Starter Issue? - Need diagnostic help

Buster3479

Buster3479

Member
We moved from Indiana to Maryland yesterday and the night before. Rausch creek guys, Beast is now within striking distance for a weekend trip! I crossed the mountains with a pretty full Jeep, but nothing over-burdening. It made the trip easily, at one point I did get a traction control symbol that kicked off the cruise, but it turned back on. Likely a bad alignment.

This morning, we went out and cruised our neighborhood to get the lay of the land. Our rig started and ran just fine. We did some local cruising, and then I backed it in the driveway and shut it off. After a little bit, I tried to start it to back it into the garage, and received an awful grinding, popping, clanging noise. It didn't sound like a bad battery (clicking), but more like someone put ball bearings in the engine and they were bouncing around. After 3 attempts, it wouldn't start at all.

When trying to turn on the starter, the power would turn off in the Jeep (GPS, stuff plugged in, ect, and then reset to power on after 20-30 seconds). A few hours later, I tried it again to get the power off on video, and it fired up! It is making a terrible grinding whining noise now when running, and I was able to back it into the garage and off of the slanted driveway before shutting it down quickly and only firing it up again for the attached video.

As a variable, 2 weeks before this trip, I bought a new battery (Oddysey PC1220 per the write up here).

Suspicions? Is it possible the starter is hung up and engaged? Solenoid went bad? Internal engine damage? :grayno:

All suggestions are appreciated. The first day in our new home, and I'm driving a rental!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc-27y0Xq9o&feature=youtu.be
 
I would think that it could definitely be the starter not returning. The whining kinda sounds like that tiny starter gear spinning a million miles an hour on the flywheel.

I would pull the starter to see If you can physically see anything wrong with it.

If you don't feel like pulling the starter yet- I would also try whacking it a few times with a hammer. Real good hits.
 
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Normally the starter gear fails to come out, and that's why they need a smack.. I haven't heard of this before, but I think it makes sense.
 
Buster3479 said:
We moved from Indiana to Maryland yesterday and the night before. Rausch creek guys, Beast is now within striking distance for a weekend trip! I crossed the mountains with a pretty full Jeep, but nothing over-burdening. It made the trip easily, at one point I did get a traction control symbol that kicked off the cruise, but it turned back on. Likely a bad alignment.

This morning, we went out and cruised our neighborhood to get the lay of the land. Our rig started and ran just fine. We did some local cruising, and then I backed it in the driveway and shut it off. After a little bit, I tried to start it to back it into the garage, and received an awful grinding, popping, clanging noise. It didn't sound like a bad battery (clicking), but more like someone put ball bearings in the engine and they were bouncing around. After 3 attempts, it wouldn't start at all.

When trying to turn on the starter, the power would turn off in the Jeep (GPS, stuff plugged in, ect, and then reset to power on after 20-30 seconds). A few hours later, I tried it again to get the power off on video, and it fired up! It is making a terrible grinding whining noise now when running, and I was able to back it into the garage and off of the slanted driveway before shutting it down quickly and only firing it up again for the attached video.

As a variable, 2 weeks before this trip, I bought a new battery (Oddysey PC1220 per the write up here).

Suspicions? Is it possible the starter is hung up and engaged? Solenoid went bad? Internal engine damage? :grayno:

All suggestions are appreciated. The first day in our new home, and I'm driving a rental!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc-27y0Xq9o&feature=youtu.be
Click to expand...

Sounds an awful lot like what I was hearing a few weeks back before I replaced my starter. Check the first post in this thread ( http://wayalife.com/showthread.php?...uot-Name-That-Noise-quot&highlight=play+noise ) and if it sounds like the noise in either of those two videos, it's likely the starter

EDIT: just saw the video link. Sounds similar...
 
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Will know tomorrow. The problem is now intermittent, runs, hangs up on startup, and then "frees" itself and runs normal. I picked up a starter this evening from the Mopar dealer, and I'll put it in tomorrow. I'm dying to put it in, but my idiot lights, garage heater, and even my flashlights are still on the moving truck. I'll do it tomorrow by light of day and let you all know!

Thanks Mikead40!
 
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Will have to try again tomorrow. Removed the bolts and one power connector today. Tried to pull the wire off of the solenoid bolt, and "whoops" the battery cables had slipped back onto the terminal (propped up now). There was a momentary shower of sparks that woke me up quite a bit. Hopefully nothing major there. I stopped after that point with the solenoid power connector still stuck on even though the nut is removed.

Without my creeper, coveralls, small pry tools, air tools, idiot lights, and a number of other creature comforts, what should have been quick work turned into a few hours and I ran out of time. It's amazing how reliant I've become on most of the garage things that are still on a moving truck. Will try to get it finished up tomorrow when I have natural light again.
 
Buster3479 said:
Will have to try again tomorrow. Removed the bolts and one power connector today. Tried to pull the wire off of the solenoid bolt, and "whoops" the battery cables had slipped back onto the terminal (propped up now). There was a momentary shower of sparks that woke me up quite a bit. Hopefully nothing major there. I stopped after that point with the solenoid power connector still stuck on even though the nut is removed.

Without my creeper, coveralls, small pry tools, air tools, idiot lights, and a number of other creature comforts, what should have been quick work turned into a few hours and I ran out of time. It's amazing how reliant I've become on most of the garage things that are still on a moving truck. Will try to get it finished up tomorrow when I have natural light again.
Click to expand...

That solenoid power connector is a huge PITA to get off - it took me a while too
 
Starter is in, and it runs like it should. I'll follow up later, but for now I think it was the issue. I broke the retaining tab on the power connector going to the starter (it was ~10 deg F) when I removed it, and there's nothing holding the main power connector on now. I'll try to pick one up at the stealership on Monday. Going for a test drive in a few min when my fingers thaw out.
 
Taking a quick look at the old starter, the little gear is stuck somewhat outward from where the new starter position is axially. Also, the gear turns much rougher in the direction that it turns than the new one. I'm willing to be the tiny "clutch mechanism" just seized up! Fought it quite a bit, but felt good when it popped over and ran without that heinous noise! :beer:
 

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Buster3479 said:
Starter is in, and it runs like it should. I'll follow up later, but for now I think it was the issue. I broke the retaining tab on the power connector going to the starter (it was ~10 deg F) when I removed it, and there's nothing holding the main power connector on now. I'll try to pick one up at the stealership on Monday. Going for a test drive in a few min when my fingers thaw out.
Click to expand...

Glad it's up and running.
I did the same thing with the retaining tab. It's borderline impossible to get that connector out without doing that (at least that's what I'm telling myself). Kind of a lousy design. Unfortunately I don't think they sell just that power connector. I was told I'd need to buy the complete wiring harness :thinking:. There may be an aftermarket solution out there - I didn't look that hard. I literally superglued mine on there to keep it from coming loose due to vibration. Hopefully I won't have to change my starter again for a while :eek:
 
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