1987XJ4.0i6

1987 Jeep Cherokee limited, 4.0. I removed the full dash and repaired some wires. It sat for about a week and I tried to start it but it wouldn't. I tried jump starting it and got nothing. I took the starter out today and it passed every test at O'Rielly's. When I try to start it nothing happens, my friend said he could hear a click, just one when ever I tried to start it. I just need to know what to check, where it is and how to check or repair it. I'm not the most mechanically inclined but I'm stubborn and will get this Jeep back in the mud! Its my daily driver and I'm a college student so this has been a major problem for me.

Radi

Start @ the starter motor and work your way back. If you short the two large terminals on the starter solenoid,(one goes to the battery +, other to the starter motor) does the starter kick over?
If so, check the small third wire on the starter solenoid. Should have +12V when you turn the key to start. I do not know where the circuit goes from there on your year, but I'd suspect there's a "start" relay somewhere, driven by the ignition key.

freegdr

You have head lights ?

jamurrin

I'd look at the battery, too....working under the dash, you might easily have frayed a wire, or some type of parasitic draw.

Even if you are not electrically minded, a cheap multimeter can be had for a few bucks and would probably be a good investment.

Good Luck.

1987XJ4.0i6

Yeah, I needed to splice a new female plug for the headlight switch and like an idiot I didn't unhook the battery so the wire (which I'm guessing is a ground) that connects to the tab on the back of the switch started smoking and cooked its insulation off all the way till about 2 inches from the factory splice (the ducktaped block of copper where 6 or so black wires become 2). I spliced a new wire on those last 2 inches and fixed all of the wires it had harmed when it was frying itself. Although my headlights do work, I must have gotten something wrong as my dashlights do not come on, a couple of the wires going into the female plug looked the same.

1987XJ4.0i6

There is one I can use so this weekend I will look up how to use it, the battery was tested the night I tried to start it and it had 12.5 volts, that should have been enough to start it.

freegdr

Turn head lights on and have some one try and start . If headlights dim or go off its current /connection issue if they stay bright its nss/starter issue.

freegdr

Automatic trans ?

1987XJ4.0i6

Yeah its an automagic

freegdr

Do post 7 ^^^^.

freegdr

Another test for nss is see if reverse light work.

1987XJ4.0i6

Alright, thanks alot ,I have class then I'm going fishing today so I will report back tomorrow after I have tried #7.

1987XJ4.0i6

Its alive! I cleaned the nss out, refreshed grounds and it started right up. Thanks for all the help. Oh and I replaced the terminals on the battery cables.

cruiser54

Imagine that!!

Now click on the link in my signature and be sure you did #1 correctly and thoroughly.

Then do 2 through 5. Basic stuff, and free!!

1987XJ4.0i6

That is where I went when I did the ground refreshing lol, I was unble to get the bolt off of the back of the head for the braided wire but I refreshed everything else.