Need Help Please!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Washington State
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: V-8
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 0
From: Yakima
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
If you try to start it and hear a clicking noise instead of it turning over, the issue is the starter itself or a bad battery/loose corroded connections/grounds. The fact that you hear the solenoid clicking is an indication of it not getting sufficient voltage/ground to turn the starter, or that it is bad. Usually when the starter solenoid goes bad it wont click at all but that doesnt mean the starter itself isnt bad.
How long ago had it been run? If the engine is seized up, maybe thats why it wont turn over, but i really doubt that scenario.
How long ago had it been run? If the engine is seized up, maybe thats why it wont turn over, but i really doubt that scenario.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore, Maryland
Year: 1994 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Hi, I'm very new to this forum. Not sure if this is where I should post this or not. Neither my husband nor I know anything about cars for the most part. I mean we can change spark plugs, check fuses, my husband can check and charge the battery, and check the starter. But that's it.
We got a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee as a Christmas gift from my stepfather-in-law just this past year. It worked fine till shortly after we got it home, now it won't start and the Owner's manual is no help. My husband has Aspergers syndrome which is a form of functional autism. He gets very anxious about things he doesn't know anything about or doesn't understand.
The issues with the car have been giving him panic attacks. He has checked everything he knows how to do, i.e. check the battery, the starter, and the fuses. He doesn't know what else to do and due to his Aspergers syndrome the thought of trying to ask anyone for help sends him into a state of near hysteria.
When he turns the ignition key, nothing happens. There is a soft clicking noise at most in the engine near the fuse box but that's it. The car has power, the lights turn on, the windows roll up and down, etc... it just won't even turn over. I'm doing my best to help him with this, but I know less about cars than he does.
If anyone could help give us some idea's on what else to check and or what else we can do it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much.
We got a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee as a Christmas gift from my stepfather-in-law just this past year. It worked fine till shortly after we got it home, now it won't start and the Owner's manual is no help. My husband has Aspergers syndrome which is a form of functional autism. He gets very anxious about things he doesn't know anything about or doesn't understand.
The issues with the car have been giving him panic attacks. He has checked everything he knows how to do, i.e. check the battery, the starter, and the fuses. He doesn't know what else to do and due to his Aspergers syndrome the thought of trying to ask anyone for help sends him into a state of near hysteria.
When he turns the ignition key, nothing happens. There is a soft clicking noise at most in the engine near the fuse box but that's it. The car has power, the lights turn on, the windows roll up and down, etc... it just won't even turn over. I'm doing my best to help him with this, but I know less about cars than he does.
If anyone could help give us some idea's on what else to check and or what else we can do it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 639
Likes: 3
From: lake stevens, wa
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
turn the key to the 'on' position (2 clicks forward) .. making VERY SURE the vehicle is in park with the e-brake firmly set, have your husband go under the truck and use a screwdriver to short the 2 connections on the starter (the heavy guage wire from the battery and the smaller wire going into the solenoid)
if the jeep still doesn't crank, your starter is toast
if the jeep does crank over, then the problem lies somewhere else up the chain. could be a break in the line, or a faulty starter relay.
try this and report back what happens
edit.. this goes without saying, but make sure he stays away from any moving parts under there when he tries this. resting his hand near a fan or belt could go very badly if jumping the starter is successful
if the jeep still doesn't crank, your starter is toast
if the jeep does crank over, then the problem lies somewhere else up the chain. could be a break in the line, or a faulty starter relay.
try this and report back what happens
edit.. this goes without saying, but make sure he stays away from any moving parts under there when he tries this. resting his hand near a fan or belt could go very badly if jumping the starter is successful
Last edited by uber; Jun 3, 2013 at 12:37 AM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Washington State
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: V-8
turn the key to the 'on' position (2 clicks forward) .. making VERY SURE the vehicle is in park with the e-brake firmly set, have your husband go under the truck and use a screwdriver to short the 2 connections on the starter (the heavy guage wire from the battery and the smaller wire going into the solenoid)
if the jeep still doesn't crank, your starter is toast
if the jeep does crank over, then the problem lies somewhere else up the chain. could be a break in the line, or a faulty starter relay.
try this and report back what happens
edit.. this goes without saying, but make sure he stays away from any moving parts under there when he tries this. resting his hand near a fan or belt could go very badly if jumping the starter is successful
if the jeep still doesn't crank, your starter is toast
if the jeep does crank over, then the problem lies somewhere else up the chain. could be a break in the line, or a faulty starter relay.
try this and report back what happens
edit.. this goes without saying, but make sure he stays away from any moving parts under there when he tries this. resting his hand near a fan or belt could go very badly if jumping the starter is successful
I would also just like to say thank you to everyone who has been responding with such helpful advice so far.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Washington State
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: V-8
If you try to start it and hear a clicking noise instead of it turning over, the issue is the starter itself or a bad battery/loose corroded connections/grounds. The fact that you hear the solenoid clicking is an indication of it not getting sufficient voltage/ground to turn the starter, or that it is bad. Usually when the starter solenoid goes bad it wont click at all but that doesnt mean the starter itself isnt bad.
How long ago had it been run? If the engine is seized up, maybe thats why it wont turn over, but i really doubt that scenario.
How long ago had it been run? If the engine is seized up, maybe thats why it wont turn over, but i really doubt that scenario.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore, Maryland
Year: 1994 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
You are a good man to make such an offer. 
Just as a quick aside... If the original posters husbands anxiety disorders are as bad as they sound I would strongly suggest skipping the trying to start the Jeep from underneath with a screw driver on the starter. That can be a stressful and anxious thing to do for anyone but just going from my own experience having OCD and general anxiety disorders myself that would put me into a fit 
Just as a quick aside... If the original posters husbands anxiety disorders are as bad as they sound I would strongly suggest skipping the trying to start the Jeep from underneath with a screw driver on the starter. That can be a stressful and anxious thing to do for anyone but just going from my own experience having OCD and general anxiety disorders myself that would put me into a fit
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 0
From: oregon
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 ho 99 intake ps pump 1" tb spacer 62mm bored tb eletric fans and more
I might sugest checking the ground wire to the starter freinds jeep did this we ran a new ground wire and it started right up. but getting help from someone on here or a mechanic is pry your best bet sometimes a expericenced eye goes along way
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Washington State
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: V-8
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Washington State
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: V-8
You are a good man to make such an offer. Just as a quick aside... If the original posters husbands anxiety disorders are as bad as they sound I would strongly suggest skipping the trying to start the Jeep from underneath with a screw driver on the starter. That can be a stressful and anxious thing to do for anyone but just going from my own experience having OCD and general anxiety disorders myself that would put me into a fit
Just as a quick aside... If the original posters husbands anxiety disorders are as bad as they sound I would strongly suggest skipping the trying to start the Jeep from underneath with a screw driver on the starter. That can be a stressful and anxious thing to do for anyone but just going from my own experience having OCD and general anxiety disorders myself that would put me into a fit
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Washington State
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: V-8
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Washington State
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: V-8
I would like to thank NWHunter so much for coming out and helping us with our Jeep. It did turn out to be the starter. NWHunter and his friend took the old starter off and ran my mate over to pick up a new one. With the new starter in the car started up like a dream.
Thank you also to everyone who was so kind to us, you have all helped restore some of our faith in humanity.
Thank you also to everyone who was so kind to us, you have all helped restore some of our faith in humanity.