Cranks but doesn’t start

[Chris32win]

Hello everyone. I’m new to Jeeps and new to the forum. I’m also not terribly mechanically inclined but am trying to learn. I got my first Jeep TJ a few weeks back. 2000 jeep TJ 2.5l 5 speed. 151k miles.

I tried to look through the forums for what’s going on but wasn’t sure I found quite the same issue. If it’s a duplicate forgive me.

Backstory: I drove the Jeep yesterday just fine around town. I had a headlight switch issue where When is pull the actuator towards me, the parking lights and headlights came on but not dash lights. I had to push the actuator back to just the right point where they both come on. My father in law picked me up a switch at the wrecking yard and I disconnected the battery and hooked it up. The headlights work as they should now. I never started the Jeep to test, just put the key to on switch.

Fast forward a few hours and I want to go to the store. Key in, crank it and it sputters for a second and dies. Didn’t do a normal startup. Keep trying and it continues to crank but no startup. The dash lights come on, gauges work, radio kicks on, overhead lights, I can kick on the headlights, etc. it continues to crank but never fully starts. You can hear it almost try with a slight sputter here and there.

I hear what I believe is the fuel pump at start still. I smell a bit of fuel up at the engine after a few start attempts. I checked standard 20 and 10 fuses and didn’t notice any issues. About a week ago my neighbor and I checked all the spark plugs and the cap and rotor. I ran seafoam through it this week as well. It seemed to stop starting after disconnecting the negative terminal and installing the switch for headlights. With all that in mind, does anyone have any suggestions based on my situation?

 

[BillNyeIsHigh]

Get a can of starter fluid and spray it in the intake. If it starts and dies, likely its fuel supply related. If it still doesn't start, then it is likely to be something with your ignition system.

 

[KCsTJ]

Did you check for any engine codes?

 

[Chris32win]

I did read that if I turned it off and to on 3 times it would display codes. I didn’t see anything come up but the odometer and I’m not seeing a check engine light.

 

[Alex01]

Perhaps your gas gauge is off and you are out of fuel. Wouldn't hurt to add a gallon and see if it helps.

 

[Chris32win]

I think I’ve got a bit in the garage, I’ll give that a shot just to see.

 

[Alex01]

I think I’ve got a bit in the garage, I’ll give that a shot just to see.

Excellent. Let us know if it helps. If not do as @BillNyeIsHigh suggested and spray some starter fluid into the intake. Sounds like a fuel supply issue.

 

[Chris32win]

I did put in some fuel, maybe half a gallon is what I had and still not starting up after crank. Coughs like it thought about it but doesn’t kick on

 

[Chris32win]

It shows over half a tank. I haven’t had any reason not to believe it so far in the few fill ups I’ve had. I did put that seafoam in on this tank.

 

[Alex01]

Have you tried the starter fluid trick yet? How do the spark plugs look?

 

[Chris32win]

I haven’t yet. I’m going to run up and get some. I’ll see if I can find a quick video on where exactly to spray it. I’m still learning but eager to do so. My neighbor and I pulled all 4 spark plugs and they looked good. The second one’s gap was way off so we put that back where it should be and I think it helped.

I’ve had minor trouble with startup off and on but nothing quite like this. Main trouble before would be intermittent not starting on first crank. Usually would go on the second one but sometimes coughed a bit before roaring to life. Runs smooth while on and never dies. On two occasions It took 4 times to start. I researched it and read about it others with same issue and most pointed to a fuel pressure regulator. They suggested priming it with the off and on or leaving it in position as well. I typically do that and have had reasonable success.

This problem I have now was just odd because it started after replacing that headlight switch. I just can’t see why that would keep it from starting. Could my battery be on its way out? I thought I’d have different symptoms if so but I’m not sure enough. THanks for everyone’s help. I’m enjoying learning about this stuff.

 

[Chris32win]

I was just trying to figure out if disconnecting negative and putting it back on causes a failure somewhere or if it’s fully unrelated to my headlight switch change and just odd timing

 

[Imapepper]

I was just trying to figure out if disconnecting negative and putting it back on causes a failure somewhere or if it’s fully unrelated to my headlight switch change and just odd timing

It was just coincidence, try the starting fluid trick, report back

 

[KCsTJ]

Do you have a buddy with an OBD11 engine code scanner?
If you can get your hands on one that might give you more information

 

[Alex01]

Could my battery be on its way out?

Throw some jumpers on and see what happens. You could have drained the battery when installing the new headlight switch and with the multiple attempts to start it.

 

[Chris32win]

Thanks. I’m on my way to get the starter fluid. Yes, my neighbor has one. I’ll see if I can borrow it later today

 

[Chris32win]

So I sprayed a bit in the intake and ran around to start it and it didn’t come on. I do try a jump starter I have at the house and it didn’t kick it on.

 

[JDS123]

I think your TJ has a fuel pressure release valve on the fuel rail (though, I'm still not sure which TJ's came with them and which didn't. My 2001 4.0 has one). If your engine isn't getting any fuel, the fuel rail won't have any pressure in it. The valve is exactly the same as the ones on your tires. If you press in the valve and no fuel comes spraying out, then your engine isn't getting any fuel and your fuel pump is likely not working correctly.

I would also try hitting the gas tank a couple times with a tire iron right where the "bubble" is. That is how I got my TJ to start when the fuel pump started to go south.

Even though you smell fuel, I'm not convinced your engine is getting enough of it. If it is sputtering a bit, that means you have spark. A gas engine won't even sputter without some sort of spark as far as I'm aware.

 

[Boinked]

So I sprayed a bit in the intake and ran around to start it and it didn’t come on. I do try a jump starter I have at the house and it didn’t kick it on.

Im confused by the comment didn't kick on?

Did it crank over but not start?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

So I sprayed a bit in the intake and ran around to start it and it didn’t come on. I do try a jump starter I have at the house and it didn’t kick it on.

Please don't use terms that aren't clear... "come on"? "kick it on"? Which of those mean start or crank? Huh?