2005 Liberty starts and dies

[baydvm]

2005 Liberty would not start yesterday. No interior lights when door opened. Placed on charger overnight.

Tonight it started, ran for about 3 seconds and died. Would crank but not start. Shut off key completely and would repeat start and die in about 3 seconds.

Did this about 6 times trying to keep running by giving gas, still died. Would not crank then, no solenoid noise, no slow crank, just no crank. Still interior lights.

Questions:

1) would only a bad battery cause this? I am used to vehicles either slow cranking or if starts, staying running unless bad alternator. Comments?

2) Would bad ignition switch do this? Would not explain no interior lights though?

3) I suppose alternator, but if battery fully charged, should start and stay running until battery voltage died. Comments?

4) Bad fuel pump possible (start and die), but still would not explain no lights and response after charging battery.

Comments?? Thanks

 

[LibertyTC]

Welcome to the forum.
Recharge the battery overnight again, then get it load tested.
Battery may need replacement.
If with a known good battery it still runs & dies quick it is on to the asd relay and fuel psi tests along with an obd2 scan for codes.
Ya the alt should be checked for voltage output once running.
Bill our electrical specialist hopefully chimes in soon to progress this thread forward.

 

[Billwill]

Definitely have the battery load tested and replaced if needed. Check all fuses.

Try get CEL codes read out by someone with a code reader.
The BCM…..sits other side of interior fuse panel...is responsible for a lot of actions including switching the interior lights ON and OFF and could be suffering from low battery voltage or bad grounds.

Download the 2005 Jeep KJ Service Manual below...Section 8E describes the BCM operation and tells you the location of the grounds for the BCM.
Section 8W has the Wiring Diagrams.

Put a Digital Volt Meter over the battery.
Should read about 12.5 volts when engine is OFF.
Should not drop below about 10 volts when cranking.
Should show about 13.4 volts when running even if only for the 6 seconds it runs.

A good well-charged battery should be able to crank the engine plenty times before running out of steam so I think your main culprit is the battery but also check the battery contacts are clean and tight both ends and the engine grounding straps are clean and tight both ends.

Running for 3 seconds then dying could be a SKEES anti-theft problem but then you expect the Red SKEES LED to come ON...test the Red LED on left of cluster is working by holding the Odometer Reset plunger in while turning ignition ON...all gauges and lamps are excercised.

Definitely eliminate the battery first then we can climb into the CEL codes and the wiring diagrams.

www.colorado4wheel.com/manuals/Jeep/KJ/

 

[LibertyTC]

Thanks Bill!

 

[baydvm]

Thanks for your help. The battery load tested normal, the alternator tested normal. No codes stored or pending. After putting back together, it is running now. Maybe bad battery connection? Only thing I changed was cleaning the posts/connectors when putting battery back in. Thank you bill for the link. I will keep this thread in mind if problems continue and go from there. Thanks again.

 

[LibertyTC]

Very good news that the KJ is running properly again! The KJ does not run well without a good battery & good clean tight connections!
Thanks for letting us know.