03 TJ Starting Issues

[Dbutler]

Need some help. '03 Wrangler X, automatic with 6 cyl. One click when I try to start and nothing. Dash lights come on, new battery, new starter and new relay. Jumping didn't help. I removed the starter and put it back. It started a few times and quit starting again...just a click. My driveway has a slight incline. Seems to happen when I park with the front of the Jeep higher than the rear.
Any ideas?? I'm stumped.

 

[Ron505]

Same...I've replaced the starter twice now (freaking advance auto crap that my buddy picked up for me while I was camping). The solenoids seem bad in each. The terminal closest to the motor has no/very low voltage when key is turned. I can cross the terminals on the solenoid, it it starts right up. I'm on Rockauto now, looking for a Mopar or maybe AC Delco???

 

[Rubicon88]

Need some help. '03 Wrangler X, automatic with 6 cyl. One click when I try to start and nothing. Dash lights come on, new battery, new starter and new relay. Jumping didn't help. I removed the starter and put it back. It started a few times and quit starting again...just a click. My driveway has a slight incline. Seems to happen when I park with the front of the Jeep higher than the rear.
Any ideas?? I'm stumped.

Battery cables tight? We see this a lot. Vehicle comes in for a no start or intermittent start. They claim cables are tight. We cab grab them and twist without much force.

Just check those cables. A loose cable will drive you crazy. Moreover if your terminals are old(er) sometimes they will bottom out when tightening and or develop hairline cracks in them and no longer carry the necessary voltage. You think they're tight but not really.

Good luck

 

[Sputter]

I’m having a similar issue. Working under the assumption that I have a bad starter actuator pin. I am replacing that this week and will let you know how it goes.

 

[Ron505]

I just put new terminals, cleaned ground points and a starter on mine. All good.

 

[Sputter]

Well I looked at my ignition actuator pin today and someone had definitely been in there before me. The pin was fine but it was missing a compression spring which is probably causing my problem. I can seem to get the pin out so I am going to just find a replacement spring and see if that takes care of it.

 

[Jordan rivers]

Battery cables tight? We see this a lot. Vehicle comes in for a no start or intermittent start. They claim cables are tight. We cab grab them and twist without much force.

Just check those cables. A loose cable will drive you crazy. Moreover if your terminals are old(er) sometimes they will bottom out when tightening and or develop hairline cracks in them and no longer carry the necessary voltage. You think they're tight but not really.

Good luck

I'm going to try to replace my terminal connectors to see if that helps with my starting issues. I've had to use battery shims to keep the terminal connector on the battery.

 

[Rubicon88]

I'm going to try to replace my terminal connectors to see if that helps with my starting issues. I've had to use battery shims to keep the terminal connector on the battery.

Thats definitely not helping you whatsoever. Get some new terminals. Dilectric grease them after removal of insulation...tighten onto new clamp.

 

[Dbutler]

Well, I thoufht I had it licked but it started again after 3 weeks. Dash lights come on and meter shows power getting to relay, alternator, and starter...so battery and cables are fine. I am stumped. Could it be starter switch in the column?

 

[JMT]

Well, I thoufht I had it licked but it started again after 3 weeks. Dash lights come on and meter shows power getting to relay, alternator, and starter...so battery and cables are fine. I am stumped. Could it be starter switch in the column?

There’s three things in the column; lock cylinder, starter, and actuator pin. It could be either the lock cylinder or the starter.

 

[Sputter]

Well, I thoufht I had it licked but it started again after 3 weeks. Dash lights come on and meter shows power getting to relay, alternator, and starter...so battery and cables are fine. I am stumped. Could it be starter switch in the column?

Ignition switch is only $15 and easy to swap out. It's known to fail. I'm not a big fan at throwing parts at a problem, but with this being a known issue, it's cheap and easy to swap out. While you're in there, you may want to swap out the actuator pin which sometimes fails. Good luck!

 

[Ron505]

Mine has started this again. Except this time my odometer read "done".....WTF!!!! Has anyone ever seen that? Then after turning the key several times, it will start, and that message only pops up once in a great while when turning the key.

Never mind, a quick Google says that turning the key three times will make any CEL codes display, then the done diagnosing comes up after it's done checking for codes.