Car won't start?

[Farmer]

Was working on a friend's '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L, and replaced the water pump and serpentine belt along with a few odds and ends. Tried with a battery, jumper cables hooked with battery. Then he tried with another battery today. No dice.

Will it not start if the belt is too tight? I did tighten it up a bit but not something that's out of control where the belt is about to snap.

I'm going to loosen the belt when I head over the next few days and see if any idlers / pulleys are seized up.

 

[Colt45ws]

What does it do? How does it sound?

 

[Farmer]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
What does it do? How does it sound?


Click, click.

No crank. Car alarm goes off. Could be having security issues as well. Hazards come on. But not via hazard switch. Horn goes off too obviously cause the alarm.

 

[Colt45ws]

Did you disconnect the battery? It sounds like the alarm is interrupting the starter via a relay. Check out the steering column and in the wiring nearby for a relay hanging loose or ziptied up some where. That will be the starter kill relay. The way it works is the starter wire from the ignition switch is connected to 30 and goes to the starter from 87a, the normally closed contact. The alarm holds the relay open to disable start. To get around it, you can disconnect the relay coil contacts or pull the relay and short 30 and 87a together.

 

[eljefino]

I got an XJ cherokee surplus from my work with a siezed alternator. It turned over with the belt slipping but you had to give it gas to idle. Made a horrendous racket.

Remember a healthy starter motor has enough torque to crank off the crank pulley, which is usually on with 200 ft/lbs or so.

I think it's the simplest stuff, as said, battery terminal.

 

[Farmer]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Did you disconnect the battery? It sounds like the alarm is interrupting the starter via a relay. Check out the steering column and in the wiring nearby for a relay hanging loose or ziptied up some where. That will be the starter kill relay. The way it works is the starter wire from the ignition switch is connected to 30 and goes to the starter from 87a, the normally closed contact. The alarm holds the relay open to disable start. To get around it, you can disconnect the relay coil contacts or pull the relay and short 30 and 87a together.


The battery wasn't on the vehicle when I was doing the water pump. I think it was unplugged from a battery for at least one month. He had it on the charger before putting it on after I got the water pump installed. The battery he was charging barely held 12 volts when I tested it on my multi meter.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

12V with no load is low. Should be a bit more than that.

Have you tried cleaning the connections?

 

[Farmer]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
12V with no load is low. Should be a bit more than that.

Have you tried cleaning the connections?


They were cleanish. I'll try that when I have time to go over to his place.

 

[Brasileno]

Water pump spun freely before putting it on the 4.0L, right?

 

[Kuato]

Sounds like the security system to me also.

 

[mk378]

Turn headlights on and watch them as you turn the key trying to start. If they stay almost the same bright, the starter isn't even trying to engage (e.g. security system). If they go out you are losing power from the battery or a bad connection.

Also put a wrench on the crank pulley bolt and (key OFF) try to turn the engine by hand to confirm nothing is seized.

 

[440Magnum]

Voltage dropping too low and screwing up the security system. I'd say its a bad battery, given it reading in the "dead" range after he charged it.

Mk378's suggestion is a good one. Watching the vehicle lights is the best way to tell if the starter is "trying" or not.

 

[Colt45ws]

If he doesn't know about an alarm and doesn't have the remote for it, I would see if you can figure out where it is and remove it completely. Ive seen this several times where someone buys a vehicle with a aftermarket alarm system and the vehicle works fine until the battery is removed or drained severely. Then it wont start and the alarm system goes bonkers. Its wanting you to disarm it via the remote. But if you dont have the remote....

 

[Nick1994]

Could be the starter. Get a screwdriver out and jump the connection and see if it cranks. If it doesn't, it likely needs a starter.

 

[Superflop]

Check battery connections make sure the engine to frame ground is there and check voltage at starter. Its not the alarm or it won't be clicking. Alarm interrupts are under the dash and break the ignition wire. If the solenoid is clicking then the Interlock is not active. Also some alarm systems have intern batteries when the alarm sees a certain voltage drop such as cranking on a low battery it will set the alarm off.

 

[Silverado12]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
I got an XJ cherokee surplus from my work with a siezed alternator. It turned over with the belt slipping but you had to give it gas to idle. Made a horrendous racket.

Remember a healthy starter motor has enough torque to crank off the crank pulley, which is usually on with 200 ft/lbs or so.

I think it's the simplest stuff, as said, battery terminal.


I had the exact issue with my Jeep.