coloradojeepxjowner

This morning my 02' would not start. I would turn the key and hear a slight cluck or thump coming the starter but nothing else would happen. I got a ride to work and came back to it about 10 hours later, with jumper cables and some help. Turned the key and she started right up. I assumed it was a battery issue, so I took it down to the local autozone to have them test their battery i purchased less than 3 months ago. The battery tested fine, I shut the jeep off ( not thinking that it wouldn't start again ) so they could test the starter and alternator. They tested fine and I replaced the starter thinking it could just a have minor "bad spot" that was not allowing it to engage. I check and all fuses, relays, and wiggled every wire I could get my hands on before it became dark. But all in all my Jeep now sits in front of a Autozone. I am at a complete loss

mxpxpunkrock1987

well if it clicks and no start its the starter not engauging means either your main power wire is bad or the starter is bad it can happen the true way to test the starter is taking it out and bench testing it

coloradojeepxjowner

The old starter was bench tested 4 times and never fail, but I still replaced it with a brand new one.

coloradojeepxjowner

Is there a way to force the starter to spin to so I can at least drive the jeep home, or to a mechanic shop. bypassing the relays and such?

mxpxpunkrock1987

u can theres a wire on the starter u need to disconnect it and use a jumper wire to the power be carefull when under make sure the ignition is on to do it tho it will start right up had to do this to an 03 durango a while back

dave1123

Check your positive (+) battery cable clamp. Even though it looks good and feels tight, it may not be making good contact. I had this same problem on my 97 ZJ. If the two sides of the clamp at the bolt are touching, it's not making good pressure on the battery post. I fixed mine by taking it off the post, taking the bolt out, and cutting the slot wider with a dremel. It's probably making enough contact to turn everything on but not enough to pull the amps that the starter needs.

Check it out! Loosen it up, spread the clamp open, put a piece of metal between the clamp and the post, and tighten it up. I used a strip of brass shim stock and it started right up. You could probably use aluminum foil, but it might melt under 100 amp load. Get it home and fix it right. I could have replaced the clamp, but I didn't want to cut off the factory clamp.

coloradojeepxjowner

Well Dave1123 you were on the right track. My entire charging system wiring harness was corroded from the inside. All the ends were good and clean, but the internal corrosion caused too much resistance for the starter to work properly. So $500 bucks later and couple days without my jeep. The dealership has finished with it. At least the mechanic had said this was one of the only times he had seen corrosion like that so far deep inside the wire.

dave1123

I know you live in Colorado, but is sounds like it was parked in salt water for a while. I wonder if the guys that were in Sandy will have problems like this.