No crank/block to firewall ground strap?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 905
Likes: 8
From: New Hampshire
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Made some using dishsoap, vinegar and baking soda. Works good.
Okay...
Disconnected the negative clamp from the battery, sanded and cleaned.
Disconnected the grounds from the negative battery post to the inside fender. Sanded connector, screw and fender to bare metal.
Follwed negative line from battery post to engine block, no external damage that I could see.
Disconnected line from engine block post, sanded post/threads, negative wire, a secondary wire, nut to bare metal.
Tried to crank. Nothing. Reattached ground strap to firewall, started first crank.
So im stumped. I’m thinking now I should just run a wire from the block to the chassis somewhere or get better battery terminals?
Okay...
Disconnected the negative clamp from the battery, sanded and cleaned.
Disconnected the grounds from the negative battery post to the inside fender. Sanded connector, screw and fender to bare metal.
Follwed negative line from battery post to engine block, no external damage that I could see.
Disconnected line from engine block post, sanded post/threads, negative wire, a secondary wire, nut to bare metal.
Tried to crank. Nothing. Reattached ground strap to firewall, started first crank.
So im stumped. I’m thinking now I should just run a wire from the block to the chassis somewhere or get better battery terminals?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 905
Likes: 8
From: New Hampshire
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
I’m thinking maybe I haven’t had ground this whole time and finally lost it when the ground strap failed? Aside from just picking up another battery cable and replacing the ground strap with it, Using as a dedicated ground, Im somewhat clueless atm.
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 7,965
Likes: 964
From: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!
That connector is crap, and that cable is shot.
Replace!
To get you by for now, you can use one of the garbage, better-than-nothing terminals sold in every auto parts store, and a 6 gauge or better piece of cable, also at your auto parts store. Like so:
Garbage. Use only in emergency until you can get a decent terminal.
If I remember correctly, you'll need about 30" of cable. Probably less, but I think you are safe with 30".
Once you are on the road again, order some custom cables from BestBoatWire.com, and some .
I get them in 4 gauge with the clear heat shrink so I can keep an eye on what's going on in there.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 905
Likes: 8
From: New Hampshire
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Well I’ve been running with these since I’ve owned the Jeep... about 9 years. I always figured they worked because I’ve always had good power.
Well i reconnected the new ground strap and the Jeep is running. I’ll purchase new cable and terminals tomorrow and give it a shot. What gauge wire are these two?
EDIT:
Nevermind. You said 4 gauge.
Well i reconnected the new ground strap and the Jeep is running. I’ll purchase new cable and terminals tomorrow and give it a shot. What gauge wire are these two?
EDIT:
Nevermind. You said 4 gauge.
Last edited by KJamesJR; Jun 10, 2018 at 07:13 PM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,786
Likes: 14
From: CT.
Year: 88
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0 HO
That has got to be a primary engine ground.
Tow guy dropped it off at the house this morning.
After giving attention to every other ground I could find, I caved and installed the new engine strap. Installed on one of the fire wall bolts next to the large bolt that I snapped off. After scrubbing the paint down to metal and putting the new wire on.... Boom. One crank and an easy start.
Im out now doing some errands but will post a few pics when I get home. I’ll do a few starts and whatnot before I call this solved.
Tow guy dropped it off at the house this morning.
After giving attention to every other ground I could find, I caved and installed the new engine strap. Installed on one of the fire wall bolts next to the large bolt that I snapped off. After scrubbing the paint down to metal and putting the new wire on.... Boom. One crank and an easy start.
Im out now doing some errands but will post a few pics when I get home. I’ll do a few starts and whatnot before I call this solved.
The cable itself could be bad.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mill
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
7
Mar 15, 2015 12:30 PM
tracyk
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
16
Jun 21, 2014 12:47 AM
Gauge
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
1
Jan 28, 2013 07:05 AM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)