2000 Grand Cherokee - wont start

[vabrave]

Hi all -

Just found this forum and wondered if anyone had any ideas....

My wife tried to start my grand cher today and it was completely dead. I hooked it up to another car to jump it in case it was a battery issue, but the lights came on, yet no turnover or even attempted turnover. The starter was making a clicking nosie, even when I took the key out.

Does it sound like I have a bad starter? If so, any idea what this will cost to replace? Can it be done by an amatuer like me?

Thanks
Chris

[dksob81]

umm well yes, you could deffinately do it yourself.. here is something I picked up.
Get under the jeep (make sure u are out of the way of any moving parts). have someone try to start it. and use a hammer and tap on the Starter Solenoid (it is a lil round motor thing on the top of the starter, u will notice it). and it may turn over.
starters come in various prioces I don't have an exact price right now but I would check AUTOZONE, if u do need one.

[vabrave]

Thanks for the reply -

dumb question...but what does the starter look like? Id like to try the tap on the starter Solenoid if I can find it....thanks again

Also - if the car does start when I tap the Solenoid, what does that indicate? Does that mean the "starter" is bac, or some piece of the starter.....

[dksob81]

b4 u check the starter make sure the battery terminals are clean and tighten (better to take them off and clean them up real good, then try to start it. the clicking u described it ussually b/c the starter isn't getting nough power from the battery.
email me [email protected] if this doesn't work

[vabrave]

Just wanted to make sure I was describing the "clicking" correctly....When I turn the key, nothing happens, when I turn the key back and even take the key out...the clicking continues?!?

The interior lights do turn on so it doesnt seem to be a battery issue.

[dksob81]

do u here a tickticktickticktick while trying to start. and then it continues after u shut off and remove key?

[vabrave]

the ticktickticktick does not occur when turning the key...nothing, no attempt to start the car....

however, when I turn the key back, there is a solid ticking sound that lasts after I take the key out

[dksob81]

is it just a single CLICK or is it clicking?

[vabrave]

clicking only when i turn the key back and even when i take the key out....no sound at all when i try to "crank" it

[dksob81]

nothing when trying to crank does the CHECK ENGINE light some on?

[vabrave]

Im not sure about the check engine light - unfortunately it died in a store parking lot, or Id go look now

[dksob81]

well the CHECK ENGINE light should come on when u put the key in the ON posistion but whiel cranking it should go out, if it does then I would assume the problem is a bad Nuetral Saftey Swich (Park/Nuetral Switch), I have the same problem but it doesn't happen all the time. I just hold the brakes turn the key to the ON position and put the Shifter all the way back into 1st gear then back to Park, if that don't work put it in Nuetral and try to start it this ussually works for me.

if this doesn't work then I would think it is bad and need to be repalced.

[dksob81]

but if the Check Engine Light comes on and stayes on while cranking then u will have to extract the codes, I dunno if the Key ON,Off,ON,OFF,ON will work on that model but u can try.

[dksob81]

but if the Check Engine Light comes on and stayes on while cranking then u will have to extract the codes, I dunno if the Key ON,Off,ON,OFF,ON will work on that model but u can try. I think u might need a Scan tool to get the codes

[vabrave]

ill try it tomorrow - thanks