Starter issues:

[AlgUSF]

bad connection at the starter=/=bad starter. This isn’t a diagnostic tactic at all. It’s a guess. Its easy to guess with other peoples money, but it’s even easier to give good advice. a simple test light or volt meter and a second pair of hands (and feet) is all you need to diagnose a starter circuit problem properly.

By "voltmeter" I assume you mean multimeter.

Continuity and resistance testing usually tells you much more than potential difference (voltage). At rest a high resistance connection reports a similar potential difference as a low resistance connection.

With my money at 4 years old and out of warranty, if I was messing with the starter I'd replace it while I'm in there. The part is $220 from Mopar via RockAuto. Like I said, "just my $0.02".

I had my LCA bushings go out on a vehicle of mine, while replacing the LCAs I pulled the knuckles and had a machine shop press in new bearings in ball joints while I was in there. That is what I do with my own money, but then you know nothing about me.

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[mwilk012]

By "voltmeter" I assume you mean multimeter.

Continuity and resistance testing usually tells you much more than potential difference (voltage). At rest a high resistance connection reports a similar potential difference as a low resistance connection.

With my money at 4 years old and out of warranty, if I was messing with the starter I'd replace it while I'm in there. The part is $220 from Mopar via RockAuto. Like I said, "just my $0.02".

I had my LCA bushings go out on a vehicle of mine, while replacing the LCAs I pulled the knuckles and had a machine shop press in new bearings in ball joints while I was in there. That is what I do with my own money, but then you know nothing about me.

So you replace the starter and it fixes nothing. Now what?

And no, all you need to test is voltage. Signal voltage present or no, go from there.

 

[multicam]

OP, I recommend replacing both the main and auxiliary batteries if they’re still the factory installed ones. Then move on to mwilk012’s suggestions.

 

[AlgUSF]

So you replace the starter and it fixes nothing. Now what?

And no, all you need to test is voltage. Signal voltage present or no, go from there.

Like I said, "just my $0.02".

I have a Civic that I bump started for two weeks because I didn't have time to do a starter. My colleagues were like "it's broken" I said "no, it just needs a starter". Once I got the time on the weekend I did the starter and it's worked for 6 years so far (still own it). I didn't check the voltage at the solenoid, or the resistance at the windings. I just replaced it. I guess if that didn't work, I'd dig a bit deeper.

 

[AlgUSF]

OP, I recommend replacing both the main and auxiliary batteries if they’re still the factory installed ones. Then move on to mwilk012’s suggestions.

Any modern lead acid battery over 3 years old should be replaced at the first sign of any electrical issue. If I get 4 years out of a lead acid battery these days I feel lucky. Long gone are the days of getting 6 years out of an OEM battery. Sigh......

 

[mwilk012]

Like I said, "just my $0.02".

I have a Civic that I bump started for two weeks because I didn't have time to do a starter. My colleagues were like "it's broken" I said "no, it just needs a starter". Once I got the time on the weekend I did the starter and it's worked for 6 years so far (still own it). I didn't check the voltage at the solenoid, or the resistance at the windings. I just replaced it. I guess if that didn't work, I'd dig a bit deeper.

A worn out old Honda is not a new Jeep. The likelihood of a bad starter is zero.

 

[AlgUSF]

A worn out old Honda is not a new Jeep. The likelihood of a bad starter is zero.

I had 2 wheel bearings go out on a Tundra with 64K on it and it's almost never been off of pavement. Things break, somebody had a brand new 392 engine blow up on these forums. Parts go bad such is life, usually right after my warranty expires something breaks on my vehicle. It may surprise you that Jeep isn't known for it's reliability. Look everywhere on these forums, people have premature failure of components all of the time.

I admit that I could be totally wrong, but people bring differing opinions. Just because YOU don't like my opinion doesn't make me wrong.

OP, all the best on getting your starting issue resolved. Sometimes it takes a bit of patience, trial and error, but what you learn along the way makes it worth it. My colleagues at work are always surprised when I'm able to fix something myself and save myself $1,000. What you learn may help someone else. Please share what you find out here on this forum.

 

[XJfanatic]

Had a WJ with the 4.7 that would act like this. Pretty sure it was corrosion on the starter terminals as I would replace the starter and it would be good for a year or so.

 

[mwilk012]

I had 2 wheel bearings go out on a Tundra with 64K on it and it's almost never been off of pavement. Things break, somebody had a brand new 392 engine blow up on these forums. Parts go bad such is life, usually right after my warranty expires something breaks on my vehicle. It may surprise you that Jeep isn't known for it's reliability. Look everywhere on these forums, people have premature failure of components all of the time.

I admit that I could be totally wrong, but people bring differing opinions. Just because YOU don't like my opinion doesn't make me wrong.

OP, all the best on getting your starting issue resolved. Sometimes it takes a bit of patience, trial and error, but what you learn along the way makes it worth it. My colleagues at work are always surprised when I'm able to fix something myself and save myself $1,000. What you learn may help someone else. Please share what you find out here on this forum.

It isn't an opinion. It's a fact. Diagnosing the actual problem is much more productive than swapping parts based on bad intuition.

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