ok
Sunday I get in my jeep and it has been outside for 3 weeks and the last time it was started was 2 weeks ago so it started kind of hard. Finally got it started and backed it off the drive way and it ran for a total of 5-10 mintues. I get in it today after it had down pored on sunday afternoon and rain ever since then.

i tried to start it today and it turned over a couple of times and "click". nothing.
I checked to see if everything was off and what not but nothing was on. So I got a spare battery and jumped it no problem un hooked everything and drove it down to the garage and left it running for 20 minutes while I washed the tub and under carriage and what not. I shut it off and turned it back on and it started up no problem. The battery is brand new by the way.
So I finish the clean up and and go to start it up and "click" nothing.
I get the battery and it starts right back up again. runs fine but wont start on its own. The battery is reading 11.95v when running.
So I figure its a wet (poor) ground. so I look for every ground I have on the thing and wipe it off and either gave it a better ground or cleaned the surface and reattached.
I even when as far as re grounding the alt., battery and other things and still nothing.

again it will start up with dual batteries but not with just one. It will also start hard now with the two.

now I do only have a bikini top so moisture is probably all in the dash and such could it just be because thing are wet and need to dry out? is there any thing I can check? It wont even start if I try and do the old screwdriver on the solenoid.

its in the garage now drying out. if its a sunny day tomorrow I will park it outside for a quicker dry up

help please.

83 CJ7 4.2 L

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

Is it possible for the starter to be starting hard? I here the starter click but nothing. Usually when the battery is dead the solenoid clicks. I dont hear that

is there something I can spray on/in the starter that will free it up and help keep it unshorted/not tough to turn?

 

Put the Ohm meter on the positive cable at the starter to make sure your gettin the voltage that far in case it's a bad cable. If that works out check the alternator.

If your not hearin the solenoid, I'd bet on that being your problem though, or at least one of them. You can tap on it with a screwdriver to see if it is just sticking and will let go like that. Been a while since I've messed with that stuff but I think you can just jump the selenoid to test it.

 

yeah I tried the old screw driver over the solenoid posts and it still does nothing.

I dont think its the alternator as it will stay running without the other battery and keep the voltage at 11.95v

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

can u test a starter from home? with a ohm meter?

 

11.9v is low for a charging battery. take a voltage measurement from the output of the alternator and see what it is. if it is less than 14v it is bad. take it to autozone or advance they can test it for you.

a vehicle, especially if not fuel injected will run on any voltage down to 9-10v as all it uses the power for is the ignition system and lights. starting is where the issue is due to the battery being drained and never getting a good charge.

take the positive terminal off the battery while the vehicle is running. if the alternator is good the truck should stay running. if it does take a voltage reading at the terminal you removed and reference chassis for ground. if it is less than 14v i'd suspect the alternator is bad or the regulator in the alt is going bad and when it gets a load on it dosen't charge.

 

the only reason why I dont think it is the alt is because it has a hard time starting. I used a brand new battery last night and it would barely turned the motor and then that was it. I hooked anothr battery up with it and it started but barely. I'm not saying I dont have an alternator issue but to not start with a brand new battery doesnt seem like the alternator should make a difference.
now, I have done some reading on the jeep sand the stock wiring to the alt dont provide a good charging like they could. I have a few wiring diagrams that are going to help me rewire the alt tonight. But like I said a new battery should take the alt out of the equation.

i will try the above tonight and if everything tests ok I will pull the starter and get it tested at advanced auto

thx

 

the parts stores can also check the starter for you. but if you have a shop local that can rebuild that one i would go that route.... if you do much muddin' and get mud and water in the starter then it could prematurely cause the brushes and armature to fail.

 

I just called the parts store and the starter and alternator are under $50 a piece.
But I will do the tests first

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

ok I tried a whole bunch of stuff. first the battery was toast. the thing isnt even 2 months old. second the starter was all rusty and such so I took it out and hooked jumpers to it and it barely wanted to go. so I cleaned the inside up with a wire brush and it started much easier. So I knew I had an alternator that wasnt putting out max. So I hooked a wire to the battery and touched it to the alternator and voula 14 volts at the battery. the douche bag before me hooked the positive up to the battery gauge and used a 12 gauge wire (un fused) back to the battery.
Thats why the battery was shot.

thanks Ben for the help. !

 

10-4 good buddy glad i could help.... it's funny how one thing can lead to another and cause alot of troubles. good thing you could get that wiring diagram for the jeep cause if not my next suggestion would be to put a GM 1 wire alt on it as i have one on my Turbocoupe, and a few friends have them on their drag cars..... they are simple as pie to hook up, dependable, and are fairly cheap, and if you have any kind of fab skills you can make a bracket work for it.