lexdfox

My beloved 2000 cherokee stopped starting yesterday. Before it wouldn't turn over, it would take a little bit to start, you could tell by the sound that it was barely turning over. Finally yesterday I went to start it and nothing. Everything else seems fine, the dash lights up and the radio turns on when i put in the key, but when i go to turn it over....nothing.

My cherokee is a 5 speed manual, and I was able to roll-start it, all seemed fine driving wise after i got it going, although after a minute of running the battery light on the dash lit up, which it had been doing for a about a week before it wouldn't start, but the battery is fairly new and i just cleaned the +/- terminals.

I'm thinking its the starter, but I'm seriously at a loss here, and not too mechanically inclined, what could it be?

lurk520

a defective battery or bad alternator, you can have them tested at a local parts store like Auto Zone for free.

87xjDave

Had the same slow cranking on my jeep and tested the battery which was ok, turned out to be the starter motor, replaced starter and now engine cranks over great.
I would check out your starter.
Good luck.

tjwalker

Verify battery and charging system first. Parts stores will do this for you for free.

If the above checks out, get a meter and with the key in the ON position, check the voltage directly at the starter.

If the voltage at the starter is approx. the same as battery voltage, the problem is the starter. If the voltage is NOT the same, you need to start working your way back into the engine bay to find out why (ie: voltage drop due to a bad cable, etc).