97 cherokee, ALTERNATOR????

[hudsonrouse]

My cherokee, died all of a suddne yesterday. It will take a jump (after a long sit on the cables). BUt then it just cuts out while driving. All electrical dies ,and as soon as I curse very loudly, amazingly the electrical pops back on and it cranks on its own.

My question is:
Could it be corrosion on the battery cables?
How can I test the alternator?

[thinmints]

Originally Posted by hudsonrouse

My cherokee, died all of a suddne yesterday. It will take a jump (after a long sit on the cables). BUt then it just cuts out while driving. All electrical dies ,and as soon as I curse very loudly, amazingly the electrical pops back on and it cranks on its own.

My question is:
Could it be corrosion on the battery cables?
How can I test the alternator?

take your jeep to the nearest autozone or parts america and they can test it right there in the parking lot

[hudsonrouse]

I heard that if you take the negative lead ooff of the battery while running and the car stays cranked, then it is not the alternator. If this is true, then it is my battery.

Thanks for the advice, but i am trying to keep from taking it somewhere for advice.

[badron]

Just clean the post and clamps and be done with it.
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heard that if you take the negative lead ooff of the battery while running and the car stays cranked
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Very old school
Well, the full test was to turn everything on. Then rev to 2500 or so and pull the cable. Beep the horn for 2 or 3 seconds. If she keeps running and the head lights stay some what bright you generator regulater was good.
Doing this kind of suff now a days will take a ALT out all by its self. Take and have it tested it's FREE. LUCK

R Robinson

[sstraub]

I just had to replace my alternator, Same type of situation happened to me until the battery became drained, then I was stranded. The jeep will run off the battery for a short time, but eventually it will drain completely. I had to replace my 1 yr old battery because of it. Luckily it was still under warranty. My guess would be it is the alternator.

[AlohaBra]

Originally Posted by hudsonrouse

My cherokee, died all of a suddne yesterday. It will take a jump (after a long sit on the cables). BUt then it just cuts out while driving. All electrical dies ,and as soon as I curse very loudly, amazingly the electrical pops back on and it cranks on its own.

My question is:
Could it be corrosion on the battery cables?
How can I test the alternator?

This happened to my 97 Cherokee Sport around 90K. The dealer had three trys at it before they could figure it out.

It was the ignition switch, which caused the starter motor to run when the car was running. We could drive it and hear the starter running. When we got to the dealer and turned it off, it would not start again. The circuit breaker for the starter would not alllow it to start again due to starter overheating.

Apparently the ignition switch was internally "shorted" so the starter solenoid circuit was always on and caused the battery to drain. If fact, when we turned it off earlier and took out the key, it would still crank.

However, the first time we took it in, they changed the battery along with the starter and solenoid, but it happened again the next day. Then after the same thing happened again, they changed the circuit breaker and starter solenoid again. Finally, after this happened again, they changed the ignition switch and it has been OK since then (now it has 120K). The dealer personel were a hassle though, and I had to complain to the Chrysler zone service manager, because they tried to sell my wife all kinds of service items that we did not need while this problem remains unrepaired. Finally, after meeting with the dealership service manager and senior shop foreman after the second unsuccessful repair, the shop foreman made the repair himself on the third try. (NOTE: this dealership is Tuttle-Click Jeep in Irvine, CA...have not be back since 2003)