Well, so much for a perfect record on my Wrangler. I stopped by the drug store on the way home and got back in the jeep and it would not start. Nothing when I turned the key. Popped the hood to see if I could spot anything, and I heard some low level clicking...more like clunking down near the motor. It got louder and then faded. Once it faded the power was on again (interior light)....so I tried again, and turning the key is shorting out something. I'm supposing it's the starter solenoid switch if that's how they make them these days. After trying 3 or 4 times, I quit and walked home. This is the first time in many years that I had to abandon a vehicle. I remember my old ford falcon had a soleniod issue and all I had to do is hit it with a wrench and it would stop clicking. Gee,,,that was like 100 years ago.


PROBLEM SOLVED.....SEE POST 13.08 2dr with 50k miles.

 

Try popping the gears in neutral and then back to park again before trying to start your rig. I had a similar problem and that seemed to work for me.

 

It'a an Automatic. I'm going to go back tonight in my van with some tools and see if it goes again. I'll try rolling it a few feet. Unhook the battery for a second or two, piss on it, maybe if it cools down (not that it was that hot) the short will subside enough to get it home.
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Update: Went back...no go. As soon as I turn the key ...even before the starter....the lights go haywire everywhere.......I unhook the battery and reconnect. the lights are all off and everything is dead. Now I'm assuming the battery is done. Maybe the battery went kaput in the beginning and the computer went nutz because of low voltage. But what gets me is there was no warning of the battery going low. Just last month I was gone for 20 days, and when I got back, the jeep started right up. ???????????????????????

I'm hoping it is just the battery (4.5 years old) and not a short somewhere. Some dick swallower stole all my rescue equipment a few months back so I don't even have jumper cables anymore.

 

[QUOTE=Smelt_1;2839669Some dick swallower stole all my rescue equipment a few months back so I don't even have jumper cables anymore.[/QUOTE]

LOL

I'd say battery. If not you still needed one anyhow after 4.5 years.

 

Sounds like a bad battery. My truck did the same thing and a new battery fixed it.

 

Mine did the same thing. The battery died with absolutely no warning. It's weird to me that it happens that way. Mine was a few days short of being 4 years old.

 

I'll go yank it out this morning ,,,,maybe I got lucky and someone stole it last night.
My battery policy is when I feel any signs of a weak battery and it's time is close to life(death) I replace it, but this time absolutely nuttin.

 

Battery x3 happened to a friend out on the trail. We did a pretty hard trail and after it, we stopped and just talked a little. When he went to start his jeep it went crazy. Volt meter to the battery when he tried to start it, showed he only have 2.4 volts or something that low

 

Yeah I am sure it is just the battery. The factory ones don't last much more than 4 years. I barely got 4 years out of mine and it gave me almost no warning (like within a week). New battery solved it. Hope that's all is wrong. And if you ever have trouble starting with a new battery and its not the starter or anything, try jiggling the auto shifter up past park and back down a bit and it will start. Crankshaft position sensor gets messed up or dirty after awhile and causes starting issues especially when it is warm outside. I hope you never have this problem, but if you do, hopefully this helps. My jeep does it and I just jiggle the shifter, but one of these days I am going to replace the sensor. I think they are like 20 bucks. Anyway, keep us posted. Good luck!

 

That sounds exactly like what happened to me. Unfortunately for me it was after I changed a flat on the interstate in the dark at sub freezing temps.