Thanks, ya I have confidence I can do it, I just havent had to before so this will be a learning experience. I just ordered a starter and celenoid for 35 bucks from a wrecking yard and it will have a 6 month warranty

 

Ok so I just tried to arc jump it. I did it both ways and It didnt turn over. It was sparking at me but It didnt do anything more either way. what does that mean? theyre both bad?

 

At least the solenoid is. It isn't spinning to turn over the starter, good thing you plan to replace both.
If it's the original starter the teeth are probably fairly worn and it won't last a lot longer than the solenoid.

It's a quick little one hour job that makes you feel like you did something today.

 

A hammer is always fun. Also try to tighten and/or sand down the washer areas for better contact.

 

Yep, looks like its bad. Jumping the two large terminals, blue, should have run the starter motor. You say your battery is good. How do you know? Load tested it? Here is how you can check: check battery voltage engine off.It should read around 12 volts. Now, have someone try to start the engine while you check the voltage during the start. If the voltage goes down below say 9 volts your battery may not be good. The lower the reading the worse the battery.

Here is a link that describes the starting system. Here

The test that you did orange lines, was connect the thick red cable in diagram to the solenoid terminal. You should have heard a click and the starter should have turn over if solenoid is good. Test 2 blue lines, you are connecting thick red cable in diagram to starter terminal. The starter motor should have run.

Here is tutorial that may help.
If you replace the one you have, save the old one. Try replacing the contacts then have it tested. It may be a spare.

 

yeah my batter is charged, well almost topped off since I have had my domes on and locking and unlocking with not alternator to juice it up but it should have enough. I used an old set of pliers to arc the connections together. I dont need to do it from the battery through jumpercables rite? no Im not getting anything when I try and turn it over just a click. I can hear it fire through the fuse block. starter looks stock to me so maybe it finally comitted suicide

 

what about relays too. could it go bad? isnt there one in the fuse block or would that not be this issue

 

If you hear the click, that is the solenoid activating. It has a plunger that gets pulled in electrically. That is what you hear. It should then turn on the starter.

When the plunger gets pulled in, it touches copper contacts. The problem is the contacts wear over time and eventually the plunger does not make contact. So nothing happens. But, it could also be that the starter motor is bad. Check out that video if you can. It has good info.

The fact that the solenoid clicks indicates that the start circuit is good. You can check this with a volt meter while a helper trys to turn the engine on. You should get battery voltage at the solenoid terminal; small terminal.

 

Great info guys this has helped a ton. I will get my starter monday and put it in on tuesday because I have midterms monday.

also check out this thread, it has to do with this one but adding a kill switch in the mix, I would like to hear all of your 2 cents

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/sta...ch-idea-26621/

 

I was thinking of a bad ground wire to the engine. Could be. Try to connect your batt. negative and a place on the engine somewhere, then try to start.

 

Thanks to all who helped!!! I just replaced my starter with one from a wrecking yard jeep but its pretty new. and she fired rite up!!!!!! One more cherokee back on the road again!

 

Good show, it was not that hard. Feels satisfying right.