My Jeep GC Laredo 5.2 V8 won't start. It'll crank once or twice real slow like it's got a dead battery, then tick a lot at the starter. I took the old battery out, trickle charged it for a few hours, then it started and ran for like half hour (Was cleaning the engine). This morning I come out to try to start it, and it's dead. So I put my better battery in from my other Jeep, which is fully charged, and it still does the same thing. I'm thinking it's the starter solenoid, but I'm not sure. I even hooked it up and jumped it today, and tried starting it with the other vehicle revving a little bit, and same result. Any thoughts? Also! It's a longshot, but they look similar, is the 4.0 I6 starter the same as the 5.2?

 

The I6 and 5.2 starters are different. You need to make sure you have voltage at the small wire on the solenoid while cranking.

 

I figured, was worth a shot. Does anyone know if the Solenoids are interchangeable between the I6 starter and the 5.2 starter?

 

I'm sure that varies with manufacturers.

 

sounds like bad connections either at solenoid or batter

 

Mines been doing that for over a year (94 5.2) Just smack the starter with a hammer. It usually wont do it for me for another couple months after I do that.


And most likely it is the starter itself, not the solonoid. I am gonna try to take mine apart and clean it good b4 I buy a new one, Its not my DD so I can afford the down time.

 

To diagnose starter issues you need to start with a good fully charged battery. Good battery cables. Clean n tight terminals at the battery, ground and starter. The starter requires a lot of electrical energy to function properly. A problem with any of the mentioned items could cause a weak starter operation. Start with this and see how starter performs.

 

I have done this before myself. The only thing about this trick is when it decides not to work for you anymore you are probably going to be somewhere that makes fixing difficult. I would only suggest taping a starter to get it home unless its a manual tranny.

 

Yeah, put new terminals on, fully charged my Napa gold battery, but I haven't checked the grounds or the cable ends at the starter itself yet. I'm betting it's a combination of poor connections down there/grounds. Been cranking and holding charge and starting for me, but still a sluggish sounding crank that I don't like. Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it.