Topic: No Start Issue

[cvdenson]

Hey guys,
So I'm out wheeling today in the sand, not far from the house.  Jeep is running good on new rebuilt 2.5L.  As I'm going uphill on a trail, I bog the Jeep down and stall it.  Not stuck, just bogged it down.  I attempt to start, and nothing, won't even turn over.  When I turn the key on but not start, I have power and everything works, but when I go to start....nothing.  I figure the starter relay took a dump on me, so the wife comes and picks me up and we go to EVERY parts store in Yuma, and NOBODY has a starter relay in stock.  So I'm out of ideas.  Am I on the right track with this?  The Starter is fairly new ~2yrs old but this relay looks like it might be original.  The Jeep is out there by itself in soft sand that my vehicles can't get to (2WD) and no one is around to get me out.

[Jeffy]

Did you try jumping the terminals on the starter itself to see if it works?

[cvdenson]

Did you try jumping the terminals on the starter itself to see if it works?

Haven't tried that Jeffy.  Which terminals on the relay do I jump? I know the terminal from the starter, but which of the three other terminals?

[sharpxmen]

Haven't tried that Jeffy.  Which terminals on the relay do I jump? I know the terminal from the starter, but which of the three other terminals?

there are 2 big terminals with nuts on them (something like 3/8) - one comes straight from the battery, the other one goes to the starter, they are on the solenoid. You can jump them with a wrench or something or you can go with a jumper cable from the battery straight to the terminal that goes to the starter - usually it will throw the pinion out and engage the flywheel. if it doesnt then just jump the small terminal with a wire from the + on the battery, that should activate the solenoid same as when you crank the engine (maybe that's a better option to try anyway, will tell you if the solenoid is busted or not)

[cvdenson]

Thanks guys for the help.  I went out there and used 14 gauge wire from the battery to the small terminal on the solenoid and BAM fired right up.   

[sharpxmen]

Thanks guys for the help.  I went out there and used 14 gauge wire from the battery to the small terminal on the solenoid and BAM fired right up.   

right on 

[neale_rs]

Glad you got it going.

With a manual tranny, if your battery is not dead here is the trick.  Put the Jeep in 2wd, 2nd gear, key to run.  Chock the tires so it won't roll away and jack one rear tire off the ground.  Wrap your strap around the tire up in the air so that when you pull on the end, the tire spins like it does when the Jeep is driven forward.  This will "pull start" the Jeep when you can´t push start.  Do only with an open diff.  For a locked rear you would need to lift both rear tires.

[b.hog]

Glad you got it going.

With a manual tranny, if your battery is not dead here is the trick.  Put the Jeep in 2wd, 2nd gear, key to run.  Chock the tires so it won't roll away and jack one rear tire off the ground.  Wrap your strap around the tire up in the air so that when you pull on the end, the tire spins like it does when the Jeep is driven forward.  This will "pull start" the Jeep when you can´t push start.  Do only with an open diff.  For a locked rear you would need to lift both rear tires.

Nice .... Learned something today

[cvdenson]

So, I finally got a hold of a new starter relay and swapped it out and NO START!  I recently had to put in a new lock cylinder and since then it seems like I've had electrical gremlins in the steering column i.e. turn signals intermittently work, horn goes off when I turn the wheel.  Any ideas what I should be looking for?

On a side note, I've been having vacuum leaks but could not find the source until today.  Turns out the intake/exhaust manifold bolts were all loose and one was even missing!  These were torqued to spec (23lbs) when I put back in.  Should I have used a thread locker?

[sharpxmen]

So, I finally got a hold of a new starter relay and swapped it out and NO START!  I recently had to put in a new lock cylinder and since then it seems like I've had electrical gremlins in the steering column i.e. turn signals intermittently work, horn goes off when I turn the wheel.  Any ideas what I should be looking for?

On a side note, I've been having vacuum leaks but could not find the source until today.  Turns out the intake/exhaust manifold bolts were all loose and one was even missing!  These were torqued to spec (23lbs) when I put back in.  Should I have used a thread locker?

that torque is for new nuts/studs and washers (the conical one you probably reused), so reinstalled you should go higher than that - there is a problem though with the washers as depending how old and rusted they are they might fail. not sure if thread locker would have worked but you could try the high temp one.

[neale_rs]

Does the relay click when you turn the key to START? If not, it very well could be the column switch which is actually not in the lock cylinder but down lower on the column.  Maybe out of adjustment.  If it does click, then it could be the solenoid on the starter.

[sharpxmen]

Does the relay click when you turn the key to START? If not, it very well could be the column switch which is actually not in the lock cylinder but down lower on the column.  Maybe out of adjustment.  If it does click, then it could be the solenoid on the starter.

the solenoid should be ok as he jumped it from the battery and worked

[neale_rs]

That's true since he said he connected to the small terminal (just read it again).  So if the relay clicks, the problem is between the relay and the starter and if it doesn't then it's before the relay.

[cvdenson]

Does the relay click when you turn the key to START? If not, it very well could be the column switch which is actually not in the lock cylinder but down lower on the column.  Maybe out of adjustment.  If it does click, then it could be the solenoid on the starter.

I can't say for sure if it does.  I'd have to check when I get the intake/exhaust manifold back together.  I've got it tore apart right now but don't feel like working on it today, it's 110 degrees out.  I'm wondering if what you say could be the problem in the column as everything else is acting strange there as previously described.