My 08 Jeep Wrangler JK has been sitting in my driveway all summer since this issue started and I am out of ideas as what the problem could be. All I get is a clicking noise for about 20 turns of the key before it starts. Here have been my troubleshooting steps so far:
1. I checked to make sure the battery was good. Voltage read was 12.78 volts. I cleaned the connections really well all the same. I also tried using jumper cables to jump start my jeep with my buddies ford ranger just in case the cold cranking amps output by the battery as the issue. Still didn't start.
2. I had my starter replaced last year and when I drove to the mechanics they said the starter looked fine. We tried banging the starter with a hammer when starting the jeep, but it still didn't start.
3. Because other electrical components of the vehicle function, and the jump start didn't work, I believe a bad alternator can be ruled out.
4. I checked all my grounds and all 'seemed' tight enough.
5. I heard that a common issue with Chrysler vehicles is that within the TIPM (Total Integrated Power Module) the fuel pump relay will go bad. I bought a bypass cable from vertical visions ([ Ссылка ]-...
, the version without the LED) and hooked it up. I tried to start the Jeep and had a friend lay down under the Jeep. They said they could clearly hear the fuel pump motor actuating.
6. I checked every fuse visually to ensure that they were not blown. A friend touched the starter relay as I tried to start the Jeep and could feel it actuate. I swapped the starter relay with another relay and tried starting the Jeep instead on the off chance that the starter relay was still the issue. The Jeep still didn't start.
7. I did a hard reset of my tipm (unplugged it, took it out of the vehicle, used zip ties to tie the 2 battery cables together overnight to drain power from the vehicle. Still, the jeep didn't start.
*In Conclusion*: After performing all of these troubleshooting steps, there are only 3 things that I think could be solving this, and that's why I am making this video. I need feedback on these 3 possible solutions, and need to know if there is anything else I missed.
Possible Solution 1. There is a loose connection or ground wire that isn't connected. If I am being perfectly honest, I don't know HOW to tell if a connection to ground is not good, or where connections to ground are beyond the cable under the hood that are connected to the chassis of the vehicle (connected to metal). If there is a loose connection elsewhere or a wiring issue, how would I go about tracing and checking that?
Possible Solution 2. The starter is bad. Even though the jeep won't start using the hammer trick, and my mechanic said it looked fine, the starter is still broke. I am going to an alternator and starter repair shop to get it tested.
Possible Solution 3. My mechanic suggested the TIPM needs to be replaced. Since the starter relay works from feeling it when turning the key, the starter fuse looks fine, and the bypass cable we hooked up is bypassing the fuel pump relay, I doubt that replacing the TIPM would help. But I trust my mechanic, so I'm still including this among possible solutions.
Thank you to anyone who could help me out or critique my troubleshooting steps!
