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Trouble shooting a Grand Cherokee

Started by Jeff, July 18, 2012, 12:55:00 AM

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Jeff

Today, my Son's significant other's 2004 jeep would not start. No crank. Battery was good. We pulled the starter off and bench tested it, it was good. Put the starter back on, and we could start it by jumping the solenoid. We shut it off and I started tracing back from the solenoid. No juice to the solenoid wire when trying to crank. So, I went looking in the fuse panel under the hood.  There is an ignition switch fuse block (40 amp fuse)   I pulled that fuse to test it. Seemed fine. I then checked the block where the fuse came out of. There is power there all the time.  I put the fuse back in, and now the jeep starts. Pulled the fuse again and tried to clean up the connection. Put the fuse back in again and it started. Shut the hood, called it good, Jeep won't start.  Pull the fuse, put it back in. Jeep starts. Shut it off, wont start.  I jumped the fuse with my test light, Jeep starts.  So. I switched the fuse out with another 40 amp.  Still does it.  Pull the fuse, put it back, vehicle starts, shut it off, won't start until you pull the fuse and put it back in.

So, what could I be missing?  It's like something gets reset when you pull the fuse.  There is a starter relay in that box as well. I switched that out with an identical relay from the fuel pump. No go. Still the same problem. 

Any guesses?
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

sandhills

Are you sure you have a good connection at both ends of the fuse?  I'd try to check that with a test light when it doesn't want to crank first (before pulling the fuse).

POSTON WIDEHEAD

 say_what  This problem is way beyond me. Have you pulled all your hair out yet?
The older I get I wish my body could Re-Gen.

sprucebunny

Check that the grounds are all good.

( The topic title threw me.... like maybe you couldn't bring yourself to put it out of it's misery  :D )
MS193, MS192 and an 026  Weeding and Thinning. Gilbert Champion sawmill

Magicman

When it won't start, do you have power to both ends of the fuse/fuseholder?
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

thecfarm

Could you run another wire,with a fuse,to it? Just for a while to see if that will do it?
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

Roxie

I'm with Sprucebunny!  Aim the gun right between the headlights.   :D
Say when

Hilltop366

Sounds like a bad wire or a loose or corroded connection, usually it is the small wire(s) that go to the starter, it would be easier to find if it quit working.

ely

if its got the exposed metal on the back of the fuse it makes it easy to check with a volt meter, it sounds like its one of those enclosed fuse blocks though,so no help there.

does it do this all the time or only when the jeep is up to operating temp.?

Jeff

The jeep had been sitting all weekend here at the house, as the kids were here to visit and swim. Never a prior issue with it. Delana had to leave for work, and that is when we found it would not start, so nope, its a cold jeep although the heat index yesterday was 105°  :D

The fuse panel on the jeep is completely enclosed in the back and all the wires run through sealed harnesses. what I found odd, is that the factory connection of the little light green wire going to the starter solenoid is a stake on connection.

Troubleshooting is supposed to be one word I guess. :D
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

doctorb

I figured that you either had a long-term, sentimental attachment to the Jeep or your gun was having a problem. :D ;D
My father once said, "This is my son who wanted to grow up and become a doctor.  So far, he's only become a doctor."

ely

used jeep? or did they buy it new?

moosehunter

Jeff,
You have a fax #? I can send you diagnoses info.
Have you tried putting the shifter in N? Or move it around in P.
The Ignition switch on that vehicle has a high failure rate. Next time it won't start try turning the key while wiggling it.
mh
"And the days that I keep my gratitude
Higher than my expectations
Well, I have really good days".    Ray Wylie Hubbard

Patty

Boy you sure can tell who the mechanics are on the forum.  :D   

I read the title and thought, hmmmm, Jeff must be a really bad shot not to be able to hit a jeep!
Women are Angels.
And when someone breaks our wings....
We simply continue to fly ........
on a broomstick.....
We are flexible like that.

slider

Jeff just ran your problem by the crew at diesel shop.They said when you get it running start pulling relay's until it shuts off had the same problem on a vehicle and it was a relay.Could be in the ecm ,hope not.good luck
al glenn

