Drilled in to wiring harness

[nitrofalcon]

As others have mentioned test all fuses (again). BUT, don't trust a visual inspection. Get your uncle or cousin to come by with a volt/amp meter and do a continuity test on ALL fuses. I've been fooled that a fuse is good by visual inspection but a continuity test showed otherwise.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

From your description of events and pictures, it seems most likely that you popped a fuse by shorting one of the damaged wires to ground via the sheet metal screw into the body, which is grounded. I see the following wires nicked in your photos:

1. Red with a white stripe (called RD/WT in the manual)
2. Dark blue with a black stripe (called DB/BK in the manual)
3. Yellow with a red stripe (called YL/RD in the manual)

I don't think the second one would cause it not to start. That wire appears to be the wire that turns the A/C clutch on via Fuse 21 in the PDC (the box shown in your pictures). The third one is the wire that energizes the starter relay coil through Fuse 20 in the Fuse Block (behind glove box), and since it cranks, I don't think that one is the problem. The leaves the first one. The RD/WT wire would be where I would start because it's fused battery power to the PDC, and the fuses for it are large capacity, which would cause big sparks when you shorted it.

So, the RD/WT wire could be either Fuse 9, 10, or 20 in the PDC (the box shown in your pictures). Those fuses are:
View attachment 531444

My money is on Fuse 9 being the culprit because it powers many things, including the fuel injectors, via the ASD relay. Be sure that one is good first!

You could have popped any/all of the fuses above, but I think Fuse 9 would be the most likely to cause it not to start. Check the others, too, though, because they could be popped, too.

Good Luck!

Brilliant assessment, my friend.

 

[Mike_H]

Brilliant assessment, my friend.

Agree. That was some really nice detective work, @sab

 

[Squbbles]

From your description of events and pictures, it seems most likely that you popped a fuse by shorting one of the damaged wires to ground via the sheet metal screw into the body, which is grounded. I see the following wires nicked in your photos:

1. Red with a white stripe (called RD/WT in the manual)
2. Dark blue with a black stripe (called DB/BK in the manual)
3. Yellow with a red stripe (called YL/RD in the manual)

I don't think the second one would cause it not to start. That wire appears to be the wire that turns the A/C clutch on via Fuse 21 in the PDC (the box shown in your pictures). The third one is the wire that energizes the starter relay coil through Fuse 20 in the Fuse Block (behind glove box), and since it cranks, I don't think that one is the problem. The leaves the first one. The RD/WT wire would be where I would start because it's fused battery power to the PDC, and the fuses for it are large capacity, which would cause big sparks when you shorted it.

So, the RD/WT wire could be either Fuse 9, 10, or 20 in the PDC (the box shown in your pictures). Those fuses are:
View attachment 531444

My money is on Fuse 9 being the culprit because it powers many things, including the fuel injectors, via the ASD relay. Be sure that one is good first!

You could have popped any/all of the fuses above, but I think Fuse 9 would be the most likely to cause it not to start. Check the others, too, though, because they could be popped, too.

Good Luck!

I can’t thank you enough!! I replaces fuse 9 & 10 and that sure enough got her going! Thanks to all of y’all that posted!!!! I just can’t thank all y’all enough!!!!! That $12 spent on 2 fuses was a lot better than the cost of a PCM! I’m over the moon thankful for this forum and the awesome ppl that helped me!
Thank y’all so very much for the help!!! Y’all are awesome!!!

 

[C.J. Roberts]

I can’t thank you enough!! I replaces fuse 9 & 10 and that sure enough got her going! Thanks to all of y’all that posted!!!! I just can’t thank all y’all enough!!!!! That $12 spent on 2 fuses was a lot better than the cost of a PCM! I’m over the moon thankful for this forum and the awesome ppl that helped me!
Thank y’all so very much for the help!!! Y’all are awesome!!!

You did something stupid. You came to us for help. You fixed it. Congratulations. You're now one of us!

 

[cpwolf]

I can’t thank you enough!! I replaces fuse 9 & 10 and that sure enough got her going! Thanks to all of y’all that posted!!!! I just can’t thank all y’all enough!!!!! That $12 spent on 2 fuses was a lot better than the cost of a PCM! I’m over the moon thankful for this forum and the awesome ppl that helped me!
Thank y’all so very much for the help!!! Y’all are awesome!!!

First, don’t beat yourself up, I’ve done at least this or worse ….and I’ve been working on Jeeps since 91 when I first got my CJ5. Every time I say “seriously you just did that?” Ha

Excellent viewing and walkthrough super impressive, shows what good pics will do.

I know this sounds crazy, but if you had disconnected your battery, you might not have known what you did, or stopped, and done way more damage. I try to think of the positive, and frankly finding a wire you nicked and didn’t know, a year later, would have been hard. Or they touch later and short out mid drive in a bad neighborhood, ugh.

 

[Rcroane]

She sure deserves credits for good pics.

I was about to post the same thing....big help in diagnosing the issue.

And "Dr" @sab.....I'm super impressed with your diagnosis.

 

[AndyG]

I was about to post the same thing....big help in diagnosing the issue.

And "Dr" @sab.....I'm super impressed with your diagnosis.

@sab is far above average- He has a really strong technical mind. Good dude too.

 

[sab]

You fellers give me too much credit. All I did was read the wiring diagrams in the manual...

 

[sab]

And to @Squbbles - please stick around here. This forum is by far the best Internet forum I've participated in. The combined knowledge of the forum members is absolutely astounding, and the members are all huge fans of the TJ, so they want to encourage all owners to keep them going!

I've spent a lifetime with the idea of "never stop learning," and this forum has gotten me up to speed on my TJ much, much more quickly than I ever could on my own. Here's to the best forum on the Internet!

 

[cpwolf]

And to @Squbbles - please stick around here. This forum is by far the best Internet forum I've participated in. The combined knowledge of the forum members is absolutely astounding, and the members are all huge fans of the TJ, so they want to encourage all owners to keep them going!

I've spent a lifetime with the idea of "never stop learning," and this forum has gotten me up to speed on my TJ much, much more quickly than I ever could on my own. Here's to the best forum on the Internet!

Same here.

 

[Squbbles]

Indeed lol lesson learned for sure lol told my mom that from now on idc if I’m cleaning windows - the battery will be unhooked lol

 

[Squbbles]

Thanks again y’all
I got this jeep so I’d have a good dependable vehicle/fishin mobile… but seems like I’m always having to work on the girl…..
she started showing herself on me today so I’m gonna look and see if there’s already a forum for the problem she sprung on me today lol I’m stumped and not sure what to try next lol hopefully I can find a solution soon (in case I have to hitch a ride in to town to get a part lol)

 

[DavidBT]

Thanks again y’all
I got this jeep so I’d have a good dependable vehicle/fishin mobile… but seems like I’m always having to work on the girl…..
she started showing herself on me today so I’m gonna look and see if there’s already a forum for the problem she sprung on me today lol I’m stumped and not sure what to try next lol hopefully I can find a solution soon (in case I have to hitch a ride in to town to get a part lol)

Well, post it here and I can almost guarantee that someone on here has gone through it also. As others have said, this is the best forum going.

 

[Squbbles]

Well, post it here and I can almost guarantee that someone on here has gone through it also. As others have said, this is the best forum going.

I’m fixin to post my newest issue…
*puzzled*

I’ll title it no start no crank possible ignition issue

 

[AndyG]

You fellers give me too much credit. All I did was read the wiring diagrams in the manual...

We don’t know how to read....

In the land of the blind the one eyed man is King