Won't start - single click
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 722
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Just put a new starter on the Jeep, when trying to start it I get one click and that's it.
- Cleaned all battery terminals
- Check engine ground strap
- Drilled a new ground on the positive cable next to the battery
- Cleaned the connection for the positive cable on alternator
- The crank moves freely when wrenched on
When I turn the key forward, everything inside the truck has power (radio, lights). I tired putting it in Neutral and Park numerous times without having any luck. What do you guys think - bad NSS?
Thanks for any helpful input.
- Cleaned all battery terminals
- Check engine ground strap
- Drilled a new ground on the positive cable next to the battery
- Cleaned the connection for the positive cable on alternator
- The crank moves freely when wrenched on
When I turn the key forward, everything inside the truck has power (radio, lights). I tired putting it in Neutral and Park numerous times without having any luck. What do you guys think - bad NSS?
Thanks for any helpful input.
Last edited by CrawlinPepper; Aug 3, 2013 at 05:37 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Update: Just check it out and it is not the NSS. In Neutral and Park it clicks, when in Drive it does nothing. The NSS is doing it's job.
Could it be the Starter Switch?
Could it be the Starter Switch?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 722
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Yes, the battery is good.
We tried jumping it from another battery and it yielded the same results. We even took out the current battery and hooked the cables directly to the other battery and, again, the same results.
I bridged the starter posts (the orange lines below) and yielded the same clicks, no engine turnover.

I am thinking it has to be a bad ground somewhere before the starter. I am going to cut open the wire covers for them and see if there is any connection issues.
We tried jumping it from another battery and it yielded the same results. We even took out the current battery and hooked the cables directly to the other battery and, again, the same results.
I bridged the starter posts (the orange lines below) and yielded the same clicks, no engine turnover.

I am thinking it has to be a bad ground somewhere before the starter. I am going to cut open the wire covers for them and see if there is any connection issues.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 722
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
The car wouldn't start the other day, thought the battery was shot but it wouldn't start with a jump either. Pulled the starter, took it to get tested, and it actually checked out fine but then started to smoke from the electrical connections so I ordered a new one.
Switched all relays and still getting the same results. Leaning towards a bad ground. The negative battery cable ground, engine ground strap, and all positive connections have been cleaned. Cleaning the negative battery cable to engine block connection now since it was really mucked up.
Switched all relays and still getting the same results. Leaning towards a bad ground. The negative battery cable ground, engine ground strap, and all positive connections have been cleaned. Cleaning the negative battery cable to engine block connection now since it was really mucked up.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 722
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Cleaned the connection and still have the same issue. My next guess is the Ignition Switch.
If the ignition switch was bad, wouldn't the starter not click at all when trying to start the truck?
If the ignition switch was bad, wouldn't the starter not click at all when trying to start the truck?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 722
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
That's what I am thinking. I am done working on it for the day. I'm going to take the new starter to get tested tomorrow morning.
We have tested just about every connection possible that could contribute to an issue like this. The battery is fine, the connections are fine, yet, when we put the battery cables onto the posts we hardly get a spark. We have voltage, just no amps. I am thinking it may be the new starter relay causing the loss of amps. I will post up tomorrow with progress but in the mean time any additional advice is greatly appreciated.
We have tested just about every connection possible that could contribute to an issue like this. The battery is fine, the connections are fine, yet, when we put the battery cables onto the posts we hardly get a spark. We have voltage, just no amps. I am thinking it may be the new starter relay causing the loss of amps. I will post up tomorrow with progress but in the mean time any additional advice is greatly appreciated.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
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From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Load test the battery. Just because it shows 12 volts and the lights come on does not mean the battery is good. How old is the battery?


