Starter issues again

[Joseph]

I had problems where the jeep wasn’t really starting and was then wasn’t. I replaced the starter (but later returned after confirming it wasn’t the starter), the ignition switch and the actuator. No luck so I gave up and took it to the mechanic.

He replaced the starter and “cleaned the ground wire” and something else. Good to go for two weeks.
Now I have the same issue again. Tried twenty times to start, nothing. No clicks no dimming lights. I jump started it via the starter itself and took it home. Low and behold it will start again by the key in my driveway.

I’m gonna call the mechanic tomorrow and ask exactly what he did. It barely looks like he did anything besides replace the starter. Which for $100, I did myself 3 times trying to figure out where the problem was coming from..

Any pointers on where to look? I’m not too keen when it comes to writing so you’ll have to dumb it down for me as much as possible. I’ve brought this jeep to the mechanic once for welding work and now for the starter, and I already don’t trust mechanics anymore.

On the plus side, I managed to paint my bumper and side steps yesterday.

 

[astjp2]

Factory service manual has a wiring digram, start with that and follow every wire and check for continuity at each connection, tedious but it works every time.

 

[Joseph]

Factory service manual has a wiring digram, start with that and follow every wire and check for continuity at each connection, tedious but it works every time.

Okay I will try to find that.
Another thing I should add is I’ve been finding random things will stay on when I have my key out.
I hopped in the other day and my radio faceplate stayed on all night. I caught it staying on a second time after removing the key and turned the key on and off and it shut off.
My 12v cigarette lighter power also stayed on with the key out and off. Maybe it’s the aftermarket ignition switch I used? Don’t really want to go through all the hassle of putting the oem one back in, but I didn’t notice this ever with the oem switch.

 

[Joseph]

Hmm, the real kicker of this now is that it’ll start with the key, so I can’t even go diagnose where I am losing the power. Might just clean everything real good again and hope for the best. I do some pizza delivery in the Jeep, so maybe I’ll ride it out till it stops starting again and tell my boss I dunno.
I’m going to assume my issue with the 12v outlet and radio staying on is the junky aftermarket ignition switch I put in.

 

[dudehitt]

It kind of seems like that's at least part of the problem.

 

[Joseph]

It kind of seems like that's at least part of the problem.

I know right? The radio/12v staying on was never an issue before the new ignition switch. I would also hope the mechanic checked all the cables for the starter, I’m sure if he saw something wrong he’d of done something about it.

Leads me to my next question, how often do the park position switches go bad on an automatic? I never tried to start it in neutral or jiggle the gear shift like I am beginning to read about now.
And when I come to think about it, the first time this occurred I had rolled the Jeep back from where it died and out of the way, put it in park, next morning it started right up.
This instance I couldn’t get it to start at work again. I jump the starter, bring it home, throw it in park, shut it, and it starts again right after like nothing was wrong.

 

[Dan_man]

I would wait untill it doesn’t start again and check to see if you are getting signal to the starter to start. If your not then it’s not the starter. Something is inhibiting from staring and you can look elsewhere.

 

[pagrey]

Sounds like your ignition switch is still bad, maybe you got a dud?

 

[Flivver250]

I would wait untill it doesn’t start again and check to see if you are getting signal to the starter to start. If your not then it’s not the starter. Something is inhibiting from staring and you can look elsewhere.

When troubleshooting electrical issues, finding the last known point of voltage is the best place to start. My test light always saves the day.

 

[Joseph]

Sounds like your ignition switch is still bad, maybe you got a dud?

I plan on taking it out putting back oem and returning it hopefully but I don’t know if that’s the non starting issue. Seems to have a lot of excess play between removing the key and the “run” and “accessory” position all the way back.

I would wait untill it doesn’t start again and check to see if you are getting signal to the starter to start. If your not then it’s not the starter. Something is inhibiting from staring and you can look elsewhere.

I remember getting signal to the starter from the ignition plug end but that’s only when I was actually able to start the Jeep with the key. This has definitely been a strange issue so far being that it’s intermittent.

Is there any damage that could be done to the starter by starting the Jeep touching the 12v power and the ignition switch receiving end together with a screwdriver? In case I do get stuck somewhere.

 

[astjp2]

If you dont have power to the ignition, you will be wasting your time to jump the solenoid. They do make a hand held switch you connect to the battery to starter. That is safer than using a screwdriver or pliers.

 

[Joseph]

If you dont have power to the ignition, you will be wasting your time to jump the solenoid. They do make a hand held switch you connect to the battery to starter. That is safer than using a screwdriver or pliers.

Safer for me or safer for the Jeep? I only care about the safety of one of those things lol
I can turn the key twenty times and it wouldn’t start but as soon as I jumped the post and the power it started. I must not be getting signal. Though it did start with the key immediately after jumping it. And still continues to start. I don’t want to be driving it around and get stuck somewhere far, so I’m really not sure where to start or if I really have another option. Last time it did this I was driving it daily for two weeks after no problems. Starter does make quite a whine when it starts though.

 

[pagrey]

Is there any damage that could be done to the starter by starting the Jeep touching the 12v power and the ignition switch receiving end together with a screwdriver? In case I do get stuck somewhere.

No problem shorting power to the small terminal on the starter to start the engine as long as the ignition is on already. Don't short power at the starter to turn on the ignition if that makes sense. If the key feels loose that's a sign the actuator pin is broken even though you just replaced it. Is it possible it broke when it was put back together.

 

[astjp2]

Safer for me or safer for the Jeep? I only care about the safety of one of those things lol
I can turn the key twenty times and it wouldn’t start but as soon as I jumped the post and the power it started. I must not be getting signal. Though it did start with the key immediately after jumping it. And still continues to start. I don’t want to be driving it around and get stuck somewhere far

YOU

 

[Joseph]

No problem shorting power to the small terminal on the starter to start the engine as long as the ignition is on already. Don't short power at the starter to turn on the ignition if that makes sense. If the key feels loose that's a sign the actuator pin is broken even though you just replaced it. Is it possible it broke when it was put back together.

Yeah I had the key in the “run” position before I jumped it. Guess I’ll be driving this around for another two weeks before it decides to surprise me with this again. Nice day to go wash it at least. Would prefer to know what this is and would’ve troubleshooted it if it didn’t return back to normal as soon as I got it home.

 

[astjp2]

For the 1 hour to swap the switch, I would just change it...

 

[Joseph]

For the 1 hour to swap the switch, I would just change it...

I don’t really think it’s the switch that’s causing the non start issue. Definitely has some play in where I can remove the key. I can feel the resistance when putting it in the “start” position.
I have to borrow my friends safety torx again so I can do it.

 

[astjp2]

If you need to borrow a tool more than once, you need to buy it. just sayin

 

[Joseph]

If you need to borrow a tool more than once, you need to buy it. just sayin

I can almost walk to this guys house at least