Bad Starter?

[DropTopDon]

Jeep has been having this issue for the last two months where every once in a while it does not want to turn on. Upon turning the key in the ignition, the lights come on and the gauges go crazy and then everything just dies until I move the key back to the off position. If I then go back to the On position, my lights will come back. Usually I just would disconnect my battery and reconnect it and it would solve the issue for about a week or two, I thought that maybe one of my terminals was shot or it was another wiring issue. However recently, I have started to hear a clicking noise coming from the starter when I try to turn the Jeep on but the engine does not turn over. Does this mean I have a bad starter, or just a wiring issue somewhere? I replaced the starter about 5 months ago, but I bought the starter off of another used TJ.

 

[Rob L.]

I would start by doing a load test on the battery. If you don't have a tester swing by a parts store.

 

[DropTopDon]

I would start by doing a load test on the battery. If you don't have a tester swing by a parts store.

I had it load tested the first time this happened a few months back, and everything checked out.

 

[Rob L.]

are you getting chatter or a single click at the starter?

 

[DropTopDon]

are you getting chatter or a single click at the starter?

Chatter, it is several clicks.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Chatter, it is several clicks.

Generally speaking that is nearly always caused by 1) a weak battery or 2) bad, loose, corroded, or dirty battery connections.

 

[joelachr]

Jeep has been having this issue for the last two months where every once in a while it does not want to turn on. Upon turning the key in the ignition, the lights come on and the gauges go crazy and then everything just dies until I move the key back to the off position. If I then go back to the On position, my lights will come back. Usually I just would disconnect my battery and reconnect it and it would solve the issue for about a week or two, I thought that maybe one of my terminals was shot or it was another wiring issue. However recently, I have started to hear a clicking noise coming from the starter when I try to turn the Jeep on but the engine does not turn over. Does this mean I have a bad starter, or just a wiring issue somewhere? I replaced the starter about 5 months ago, but I bought the starter off of another used TJ.

Are you certain the click is coming from the starter?

This sounds like a problem my brother in law had with his TJ and I had with my motorcycle. The wiring at the battery was just loose or corroded enough that occasionally it would "click", the lights would go out, and the Jeep wouldn't start. If I remember correctly, on his Jeep I also saw a small spark at the terminal when trying to start. Tightening the connection fixed the problem when we were out on the trail. With my motorcycle, this happened at a 4-way stop intersection. I was able to jiggle the ground connection to the battery to get it started and get home.

If the battery connections aren't the problem, the starter may be on its way out. Shortly after buying my TJ, I'd get a click from the solenoid with no start. I started carrying a hammer in the Jeep and a tap or two would getting it going again. Eventually it started taking a dozen or so swings and I replaced it with a remanufactured starter. I haven't had the problem since.

 

[Rob L.]

Generally speaking that is nearly always caused by 1) a weak battery or 2) bad, loose, corroded, or dirty battery connections.

x2

 

[CharlesHS]

With your description of the problem... as other have suggested....
Check all the battery clamps, terminals and cables for oxidation.
Disconnect the battery terminals from the starter, remove the starter, use pressurized air to blow out the starter motor and solenoid, then spray electrical contact cleaner into the starter and solenoid to clean up electrical contacts for the starter brushes and brass rings. Blow out with pressurized air, reinstall and test.
IF this works... you will get another 3-6 months out of the starter, but you will probably need to rebuild or replace the starter soon.

 

[GaTechTJ]

Plus one for bad connection. Mine had a similar problem to this.

The issue wound up being where the wire connected to the battery terminal clamp had oxidized, so I was getting a poor connection there. (Between the clamp and the wire.)

I found it by testing continuity from the negative battery post to the frame with an ohm meter when it wouldn't crank. The test showed an open connection.

I disconnected the wire from the terminal clamp, cleaned it up with some vinegar and a steel brush, then reattached the wire to the terminal clamp. No problems since.