No start / doesn't crank

DIESELIB · **Posted:** Fri May 11, 2012 9:36 am

I think I once saw a flow chart for diagnosing a "no crank" problem but can't find it... My liberty acts as though either the starter died or there's a problem with the neutral safety switch.....battery is fine...any help appreciated. I remember reading about a problem with the neutral safety switches last year and think that this is what I'm experiencing.....thanks!
Tom

papaindigo · **Posted:** Fri May 11, 2012 10:20 am

When you turn the key on will the radio work? If not since the radio is "switched" the actuator pin in your ignition switch is probably broken. If it works then there is a good chance your "real" ignition switch, what the pin turns, is dead so the ECM is not being "told" to tell the starter to crank. See viewtopic.php?f=5&t=61233&p=678574&hilit=+brother#p678574 FYI both of those parts have aftermarket options.

geordi's post on the neutral switch reads "Pull the shield off the top of the gear shifter, there are 2 small cables in there; the passenger-side one is the sensor cable, it's not electrical, it's an aircraft wire; the sensor is actually located under the steering wheel. Unhooked, problem solved permanently. I thought of a quick way to test the actuator cable without pulling anything apart on the shifter console - With the engine off and in park, pull back slightly on the shifter to apply tension, and try cranking the engine. If it doesn't go... The cable is the culprit b/c the tolerance (and how much it moves normally) isn't much. The cable is pushed toward the front of the vehicle when the selector is in park, and just shifts backwards slightly when the selector is anywhere else. All you need to do is unclip the end of the cable, and push the end into the sheath until it stops (about 1/4") and tuck it away in there. This won't affect anything else in the operation of your CRD, the shift interlock (that foot-on-brake-to-shift) idiot switch will still be there and functioning... Unless that 2-wire connector happens to "fall out" like it did on mine. Strange how that happens sometimes. "

DIESELIB · **Posted:** Fri May 11, 2012 8:29 pm

papaindigo wrote:

When you turn the key on will the radio work? If not since the radio is "switched" the actuator pin in your ignition switch is probably broken. If it works then there is a good chance you "real" ignition switch, what the pin turns, is dead so the ECM is not being "told" to tell the starter to crank. See viewtopic.php?f=5&t=61233&p=678574&hilit=+brother#p678574 FYI both of those parts have aftermarket options.

geordi's post on the neutral switch reads "Pull the shield off the top of the gear shifter, there are 2 small cables in there; the passenger-side one is the sensor cable, it's not electrical, it's an aircraft wire; the sensor is actually located under the steering wheel. Unhooked, problem solved permanently. I thought of a quick way to test the actuator cable without pulling anything apart on the shifter console - With the engine off and in park, pull back slightly on the shifter to apply tension, and try cranking the engine. If it doesn't go... The cable is the culprit b/c the tolerance (and how much it moves normally) isn't much. The cable is pushed toward the front of the vehicle when the selector is in park, and just shifts backwards slightly when the selector is anywhere else. All you need to do is unclip the end of the cable, and push the end into the sheath until it stops (about 1/4") and tuck it away in there. This won't affect anything else in the operation of your CRD, the shift interlock (that foot-on-brake-to-shift) idiot switch will still be there and functioning... Unless that 2-wire connector happens to "fall out" like it did on mine. Strange how that happens sometimes. "

I was thinking of checking that cable actuated switch but every time I go to start it then it's fine....the no start problem only happened twice and so far it's been fine....but you know darn well it's gonna rear it's ugly head at the worst possible time....darn that murphy! :evil:

Tom

DIESELIB · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 2:26 pm

UPDATE:
Ok so this is definitely an intermittent problem....doesn't matter if it's hot cold or anything in between.... When it does happen, all the other accessories work normal and when the key is turned to the "start" position, the radio will lose power as usual....this leads me to believe the ignition is fine and it may be an issue with that shifter cable and/or resistor switch.... This is getting frustrating since I KNOW it will eventually leave me stranded at the worst time possible.....
Tom

papaindigo · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 3:06 pm

I'm not one to throw parts at a problem but...
1. per my previous post it's easy enough to test the cable, using geordi's method, the next time it doesn't start.
2. if that's not it it's not unknown to have an intermittent ignition actuator pin problem if the pin is cracked not broken or
3. an intermittent ignition switch problem which results in no signal to the ECU to start.

The actuator pin is easy enough to get to (part is Dorman # 924704 $39 at OReilly's) as is the ignition switch (BWD CS812 $17 at OReilly's). You can probably pull the pin assembly and check it's condition but I don't know how to test the ignition switch but at $17 just throw a new one on.

If you drop me an email I can send you some instructions and pictures.

DIESELIB · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 3:36 pm

Finally had it die and stay dead.....checked the relay....then removed that small cable by the shifter...still no start... My problem must be with the ignition switch/rod that you mentioned since everything else seems fine....thanks for the reply...email sent.
Tom

DIESELIB · **Posted:** Fri May 18, 2012 7:20 pm

Just an FYI.....it turned out to be the actuator rod....VERY easy fix and put a new ignition switch in as well since it was apart.... in retrospect i was extremely lucky since when it decided to completely fail it did so in my driveway....

Thanks to PAPAINDIGO for the info!!!

Miyanovich · **Posted:** Fri May 18, 2012 7:37 pm

Papindigo is like the Spock of this Starship Enterprise!

:seuss:

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sat May 19, 2012 3:53 pm

Thanks guys but most of the credit is due to other forum members. I just try to keep a personal file of past solutions for when the problem happens again. I will add to that a bunch of years messing with cars and a personal preference for looking for the obvious simply solution to the problem first are both a help.

Miyanovich · **Posted:** Sat May 19, 2012 4:04 pm

papaindigo wrote:

Thanks guys but most of the credit is due to other forum members. I just try to keep a personal file of past solutions for when the problem happens again. I will add to that a bunch of years messing with cars and a personal preference for looking for the obvious simply solution to the problem first are both a help.

Papa, with that extensive list of mods and upgrades, do you even have any of the Jeep left?

:-)r

No start / doesn't crank

Who is online