90' Sahara No Start

One day my 90' Wrangler Sahara 4.2l started to Delay when starting at the turn of the key. The delaying happened more and more often.

It finally came to the point where the starter would just make a rapid clicking sound.

I tried to jump start it, that did nothing.
Replaced battery, nothing.
Replaced starter, nothing.
Replaced Battery Solenoid, nothing.
Hooked up makeshift ignition switch, nothing but the same old starter clicking sound.

I tried to push start it, and I decided to give the turn of the key a try and boom!, the starter turned, and it fired right up. I then shut it off, started it 5-6 times, fired right up. I drove it, and pulled in the garage, and it went right back to the clicking sound.

It may be related to an electrical problem of the ignition not giving the starter a full 12-volts. But I rigged up a manual ignition switch, from this link is where i got the directions to do it. (http://rxtrme7.aaph.com/gtx/starter_button.html)

I'm now thinking that it could be the Ring Gear that the starter hits. But the starter makes more of a rapid clicking sound. I'm stuck, I really don't know what it is. The manual ignition should have gave it a full 12-volts. But now I think about the Momentary Switch I used as an ignition switch from Radio Shack may not be 12 volts, I'm not sure. Heres's a link to the Radio Shack Switch I purchased.
(http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F011%5F002%5F015%5F002&product%5Fid=275%2D609)

If anyone who's really mechanically inclined can help, I'm not good with autos. I'd appreciate any tips or help, Thanks.

[email protected]

More questions for ya on this one to check up where we're at here......



I also took the liberty of drawing a diagram around the diagram from your starter switch with the relay showing a little more detail. Check for it in my gallery at the bottom of this post.

Is this how you have it connected??

Do you have a digital volt meter???

The momentary switch you got from RS is good for about 300 watts. that translates to about 25 amps at 12v so you shouldn't have any problems with that in this application.

Check the ground attaching points for the battery cable. Make sure that the engine is connected to the neg terminal of the battery, either directly or to the frame. Grounding thru the engine mounts is not enough of a connection.

Maybe the battery cable (pos. or neg) has an internal fault. Replacing it may be the solution.


JD

Thanks for the Urgent Reply.

I have already solved the problem.

Let this be a lesson for any car owner who has no knowledge of vehicles or electricity.

After all these problems and nearly $300, I found that the previous owner whom rebuilt the motor and did all the fancy modifications, had put the negative battery cable onto the motor mount. DO NOT PUT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE ON THE MOTOR MOUNT! The motor is suspended on rubber on the mounts. That was my lesson, I put it on the Engine Block, and let there be light! As I realized that electricity recycles itself in a process through the engine block, the chassis, and the battery, and kicked the starter enough amps and volts that it turned right over!

It also fixed my Humming Radio!, and the radio reset itself alot!

Thanks to this website for propper grounding! Click Here! (http://www.mercurycapri.com/technical/electric/pgoyb.html)

That is an excellent web page!!!

A poor ground causes no end of headache with goofy problems.

Just make sure that the engine is also grounded to the body and frame with the #8 wire that they mentioned.

Anyone reading this thread should save the above link in their favorites for reference later on.

JD