Starting issue

I have a 2005 with a 3.7 engine. With the replacement of the engine a new problem has cropped up. Occasionally the starter will not engage the fly wheel, the solenoid clicks and nothing happens.

Most of the time (99%) it works just like it is supposed to, once in the while it will just click - no grind - no "free wheel" the starter just clicks and nothing happens. You turn the key back to "run" position" turn it again and it starts like it is supposed to. But twice in the last month it would repeat the "no start" situation several times.

The first time it did it I thought I possibly had a shorting battery and attempted to jump start it - nothing happened when the cables were on it so I removed the cables and then when I tried it one last time before I called the tow truck it fired up like nothing was wrong. About two weeks later it repeatedly refused to turn over and after attempting to jump start it I called a tow truck to come get it. The tow driver having seen lots of dead Liberties said to try something before he put it on the truck. He put it in reverse (automatic) and rolled it back about a 6" and touched the key and it fired up like it was supposed to.

Ever see this - and how did you fix it?

Haven't had the issue with my KJ but reminds me of a bad spot on the starter. Trying to start may move it just a bit so it will sometimes eventually start. Just a suggestion.

Try whacking it with a broom handle, 2x4 or something when it happens. I've heard you can rock it front to back in gear and sometimes that'll "move"it a bit but never tried that one myself.

Is it an automatic? Does the problem occur if you move the lever from P to N and retry to start?

ltd02 said:

Haven't had the issue with my KJ but reminds me of a bad spot on the starter. Trying to start may move it just a bit so it will sometimes eventually start. Just a suggestion.

Try whacking it with a broom handle, 2x4 or something when it happens. I've heard you can rock it front to back in gear and sometimes that'll "move"it a bit but never tried that one myself.

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Now that you say it that does to me too - I had a tractor that did something similar and it had a bad spot in the armature. But that starter was 40 years old with a life time of hard use.

twowings said:

Is it an automatic? Does the problem occur if you move the lever from P to N and retry to start?

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Moving the shifter makes no difference - I thought about the neutral safety switch too.

Hockeygoon said:

Now that you say it that does to me too - I had a tractor that did something similar and it had a bad spot in the armature. But that starter was 40 years old with a life time of hard use.

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Back in the mid 80's I had a 75 Ford Granada with a 302 and I carried a 2x4 in the trunk for 2 years until it finally wouldn't work anymore. :gr_grin:

Anyone know if these guys are any good?


DB Electrical - STARTER JEEP LIBERTY 3.7L 03-07

How hard is it to get the starter off if you have the flex head sockets?

twowings said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9edsjzC-csE

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Just watched it. Looks like a PIA but everything should come apart very easily since it was all apart just 600 miles ago......

ltd02 said:

Haven't had the issue with my KJ but reminds me of a bad spot on the starter. Trying to start may move it just a bit so it will sometimes eventually start. Just a suggestion.

Try whacking it with a broom handle, 2x4 or something when it happens. I've heard you can rock it front to back in gear and sometimes that'll "move"it a bit but never tried that one myself.

Click to expand...

I had an issue with our Polaris ranger where this happened. Dead spot on the starter. Smacked it with a hammer a few times until I was able to buy a new one. Try this out.

Fango925 said:

I had an issue with our Polaris ranger where this happened. Dead spot on the starter. Smacked it with a hammer a few times until I was able to buy a new one. Try this out.

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Have you tried reaching the starter to bang on it? Jeep is parked for now - I will install a starter this weekend. It just had to wait until after all the engine work was done rear its ugly little head.

Fango925 said:

I had an issue with our Polaris ranger where this happened. Dead spot on the starter. Smacked it with a hammer a few times until I was able to buy a new one. Try this out.

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The hammer method would definitely have worked but the beauty of the 2x4 was that I could slide it down from the top next to the exhaust manifold and hit the started. Never had to crawl under it. Unfortunately it probably won't reach in the KJ. :shrug:

Hockeygoon said:

Have you tried reaching the starter to bang on it? Jeep is parked for now - I will install a starter this weekend. It just had to wait until after all the engine work was done rear its ugly little head.

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True! That starter is pretty well hidden in these things. I've got no lift so if this happened to me, I'd have to carry ramps and park on them everytime I shut it off if I was going to have to whack the starter. :emotions34:

Keep us posted.

ltd02 said:

True! That starter is pretty well hidden in these things. I've got no lift so if this happened to me, I'd have to carry ramps and park on them everytime I shut it off if I was going to have to whack the starter. :emotions34:

Keep us posted.

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Since this thing is on it way to someone else I bought the cheapest new one I could find - about $58 delivered. At least I didn't just leave it for the next owner to fix. There is a HUGE range on the pricing on these things.

My jeep does the same thing! And people said I was crazy!!!


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Swapped the starter out on Sunday - actually not to big of deal if you follow the steps in the video.

You don't have to use a hand wrench for the top bolt if you have a wobble end extension. Biggest problem was getting the new starter in place - the new one was slightly larger and the heat shield had to be completely removed to get it into place.