Jeep Dead....?

SoDakJeep · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:18 am

Jeep wont start and the lights are not dead? It does not even click or make any noise. Yesterday I noticed all the gauges shut of really quickly and came back on. I dont know what could be wrong. I got stuck in a snowdrift earlier but it seemed to run and drive fine afterwards. Could it just be the cold -7 Deg plus windchill. I havent tried to jump it but do you think I need a new battery or could it be something little?

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

Yep, your 05 is getting on to battery changing age. I'd start there.

XR · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:44 am

My '02 purchased in Nov '01 still has the original battery.Don't assume the battery is bad.DIAGNOSE then repair.Check the cables for tightness first.

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:56 am

Clean the battery terminals (if there is any acid buildup) and tighten the terminals, then jump it. Go test it at an autoparts store. Should be a little over 13volts, if not it needs to be replaced. I recommend an Optima red top battery.

tmaxx26power · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:37 pm

SoDakJeep, definately have the battery tested first. My 04 KJ has the original battery in it and it started this morning in
-12 plus windchill. Gotta love South Dakota huh?... :roll:

About a month ago I had the same thing happen right after I started mine. All the gauges went to nothing and all warning lights came on then split second later right back to normal. It never did it again.

SoDakJeep · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:06 pm

The thing is I tried to jump it and still nothing..... I turned on my headlights and they were bright so I think I might have packed enough snow into the jeep that maybe the starter is froze???? I dont know its sitting in the garage right now thawing out. Will check on it later tonight and how it was just from beeing frozen.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:46 pm

Are the headlights bright when you are not trying to boost it?

The fact that its -7F should not matter and the wind chill does not mean anything.

If the battery is indeed good and its not clicking or anything I would think its either a bad starter, bad solenoid, or something is wrong with the ignition.

SoDakJeep · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 6:11 pm

Well so far I am looking at ither a bad relay or a wire came loose. This is what the dealership told me when I poped in to ask a few questions.

And you say windchill has nothing to do with it well....hahaha it does if YOU :twisted:

have to be out in the cold haha I know the jeep dont care but its just not nice to try and fig/fix things out when your freezeing hahaha

Well I am off work at 9PM central so it will thaw out at least until then. For now I am stuck driving a Pinto hahahahahahahahaha 5 speed love it :evil:

haha

SoDakJeep · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:05 pm

Oopps hahah well my guess is just to much snow and something froze.....

Went to my parents house and after sitting in the nice warm garage all day she started right up no problems at all....

Still think it might have been the battery but I dont know I guess I find out in the morning after its been sitting in the harsh

-17 :shock:

before windchill.......

If it dont start tomorrow morning then off to get a new red or yellow top still quite havent decided that haha.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:14 pm

jeepkj02 wrote:

Clean the battery terminals (if there is any acid buildup) and tighten the terminals, then jump it. Go test it at an autoparts store. Should be a little over 13volts, if not it needs to be replaced. I recommend an Optima red top battery.

Would you like the Red top out of my 05? Its total crap and is only a few years old.

Or maybe you would like the one I purchased in 2006 for my nissan, oh wait its also total crap.

Crap, total crap I say.
-------------------------
.ʎɐs ı dɐɹɔ 1ɐʇoʇ 'dɐɹɔ

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:17 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

jeepkj02 wrote:

Clean the battery terminals (if there is any acid buildup) and tighten the terminals, then jump it. Go test it at an autoparts store. Should be a little over 13volts, if not it needs to be replaced. I recommend an Optima red top battery.

Would you like the Red top out of my 05? Its total crap and is only a few years old.

Or maybe you would like the one I purchased in 2006 for my nissan, oh wait its also total crap.

Crap, total crap I say.
-------------------------
.ʎɐs ı dɐɹɔ 1ɐʇoʇ 'dɐɹɔ

I'd rather have a Optima over the way out dated/unreliable lead/acid batteries.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:34 pm

Screw it all go Lithium Ion

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:09 am

Sir Sam wrote:

jeepkj02 wrote:

Clean the battery terminals (if there is any acid buildup) and tighten the terminals, then jump it. Go test it at an autoparts store. Should be a little over 13volts, if not it needs to be replaced. I recommend an Optima red top battery.

Would you like the Red top out of my 05? Its total crap and is only a few years old.

Or maybe you would like the one I purchased in 2006 for my nissan, oh wait its also total crap.

I had a red top in my T-bird...Trooper...Montero...CJ7...it finally died about the time I bought the KJ...purchased in '99 or '00. the fiberglass battery tray in the T-bird cracked, and the battery wound up laying against the PS pump pulley, which is what killed it. it still started fine, but it started oozing, so it was gone. Oh well...

When the current craptastic battery in the KJ is ready to die, KJ gets a red top.

Lithium Ion/Polymer batteries are not stable enough for low temperatures.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:24 am

Yellow Top for extra accesory use.

SoDakJeep · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:34 pm

Alright well I let my jeep sit in the garage all day and It started right up. I bring her home and park her outside my house and then this morning same thing again? I just dont get why it wont make any noise at all. Radio works Lights work. What size is the battery cables attached to and how easy does the battery come off.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 4:23 pm

Battery is simple - 10mm socket on an extension to loosen up the clamp on the back side of the tray, then use the same socket to loosen the nuts on the cable clamps, pull the cables off and remove the battery. Easy-peasy

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 4:27 pm

In cold weather it is most likely the battery. The lights will still be working, nut the Cold Cranking Amps is way down. Not enough to signal the computer and the solenoid. t a new battery!!!!

These electrical systems do NOT function the way the old XJ's and CJ's used to. If anyone has ever noticed, you can't grind the starter by double keying it alike in the old days. Computer knows when it is running and disables that.

SoDakJeep · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:05 pm

k well I have the battery pulled and am just walking out the door to take it to get checked out. How much am I looking at for an optima just a Gen. price range. Will have final results later tonight.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:29 pm

Around 160- 180 +.-

BUT THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART: WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!!!!!!

SoDakJeep · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:45 pm

Ok well I had my battery tested before I came to work. Out off the 600 CCA it only had like 360 or so. It says the battery is still good just not charged completely. It is still giving me 12.32 V but by the time I had the battery Tested it was already reading 32 deg. So I am sure that with it being even colder outside that I have even less CCA. going to charge the battery and hope for the best. I will get a new one soon enough but for now with the holidays funds are tight..... o well at least its not to much money.

Jeep Dead....?

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