Im brand new to the forum so i hope im in the right place. I just picked up a 94 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The guy i bought it from did some off roading and jerry rigged a lot of stuff. Now im having issues.

A few days after i got it the battery died. It was old so i put a new one in. Drove for a day, died again. Put in a new alternator as well as a tune up, plugs, wires, cap & rotor. It drove for a few days after that then died if i drove it a lot. I would let it sit, then it would start.

Now its totally dead. Wants to turn over but makes the dead battery sound. I had the battery checked but its fine. I did the short test with a single clamp light. So i took the positive canle off then put the light on the battery terminal. Took fuses out one by one until tue fuse for the Fuse Box finally turned the light out. So thats a short somewhere right? Could it be the computer or fuse bow its self? Im stuck with a lemon and need help. Thanks!

 

First off check all your ground cables and connections. A bad ground will cause many problems---check at the battery, at the power distribution box, fuse box, alternator---also sounds like you need a multimeter. They are relatively cheap....a few other things you can check---- battery voltage with the Jeep off, should be around 12.5...then check it with the Jeep on (jump start it if you have to) should be around 13.8......as far as fuses go you should pull them one at a time and check them with the multi-meter

 

I picked up a multi meter today. I also replaced both battery cables. Is it ok if the negative is ground to the body? It was like that but i normally ground them to the block. Ill start checking my other grounds.

Once I changed my battery cables I tried to start it again and nothing. Maybe the starter?

 

is it clicking? trying to turn over? what is you battery voltage?..... it could be the starter if you have voltage and you get nothing. If so You can try and tap the side of it with a hammer.

 

It should have at least one big cable going to ground on the engine block for the starter to have enough juice. Usually right under the coil mount.

 

I figured it out. I replaced the battery cable and rewired from the loom to the starter and replaced the plug that goes to the coil. No more short!