My wife went out to start her 08 jku and when she turned the key it wouldnt start. The started motor/soelnoid had power but would not engage. Everything else was fine, power windows, radio , lights, dash, etc. I unhooked the battery for about 15 seconds, hooked it back up, and it started right up. Any ideas what could have caused this?

 

Battery not keeping a charge? I just replaced my 08 original battery(they tend to only last 3 years).

Security device? Low battery in FOB key? Shifter not fully engaged in PARK? Could be any number of reasons.

 

Welcome to one of the wonderful electrical gremlins of the JK. It happens to me only in the summer lol. Has something to do with a part of the computer not being able to dump static electricity, er something like that. For whatever reason unplugging the battery works, go figure. Mine comes and goes. Hasn't happened in quite some time, Knock on wood. If your wife's Jeep is a stick, it also may be the neutral sensing switch. Run through the gears a few times, that also seems to do the trick. Hope you can figure it out. It does shake your confidence in your Jeep's reliability.