1986MJX Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 I have a 1986 Jeep Comanche 2.5l 5spd it was last tagged in 2000 so 22 years parked untouched, I’ve finally got around to messing with it, I put a good battery in it and hit the key and nothing happened at all no lights or anything nothing worked so I jumped the starter and it turns but doesn’t engage and honestly I'm a novice at electrical and don’t know where to start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 Cruiser54’s tips is the absolute best place to start with these Jeeps. Revival or improving, steps 1-5 will help you with grounds and any other issues that may be present before getting the MJ going. Also the battery cables could absolutely be trashed and corroded depending on your location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 17, 2022 Author Share Posted September 17, 2022 2 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said: Cruiser54’s tips is the absolute best place to start with these Jeeps. Revival or improving, steps 1-5 will help you with grounds and any other issues that may be present before getting the MJ going. Also the battery cables could absolutely be trashed and corroded depending on your location. Thanks for the response and the truck sat in Nebraska, would you know how to find this tips page? Sorry I’m new here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 http://cruiser54.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 17, 2022 Author Share Posted September 17, 2022 2 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said: http://cruiser54.com Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 No problem! Hopefully you can get it to the point where it will crank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 Basics: If the engine turns over when you hit the starter ... that's "engaging." Starters "engage." Engines "start" and then (hopefully) "run." Or are you saying that the starter motor doesn't engage the engine? Sorry to be "that guy," but remote diagnosis is difficult enough. It's far more difficult when questions don't use the accepted terminology. /sermon More basics: An internal combustion engine needs three things to run: fuel, air, and a source of ignition (spark). Unless a mouse or a squirrel built a nest in your air cleaner, if the engine turns over you are probably getting air. So next you need to determine whether or not you're getting a spark. You do that by removing one of the spark plug wires from the spark plug, putting something like a screwdriver into it, and holding it close to the block or the head while you are a helper crank the engine. You should see a series of healthy sparks. If you haven't ever done it, you may find it difficult to get a screwdriver the right distance away. The simple solution is to go to Walmart and buy one spark plug -- doesn't matter what vehicle or engine it's for. Put the spark plug wire on that, then touch the tip of the spark plug to the head or block and crank the engine. If you get a good spark on one cylinder, check the others. Just be sure to keep each plug wire on the right spark plug -- only do one at a time. If you are getting good spark, then you need fuel. An '86 2.5L has throttle body fuel injection, and an electric fuel pump. The fuel pump may not be pumping, or the pickup screen in the tank may be clogged with sediment and jellied old gasoline. And the injector may also be clogged. To verify that the engine will run, buy a can of starter fluid from an auto parts joint, remove the air intake tube from the top of the throttle body, spray some starter fluid into it (not too much), and then crank the engine. It should at least cough and try to start. Report back, and we;ll go on from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 17, 2022 Author Share Posted September 17, 2022 9 hours ago, Eagle said: Basics: If the engine turns over when you hit the starter ... that's "engaging." Starters "engage." Engines "start" and then (hopefully) "run." Or are you saying that the starter motor doesn't engage the engine? Sorry to be "that guy," but remote diagnosis is difficult enough. It's far more difficult when questions don't use the accepted terminology. /sermon More basics: An internal combustion engine needs three things to run: fuel, air, and a source of ignition (spark). Unless a mouse or a squirrel built a nest in your air cleaner, if the engine turns over you are probably getting air. So next you need to determine whether or not you're getting a spark. You do that by removing one of the spark plug wires from the spark plug, putting something like a screwdriver into it, and holding it close to the block or the head while you are a helper crank the engine. You should see a series of healthy sparks. If you haven't ever done it, you may find it difficult to get a screwdriver the right distance away. The simple solution is to go to Walmart and buy one spark plug -- doesn't matter what vehicle or engine it's for. Put the spark plug wire on that, then touch the tip of the spark plug to the head or block and crank the engine. If you get a good spark on one cylinder, check the others. Just be sure to keep each plug wire on the right spark plug -- only do one at a time. If you are getting good spark, then you need fuel. An '86 2.5L has throttle body fuel injection, and an electric fuel pump. The fuel pump may not be pumping, or the pickup screen in the tank may be clogged with sediment and jellied old gasoline. And the injector may also be clogged. To verify that the engine will run, buy a can of starter fluid from an auto parts joint, remove the air intake tube from the top of the throttle body, spray some starter fluid into it (not