Jeff

Quote from: moosehunter on July 18, 2012, 09:16:58 AM
Jeff,
You have a fax #? I can send you diagnoses info.
Have you tried putting the shifter in N? Or move it around in P.
The Ignition switch on that vehicle has a high failure rate. Next time it won't start try turning the key while wiggling it.
mh

Mike, Fax number is the same as the house number. Just let me know the first 3 numbers of the sending number so we don't answer it and hit the fax button.  Yes, I've messed with the shifter as that was one of my first thoughts, the park neutral positioning switch. Doesn't seem to have any effect. We have also tried wiggling the key. Everything about the ignition switch seems to be normal.  Wiggling the stake on connection does not do anything. wiggling the ignition switch fuse doesn't do anything, but if you remove it, then plug it back in, the vehicle starts. Also, added info, if you shut it off and then try and start immediately, it will start. If you leave it off several seconds, it won't.
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

whiskers

You could  place a starter button on a solenoid bypass for those times it wont crank with the key, or a toggle switch in the relay wire to allow it to reset.
many irons in the fire.........

moosehunter

Jeff,
Fax is on the way.
Something to remember with this vehicle (most modern vehicles) is that the ignition switch does not send a signal directly to the starter relay as it used to. The Ign. switch tells the computor that you want to start the engine, the computor tells the relay to start the engine.
Use the wiring diagram and your test light, you should be able to isolate the problem.
Call me @ work if you are still having trouble.
mh
"And the days that I keep my gratitude
Higher than my expectations
Well, I have really good days".    Ray Wylie Hubbard

sharp edge

Boss, when it doesn't start it doesn't turnover either?

SE
The stroke of a pen is mighter than the stroke of a sword, but we like pictures.
91' escort powered A-14 belsaw, JD 350-c cat with jamer and dray, 12" powermatic planer

Jeff

I should have clarified that.  The starter will not engage in the problem.

Mike, we got only errors on the fax. It said there was a "power failure" what ever that meant. D may have a warranted on this vehicle yet, so before I dig any deeper, I'm going to wait to hear from her and Jeremy. It's parked behind my truck, but I'm sure my Chevy won't tolerate that if I need to go somewhere. :D
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

moosehunter

Let me know if you want me to try again.
"And the days that I keep my gratitude
Higher than my expectations
Well, I have really good days".    Ray Wylie Hubbard

Jeff

If you would, go ahead and try again. :)
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

snowstorm

can you get a scan tool? you can buy them for under a $100. if unplugging the fuse putting it back in works once. sounds like it resets itself. grounds have to be perfect. relays batt cable sometimes it dosent take much. my daughter had a jeep it had its quirks. engine cooling fan would stop working it was the relay. located behind the front bumper. she got rid of it. last time i worked on it was 3 yrs ago.  it would start and run few secs then die. i load tested the battery it tested ok but a new battery fixed it. plates must have broke loose in it. batt voltage should be 13.7

Slabs

Start at the excitation termnal on the start solenoid with a test light or voltmeter and work back from there.  That is if the relay terminal shows power when the key is turned to start.  That will isolate the relay from the rest of the circuit.

Thid is especially important if it's a Delco style starter where the solenoid also engages the bendix.


Slabs  : Offloader, slab and sawdust Mexican, mill mechanic and electrician, general flunky.  Woodshop, metal woorking shop and electronics shop.

SamB

Quote from: snowstorm on July 18, 2012, 05:02:37 PM
can you get a scan tool? you can buy them for under a $100. if unplugging the fuse putting it back in works once. sounds like it resets itself. grounds have to be perfect. relays batt cable sometimes it dosent take much. my daughter had a jeep it had its quirks. engine cooling fan would stop working it was the relay. located behind the front bumper. she got rid of it. last time i worked on it was 3 yrs ago.  it would start and run few secs then die. i load tested the battery it tested ok but a new battery fixed it. plates must have broke loose in it. batt voltage should be 13.7
Similar experience with my 03 Dakota, don't discount a flakey battery.

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