No start no crank possible ignition issue

Squbbles

Squbbles

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Original poster
Joined
Mar 1, 2024
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52
Location
Kentucky
04 jeep wrangler tj 4.0 4wd

5sp manual trans



No crank no start.

Wont turn over.

Will start if I push start it by popping the clutch in second gear. Runs fine.

I have tested relays and they clicked and showed the right number on the multimeter and I checked fuses and didn’t see any that were blown. I tested that battery and it showed good and in assuming that the starter and alternator are good as well.

I also bypassed the neutral safety switch by putting a fuse in slot 20 in the fuse box behind the glove box- nothing, no start, no turn over.



I’m thinking it may be the pin in the ignition actuator. I’m going to try replace that and the ignition switch while I have it apart.

BUT… I did see a wire close to my steering column that look like it’s been severed or cut..

I looked for over an hour trying to figure out where it could have went to and no luck finding it…

I will post a pic of it.

Any suggestions on where it could go or what it’s to?



Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions/opinions/things to try….



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One more check - make sure the ignition control wire is attached to the starter. Mine had come off somehow recently and created the same situation. It’ll be the middle, skinny wire.
Good idea to change the ignition actuator and switch and if the old ones weren’t bad just keep them as spares. But hopefully that’s it!
 
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Since you've disconnected the battery per your first thread, I'd suspect battery connections aren't good enough, especially if absolutely nothing (or very little) happens when you turn the key. Make absolutely certain that you have good connections at both battery terminals by removing them, cleaning the posts and terminals with steel wool, and reinstalling tightly (tighten the terminals hand tight, then lightly hammer them down before final tightening.) If you have a bunch of cables connected to the battery, remove each, clean it, and reinstall it tightly.

If, however, the dash, radio, interior lights, etc., are working fine when you turn the key, I'd suspect something in the starter system is bad. You can jumper the starter directly to the battery with a jumper cable to make sure it works (just make absolutely certain you are in neutral - safety first!). If the starter works, then you need to figure out why it won't turn over. That will take some diagnostic work.
 
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My cousin is gonna come by and test my starter …. But in the mean time I found a big mess…. And this mess ain’t mine:… it’s in the wiring… I’ll post pics… I’m gonna splice them and shrink wrap em… i’m not sure if this has anything to do with the problem I’m having now but I’m going to fix them anyways just to be sure
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The ignition actuator and ignition switch didn’t fix it… when I put the terminals back on the battery I used a hammer to be sure they was on good…
Gonna test the starter and fix these messy wires…

I still don’t know where the wire goes that’s in the first set of pics…. It’s next to the steering column:…
 
Squbbles said:
when I put the terminals back on the battery I used a hammer to be sure they was on good…
Click to expand...
But were the posts and terminals clean? That's important when providing a boatload of current to the starter motor.

Squbbles said:
Gonna test the starter and fix these messy wires…
Click to expand...
While I'm not a fan of how the previous owner wired things there, I'm more suspect of a starter system issue. It's good to clean that mess up, but debugging the starter and related components is the best place to start. @Granite's suggestion is spot on, too.

Squbbles said:
I still don’t know where the wire goes that’s in the first set of pics…. It’s next to the steering column:…
Click to expand...
Well, it's not stock - Chrysler doesn't use those type of ring terminals. It also appears to be a ground. It was likely added by the previous owner for some electronic item added and then removed. Rather than properly remove the ring terminal from the screw, it was just cut off. You likely just need to remove it (and even that's not a top priority since it's a ground).
 
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when I turn the key to battery the engine light blinks like 12 times… blinks 11 and stays on on the 12th time… so I’m guessing it is counted as 12 times … I couldn’t post a video but I do have one
 
My cousin got under my jeep and took a screwdriver and when he tried to get it to turn over it didn’t… I heard the sparks lol but no turning over… so I got a new starter so I’m gonna put it on this morning
 
I am currently going through the exact same issue. It looks like you had an aftermarket security system installed at one point.

I know this cause it looks 100% like mine. I had a shop remove a viper system and now it won’t start at all. Nothing.

What was the outcome to your issue I would love to know how this was fixed!
 
Outtaluck said:
I am currently going through the exact same issue. It looks like you had an aftermarket security system installed at one point.

I know this cause it looks 100% like mine. I had a shop remove a viper system and now it won’t start at all. Nothing.

What was the outcome to your issue I would love to know how this was fixed!
Click to expand...

i was having this issue as well, i took my grounds off the fire wall and cleaned them up and it t cranked over right away. also check down by your break pedal for the harness down there. idk if that controls anything related to the starting circuit as i haven’t looked at the wiring diagram mine was a little loose. before these two things i had tried everything replaced ignition switch etc. it was constant no crank by key.
 
Bzyonpluto said:
any luck?
Click to expand...

No luck yet. I put this on the back burner a day or so after I replied to this thread.

I’m going to get back to it this week hopefully. I need to come up with a plan of attack and eliminate one by one. I’ll be in touch with my findings.
 
Bzyonpluto said:
i was having this issue as well, i took my grounds off the fire wall and cleaned them up and it t cranked over right away. also check down by your break pedal for the harness down there. idk if that controls anything related to the starting circuit as i haven’t looked at the wiring diagram mine was a little loose. before these two things i had tried everything replaced ignition switch etc. it was constant no crank by key.
Click to expand...

I’m glad you were able to figure it out. I’ll also look at the grounds when I get back to it this coming up week.
 

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