gears. I can start the vehicle in "park" and shift to any gear to get the starter to disengage, or I can start in "neutral" and shift to any gear to get the starter to disengage. I have already replaced the starter but that didn't solve the problem.
Some folks that I have talked to seem to think I might have a warped or cracked flex plate that is binding on the starter pinion gear and preventing it from disengaging until I shift gears which jars things loose and allows the pinion gear to retract back into the starter.....
Anyone else have any thoughts or similar experience?
Thanks!
My problem just started today. When I start the vehicle the starter motor continues to spin and won't disengage until I shift gears. I can start the vehicle in "park" and shift to any gear to get the starter to disengage, or I can start in "neutral" and shift to any gear to get the starter to disengage. I have already replaced the starter but that didn't solve the problem.
Some folks that I have talked to seem to think I might have a warped or cracked flex plate that is binding on the starter pinion gear and preventing it from disengaging until I shift gears which jars things loose and allows the pinion gear to retract back into the starter.....
Anyone else have any thoughts or similar experience?
Thanks!
#2
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Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
A thought just nutty enough I don't want to post it and confuse your thread. What if it's electronic? Could the relay/start circuit be keeping it engaged until you kill that via the Neutral Shifty switch by putting it in gear? If you put a meter or test light on your solenoid wire you could see if it's somehow getting power. OK, nevermind, ignore that! Nutty Idea.
#3
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Man, you are right on the money......as suggested I checked the switch on the starter solenoid and sure enough it had power even after releasing the key from the start position......
I tracked it back to the Car Alarm.......somehow the starter kill portion of the alarm was feeding power to the solenoid switch.........I bypassed the starter kill relay and now all is working correctly.......
Still doesn't make any sense to me why shifting gears would do anything to affect the Car Alarm, but I can figure the alarm stuff out later.......
I'm good to go.......Thank you!
I tracked it back to the Car Alarm.......somehow the starter kill portion of the alarm was feeding power to the solenoid switch.........I bypassed the starter kill relay and now all is working correctly.......
Still doesn't make any sense to me why shifting gears would do anything to affect the Car Alarm, but I can figure the alarm stuff out later.......
I'm good to go.......Thank you!
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Year: 90,84
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The NSS grounds the starter relay. When you put it in gear the relay has no ground and does nothing.
And your welcome! Can I steal your Jeep now?
And your welcome! Can I steal your Jeep now?
Last edited by DFlintstone; 10-17-2011 at 12:34 AM.
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