Liquid in electrical connector on starter

joshwellborn

joshwellborn

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Joined
Dec 12, 2022
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58
Location
Springfield, MO
I put a starter in today. 99 wrangler TJ 2.5l 4 cyl.
I managed to break the clip on the electrical connector. There was a lot of hard caked on grime on the connection (before I broke it.) in fact, I broke the red clip while chipping off the grime with a flat head screw driver.
I put the new starter in and it gave one quick turn, then nothing. I suspected the connector, so we cleaned it out. Oddly, there was a good amount of liquid in it.
It fired right up!
After about an hour it went back to nothing—no start. Just dead.
Cleaned the connector again. You guessed it—more liquid!
What the heck is this liquid? And how do I stop it from getting into the electrical connector.
Every time it won’t start, I clean it out with compressed air and a w tip. Then she starts right up! But it doesn’t last.
 
Reminds me of a post someone made about a bad oil sensor...managed to pump oil up the harness and fill the computer with oil.

Those wires should run straight up to the battery and PDU.

Can't think of anything that would be around there...maybe the cowl drain on the back of the engine? Maybe the AC condesesent drain? Or maybe it just got full of water and needs time to drain? When was the last time you forded a river or went snow wheeling?

-Mac
 
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I’ve had it for about 6 months, but there is plenty of evidence that it has been submerged. Namely, water in the transmission fluid—I’ve flushed it 3 times.
What would you recommend?
-Leave the connection open with a window fan blowing on it for a day or two?
-Dielectric grease?
-wrap the connection in electrical tape?
 
Jerry Bransford said:
True that's what it does though technically, not to be picky lol, the D stands for Displacement. :)
Click to expand...

And I have little mini cans in every vehicle. Not perfect for everything but close enough and portable.

The old timers carry cans of WD -40 when we're out crosscutting out wilderness trails to lube the saws and clean off pitch.

-Mac
 
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macleanflood said:
And I have little mini cans in every vehicle. Not perfect for everything but close enough and portable.

The old timers carry cans of WD -40 when we're out crosscutting out wilderness trails to lube the saws and clean off pitch.

-Mac
Click to expand...
WD-40 is great stuff, too bad it's not a good lubricant too. :)
 
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You might need to crimp the metal connector closed slightly so it contacts better. Scrape/clean it out where it holds the starter.

As to mystery fluids,sounds like your jeep has a case of nocturnal emissions😳
 
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