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Starter? Not sure.

Peterjojo
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Peterjojo Jeeper

Peterjojo

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Hi everyone. I’ve seen a few threads on here about starters, but wasn’t seeing one that answered my question. I apologize if I missed one. 
 

I have a 1987 6 cylinder manual transmission

 

for the last few weeks every once in awhile when I go to turn it on it has a very hard time turning over and sounds like the battery is almost dead. But it’s not and it will start right up on the next try. Although it has been taking longer for it to fire up. 
 

tonight I went out to start it and it kind of turned over but didn’t start and the next time I turned the key there was nothing. No clicking. Not even a slight turn over. 
 

I open the door and listened and when I turn the key there is a whirring sound but that’s it. 
 

Does this sound like it’s likely the starter?  
that’s what I would guess but wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this. 
 

thanks. 

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MiNi Beast Obsessive Comanche Disorder

MiNi Beast

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sounds like you have it narrowed down good. Id do a once over on the wiring and ensure good connections and grounds are good. check for corrosion and ensure good volts on battery.  ensure proper size as well, cold cranking amps matter in cold weather eh? :grinyes:

 

if all else whack the starter with a rock or something and loosen things up a bit. either she'll work or not, however you found a key problem, bad starter. :holdwrench:

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cruiser54 Obsessive Comanche Disorder

cruiser54

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Is your starter covered in engine oil? 

Do the basics. Service battery.

 

RENIX GROUND REFRESHING

 

The Renix era XJs and MJs were built with an under-engineered grounding system for the engine/transmission electronics. One problem in particular involves the multiple ground connection at the engine dipstick tube stud. A poor ground here can cause a multitude of driveabililty issues, wasted time, failed emission tests, and wasted money replacing components unnecessarily.

All the components listed below ground at the dipstick tube stud:

Distributor Sync Sensor, TCU main ground, TCU “Shift Point Logic”, Ignition Control Module, Fuel Injectors, ECU main ground (which other engine sensors ground through, including the Oxygen sensor, Knock Sensor, Cruise Control and Transmission Sync signal. All extremely important stuff.

The factory was aware of the issues with this ground point and addressed it by suggesting the following:

  • Remove the nut holding the wire terminals to the stud. Verify that the stud is indeed tightened securely into the block. If the whole stud turns, you can use a 7/32″ six point socket or wrench to hold it so the nut can be removed. Worst case, cut the wires and remove the stud and nut. Install new terminal eyelets on the wires when going back together.  Scrape any and all paint from the stud’s mounting surface where the wires will attach. Surfaces must be clean, shiny and free of any oil, grease, or paint.
  • Inspect the wire terminals. Check to see that none of the terminals are crimped over wire insulation instead of bare wire. Be sure the crimps are tight. It wouldn’t hurt to re-crimp them just as a matter of course. Sand and polish the wire terminals until clean and shiny on both sides. Apply a liberal coating of OxGard, which is available at Lowe’s and other stores. Reinstall all the wires to the stud and tighten thdipstick stude nut down securely.

While you’re in that general area, locate the battery negative cable which is fastened to the engine block just forward of the dipstick stud. Remove the bolt, scrape the block to bare metal, clean and polish the cable terminal, apply OxGard, and reattach securely.

Another area where the grounding system on Renix era Jeeps was lacking is the engine to chassis ground. There is a braided cable from the back of the cylinder head that also attaches to the driver’s side of the firewall. This cable is undersized for its intended use and subject to corrosion and poor connections at each end.

  • Remove the cable end from the firewall using a 15mm wrench or socket. Scrape the paint off down to bare metal and clean the wire terminal. Apply OxGard. Reattach securely.
  • Remove the other end of the cable from the rear of the head using a 3’4″ socket. Clean all the oil, paint and crud from the stud. Clean the wire terminal of the cable and reattach securely with a liberal coating of OxGard.

2 STRONG suggestions regarding the ground system:

I prefer to add a #4 gauge cable from the firewall to a bolt on the rear of the intake manifold, either to a heat shield bolt or fuel rail bolt. A cable about 18″ long with a 3/8″ lug on each end works great and you can get one at any parts store already made up. NAPA has them as part number 781116.

A further improvement to the grounding system can be made using a #4 cable, about 10″ long with 3/8″ terminals at each end. Attach one end of this cable to the negative battery bolt and the other end under the closest 10mm headed bolt on the radiator support just forward of the battery. NAPA part number 781115.

For those of us with Comanches, it’s very important to remove the driver’s side tail lamp assembly to access the ground for the fuel pump. Remove the screw holding the black ground wire. Scrape the paint from the body and corrosion from the wire terminal.  Add a 10 gauge wire, with an eyelet on each end, from that grounding point to a bolt on the frame. Better yet, on both Cherokees and Comanches, complete Tip 29 for the best fuel pump grounding. Be sure to scrape all mounting points to bare metal and apply OxGard also.Fuel Pump Ground Comanche

If you want to UPGRADE YOUR GROUND AND BATTERY CABLES with custom made parts, contact Paul at www.jeepcables.com 

Neal's cables

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Peterjojo Jeeper

Peterjojo

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I replaced the starter. All good. 
 

my old one is caked with old old oil nothing fresh. 
 

I will be honest I’m not really an experienced car mechanic. I’m a carpenter. I’m smart and handy. But if this hadn’t worked I would not have known what to do. 
 

thanks for responding to my question everyone. 

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MiNi Beast Obsessive Comanche Disorder

MiNi Beast

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29 minutes ago, Peterjojo said:

I replaced the starter. All good. 
 

my old one is caked with old old oil nothing fresh. 
 

I will be honest I’m not really an experienced car mechanic. I’m a carpenter. I’m smart and handy. But if this hadn’t worked I would not have known what to do. 
 

thanks for responding to my question everyone. 

I'm carpenter as well  it was my jeep that has taught me all the mechicanal stuff. good factory service repair manual and the ability to read and youll figure it all out. just got to make that money to get them tools though. all in good time. glad you got it shorted out. :beerbang:

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