Pretty sure my starter went bad

I have an 04 KJ and when trying to start it tonight, it made a fast ticking noise. The lights seemed dim, but the battery light was not on(it does light during the initial light test.) Needless to say, I connected the jumper cables to our TJ and let it run for about 5 minutes. Same thing...

I can only assume it's the starter. I've seen starters do similar things in different cars, but they were all much older. This one is only 5 years old, and has 58K miles. Does this sound like a starter to anyone else? Does anyone have any other suggestions what it might be before I go and pick up a new starter?

I've been putting off buying the haines manual for this car, but it looks like I'm going to have to. Does anyone know whether replacing the starter is difficult, or relatively easy like on other RWD/4WD vehicles?

Thanks,

Gordymills

Check your battery first,KJ's don't like a bad battery and they do suddenly go bad.I'd swap a known good battery in first and try starting then replacing the starter.


Oh by the way the starter is a breeze to change in a KJ with a 3.7 V-6,takes about 20mins.

The battery was my original thought, because I know they tend to only last 5 years or so, and the car was purchased new in April of 2004.

Would the battery light not show up if it went bad? All of the other lights came on, they seemed a little dim, but there's obviously still some juice in the battery, and when I connected the jumper cables to it with the other car running, shouldn't it have at least tried to turn over?

I could be missing something, and I'll try a known good battery in it tomorrow, but I'm having a hard time understanding how it could still be the battery... I would think that with the car's power system connected to a running car, it should at least start, whether the battery is able to hold a charge or not...

I guess we'll see in the morning. I've been proven wrong on these kinds of things before :-/

as far as replacing the starter? Do I have to remove or disconnect anything to get to the starter? or is it a matter of removing the screws and disconnecting it, and replacing like some that I've done in the past?

If it's the original battery, I'd start with that. Mine would not start when it was dead, to start it we had to turn off the ac and radio. If you've been down here in Florida for more than 3 years with the original battery, replace it. Mine starts without hesistation after a new battery. Mine also has 60k on it.

gordymills said:

as far as replacing the starter? Do I have to remove or disconnect anything to get to the starter? or is it a matter of removing the screws and disconnecting it, and replacing like some that I've done in the past?

Click to expand...

Just remember to disconnect the Battery before you start messing with the Starter.

Check the volts on the battery. I check mine before each start(scan gauge)..

Electronics can do some stupid things sometimes. Even though youve got plenty of amps to start the volts may be off which upsets the PCM. Take the battery out of the tj and put it in the kj. If that doesnt fix it it may then be the starter.

I too am thinking battery. I had a Dodge Caravan a few years back that was starting fine not even slow. I started it one day and drove it two miles to the gas station. After I got gas I get in and there was nothing. No clicking or lights or anything. Trying to jump it did nothing. There was a auto parts store across the street. I bought a new battery put it in and did not have another problem with it. Try a different battery and go from there.

Fast clicking noise means the solenoid is cutting in and out because there's not enough juice in the battery to spin the starter. Just needs a new battery.

After getting the chance to actually get under the hood and work with it, I found that it is the battery. I havent had the chance to get to the parts store yet, but I'll be buying a new battery.

I was going to take the battery out of the TJ, and when I went to do that, found that the positive connecter had so much acid corrosion built up that it ate away at the nut and the bolt that's connected to it. Needless to say, I was unable to pull that battery, but it's good to know that the problem exists. I'll probably be replacing the battery cables this weekend on the TJ too. :-/

Thank you all for the help and advice!