too much), and then crank the engine. It should at least cough and try to start. Report back, and we;ll go on from there. The starter just spins it doesn’t kick the bendix out and I’ve gotten many old trucks running and driving like my 1940 gmc truck but that engine was also run with about 4 wires, this 86 is the newest thing I’ve tried to bring back and is more complicated then what I’m use to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 2 hours ago, 1986MJX said: The starter just spins it doesn’t kick the bendix out and I’ve gotten many old trucks running and driving like my 1940 gmc truck but that engine was also run with about 4 wires, this 86 is the newest thing I’ve tried to bring back and is more complicated then what I’m use to Mmm, 40 GMC, I have a 40 Chevy. Any chance you have an extra windshield frame that isn’t rusty? Sorry to be off topic. I suppose your options are to replace the starter to try hitting it lightly with something to try and free the Bendix up, although the latter is not recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 I say hit the starter with a hammer. If it frees the bendix, then you know the starter will be a problem again in the future. But for just getting the MJ going again, I would hit it and replace the starter when the truck is road ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manche757 Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 3 hours ago, 1986MJX said: The starter just spins it doesn’t kick the bendix out While the starter is still whining and spinning, turn the key off and right back on. A few times and the bendix may engage It won't do the starter any good but it might do what you need for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 17, 2022 Author Share Posted September 17, 2022 1 hour ago, 89 MJ said: Mmm, 40 GMC, I have a 40 Chevy. Any chance you have an extra windshield frame that isn’t rusty? Sorry to be off topic. I suppose your options are to replace the starter to try hitting it lightly with something to try and free the Bendix up, although the latter is not recommended. I got lucky mines usable but there pretty rare they do reproduce them but there like 800$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 39 minutes ago, 1986MJX said: I got lucky mines usable but there pretty rare they do reproduce them but there like 800$ I’ve seen that. I suppose, if you want to play, you’ve got to pay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 Today I cleaned all my grounds there all nice shiny and clean even replaced the battery cables I hooked everything up and turned the key and nothing once again the key does nothing no lights no anything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted September 18, 2022 Share Posted September 18, 2022 Peculiar. Battery is good? Did you clean the starter relay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 12 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said: Peculiar. Battery is good? Did you clean the starter relay? I even had the battery on the charger I still think I would have lights or a little sign of life but she’s just dead still i suppose tomorrow I’ll check fuses and install my new starter I had on hand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted September 18, 2022 Share Posted September 18, 2022 I would check fuses and relays before wasting the time to get the new starter in only to be back to square one. If you had lights and what not then it would be a different story. The starter relay is located on the passenger side of the bay by some relays with hopefully a black cover still protects them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 Ok so today I checked fuses all were ok but still same story at the key no power to anything so I tried to jump the starter and that no longer spins it just melted the tip off my screw driver, even with the starter not work I should still have lights or something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 Update the engine now turns over I found this random green wire spliced in and when touched to hot side engine spins over now I just need some spark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratrapp Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 was it a burnt fusible link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 19, 2022 Author Share Posted September 19, 2022 8 minutes ago, ratrapp said: was it a burnt fusible link? Nope no fuses just a random green wire laying in the engine bay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratrapp Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 a fusible link is a wire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 19, 2022 Author Share Posted September 19, 2022 tonight I’m making the decision to end the 86 project this truck is to far gone so I will be parting it out, I’m gonna make a trailer out of it but that means everything else is forsale if any of you need parts before they go to scrap or trash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 Is it rusty or are you ending it because of the mechanical issues. If it’s solid, I think you’d be better off selling it whole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986MJX Posted September 19, 2022 Author Share Posted September 19, 2022 4 minutes ago, 89 MJ said: Is it rusty or are you ending it because of the mechanical issues. If it’s solid, I think you’d be better off selling it whole. Unfortunately is suffers mechanical issues caused by 22 years of sitting and rats the floors are gone along with several other areas so I’m just not gonna continue with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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