QueBallin1989

Make:Jeep
Model: Cherokee 4WD
Year: 99

I have been having intermittent starting issues for about a month now but my jeep would start after a couple tries. Today I came out and tried start it and the starter solenoid would click once but the starter wouldn't turn. None of the interior lights or dash lights were dimming like there was a battery problem, so I took the starter off and took it to advance to have it checked. It tested bad so I got a new starter and put it on and the problem is still the same. The starter is getting full battery voltage to the power wires, I checked the voltage drop on the terminals and they tested perfect, I tried swapping out the relay with the one for the cooling fan, checked all fuses, tried starting in neutral, and tried moving it. I'm probably forgetting something but I'm completely lost as to what the problem could be. The only thing I can think of is that its the new starter but they tested it before I left the store. Does anyone have any suggestions for other things to try?

-JB-

To diagnose this issue take out the ignition part. Jump the starter to a power source and see if the starter fires up. If it does you know its in the ignition. If not then you have another bad starter.

Yep4doors

I don't know if jeeps have starter solenoids but if they do you can try replacing that if you have one

-JB-

It's built into the starter if it does. I'd check relay after you make sure the starter is a good one.

Fabrik8

Are you checking voltage drop while starting or not? There won't be any voltage drop if there is no current flowing through the wires.

ZebraEJ8

I was helping OP troubleshoot the issue. I had him try jumping it straight to the battery while I was in class and it worked that way and once he reconnected the signal wire afterward it cranked right up with the key. I'm still not sure it's fixed though. I printed off a wiring diagram of the starting system and from looking it over and the tests I did today I think there might be a bad connection internally in the fuse block. When I checked the starter signal without it connected to the starter it was 12.8v but connected to the starter under a load it was fluctuating between 2v and 11v.

Fabrik8

I would imagine the starter control signal is just reflecting what's happening in the rest of the electrical system.