Topic: Electrical problem

[neale_rs]

The YJ won't crank.  A hand held volt meter shows the battery at 12.28 and 12.28 across the starter solenoid contacts.  A screwdriver across the solenoid contacts produces sparks but absolutely no response from the starter.  Another strange thing is that with the key at the RUN position (not START), the dash voltmeter shows only 10.3 volts not the usual full voltage.  This voltage was confirmed by the hand held voltmeter. Another strange thing is that the winch won't work either (I was going to use it to pull into the driveway.)  It's like something is dropping the voltage as soon as any current is flowing.

Could it be just bad cable connections?

[dwtaylorpdx]

Bad battery.
BAd connections to battery (Voltage doesnt mean much in this case until you try and crank it...)
BLown fusable link.
Bad Solenoid/starter

Will it jump start?

Dave

[neale_rs]

Thanks for the ideas.  My guess at this point is that it's the battery, any little load drops the voltage.

[Jeffy]

Have the battery checked.  They should be able to do a load test.

[sharpxmen]

what's the voltage when you get the screwdriver over the solenoid terminals?

[Jeffy]

Oh yeah, I wouldn't put much stock in the dash gauge.

[neale_rs]

Checked the Neon, no voltage drop with key in RUN position, dropped only to 11.8 with the lights on.  YJ was dropping to 10.3 with just the key in the RUN position, using hand held voltmeter.  Went out in the Neon and got a battery.  Started up strong, much stronger than lately.  Will be going jeeping tomorrow after all   

For the record, my yellow top Optima lasted exactly 4 years.

Thanks to all who responded.

[Jeffy]

You might try shocking the battery.  I bet a cell down.

[neale_rs]

How is that done?

[dwtaylorpdx]

I've had 4 optima's, I still have the first one and its over 10 years old,
still running strong in the 318TI. (3rd car its been in...)

I blew up the other three, none lasted a year and all blew the top off.
(Figured out finally that my power converter was pissing off the ECU
on my jeep 94 yj and charging was jumping to 16V with it plugged in.)

I went to a Exide Orbital Branded battery of similar design, it just started
to fall off on starting power this year after 6 years needs replaced...

Exide owns Optima <shrug> WHo knows...


Dave

[sharpxmen]

don't they have 5 year warranty? (at least that's what i think mine had)

[neale_rs]

I checked the booklet they gave me when I bought it and it says just one year replacement warranty and out to 24 months with a prorated discount on another battery.  A five year warranty would have been great.

[sharpxmen]

i just looked and it's currently 3 years free replacement for red top, used to be 6 years before 2009, first 3 free replacement and next 3 prorated (you pay the difference).

yellow top used to be 2 years, 1 year free replacement and 1 year prorated before 2009 (EDIT: what you said), now it is 3 years free replacement just like the red top,.