Just a noob with a postal jeep that refuses to start for the spring, please help :(

I have posted in a few local forums and even asked my fellow jeep club members for help but despite my best attempts I have not been able to get my jeep to fire up. I did not want to just copy and paste all of my problems into this forum because I thoguht it would be better if you were able to see the suggestions I have gotten from fellow jeepers. I hope the link allows forum non-members to view it.

Thanks a ton.


http://www.bmja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14306

 

After reading all of that, did you try to jump start it? It is possible for a battery to read correct voltage until it's put under load. Was the battery ever charged or replaced?

This is why the other user asked if you had a voltage guage and what it was doing when you tried to crank. A good battery should not drop below 11 Volts.

 

Re: Just a noob with a postal jeep that refuses to start for the spring, please help

Here is a link to a wiring diagram for a 1976 DJ5D that may be of some help:

http://home.dmv.com/~warnerwerks/DJ5/DJ5D wiring.gif

I can't guarantee that yours will be wired exactly the same but it may help you if it is close. From what you described it sounds as though you may have had low battery voltage before you changed the solenoid.

 

Thanks for the fast responses guys, I tried putting the battery on a charger over night, I gues I can try jumping it tonight. I was playing with the jeep at 3am (couldnt sleep and I discovered that when I try to crank the jeep the wire going form the + side of the battery to the solenoid gets very hot and smokes. Whats up with that?

Thanks for the wiring diagram, Im really not looking forward to chasing an electrical gremblin

 

you may have a bad ground at the starter solenoid
loosen the solenoid, clean/scrape paint/oil etc off, retighten, and retry

 

The cable itself may be worn out. Did you replace it as well? I don't remember if you did or not. But it definately sounds like you have a direct short to ground when you engage the starter.

 

I did not try replacing the wires yet, I guess I will stop by autozone on the way home form work later. Does anyone ahve measurements of the wire from the battery to the solenoid and the wire form the solenoid to the starter?

Thanks

 

Sorry - can't help. Mine didn't have an engine or battery when purchased and I put in a chevy 6 that has the solenoid on the starter so the cable is much longer.

 

Well I guess Ill just pick up a couple feet on the way home. Maybe about 2 feet for batt to solenoid and 3 feet from solenoid to starter.

 

I just replaced all of the wires and nothing would happen so I touched the + to the I post and it is trying to turn over but it wont stop cranking! I took off the wire i used to try and jump them and it still kept cranking! I then turned off the key and it still was cranking! I finally had to disconnect the battery to make it stop. Now what?



I just went and disconnected the + and -, then reconnected tham and it still cranks as soon as it has power. Let me guess, I need another solenoid right?

 

Re: Just a noob with a postal jeep that refuses to start for the spring, please help

Did you try the old one again?

I can't see your images on the other site without joining.

 

Ok - I just had time to check the wiring diagram and if the '75 is about the same as a '76 you should have 2 purple wires going to the small posts on your solenoid. One wire comes from the ignition switch and the other wire comes from the neutral safety switch on the transmission. The wire from the neutral safety switch is the ground and the solenoid should not be grounded by the mounting bracket. The position of the two wires should not matter as long as they are on different posts.

I believe that you mentioned in the other forum that you had a wire going from the solenoid to the coil? The '76 diagram does not show this wire but I suspect that it bypasses the resistance wire or block in the ignition circuit when starting. Be sure this wire is on the same post as the wire from the ignition switch to get a full 12 volts to the coil when starting.

 

I love electrical.

 

I just threw in the towel and went to autozone to buy a new dist. cap/rotor/coil/resistors/ and solenoid and she fired right up. lol

didnt even have to pump the throttle R)

Thanks for your help guys, and thanks for the gorunding tip, I also fixed that and it sounded healthier with that gorunded properly. I think the new dist. cap made me golden though.