Engine won’t start after battery cable replacement

defenderu

defenderu

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 8, 2021
Messages
271
Location
Chicago
Changed out my battery cables today with custom battery cables pre built ones. Replaced everything like for like it’s all tightened down. Old terminals were pretty bad so needed to change. Everything worked fine before cable change.

What’s going on:
1. All Lights turn on fine radio works and lights on dash come on.
2. Turn key fuel pump primes for a few seconds.
3. Fully turn key it just clicks once nothing happens.

What I have tried.
1. Re tightened everything.
2. Took off cable to started and cleaned it.
3. Fully charged battery.
 
Jerry Bransford said:
Did you connect the smaller new battery cable to the starter motor?
Click to expand...
I did. I might have a bad starter. I just watched a video of another guy who did this battery cable swap and his starter died.

When I turn the key it just clicks once And nothings happens.
 
JKP said:
Tap the starter with a wrench or hammer and see it it's stuck.
Click to expand...

I hit it with a hammer a few times. It actually made a tiny tiny crank noise but went back to the click. So i guess bad starter. Going to get a new one now.

Is remanufactured ok?
 
Pull it and most parts stores will test it for you for free.

Reman is OK, try to stay away from the cheap stuff. It may have a warranty, but you will become proficient at changing it...
 
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JKP said:
Pull it and most parts stores will test it for you for free.

Reman is OK, try to stay away from the cheap stuff. It may have a warranty, but you will become proficient at changing it...
Click to expand...

There is a duralast gold one in stock at my local store.
 
I haven't bought anything from AZ in years, not sure of their current quality. At one point it was bad. Maybe somebody can give a more recent update.

It will have a lifetime warranty, so you won't have to pay for another one.
 
For critical items like water pumps, alternators, starter motors I try to stay with Mopar, like this one at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KQWMKE/?tag=wranglerorg-20

If you absolutely cannot spend that much I'd probably go for a remanufactured from Rockauto.com like a Denso or AC-Delco. Just make sure it's for an automatic transmission.

OR look to see if there's a local shop that rebuilds starter motors, they're fairly common in my area. You'd get your old starter motor back and most shops do a good job rebuilding them.
 
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Ordered a genuine Mopar starter matching my 03 wrangler. It doesn’t fit and is different than my older starter. What could that mean??

My transmission has 108aa stamped on it. Isn’t that 42rle

0361D165-6BCC-437C-A2BB-D2941290E66D.jpeg
 
Your automatic is a 42RLE. Starters are set up either for manual or automatic transmissions. Make sure the one you buy says it's for an automatic. And you're certain the voltage at your starter is staying at 12 volts while the ignition switch is in the Start position?
 
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