Liberty won't start-ideas?

WestyKJ · **Posted:** Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:03 am

Hey Guys,

Drove the Lib yesterday. Started it about 10 times, no problems.
Stopped on the way home at the store, came out, turned the key, and only got clicking.

Had a friend come and give me a jump, and still only clicking.

Took the battery out and took it home.
Hooked it up to my charger, which shows percent of charge and voltage.
Voltage was 13.2V and percent of charge was 100%.

Put the battery back in and still only clicking.
Terminals are clean.

What do you guys think?

Could it be a problem with the battery, or does it sound more like the starter?

Thanks.

Neatus · **Posted:** Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:47 am

I would say clicking means the battery is kaput but if it is saying it is fully charged then maybe it is the starter. Can you get under the Jeep and tap the starter a few times with a hammer. That might get it to catch one more time. Usually if the starter is bad it will still spin but just won't engage so I don't know if you would hear a clicking. I would say take the battery to your local auto store and have them check it. Might as well make sure the easiest thing to fix is ruled out first. Good luck!

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:17 pm

could be a bad cable. Subaru did that to me last year, battery and alternator tested good, turned out I had a bad ground/neg cable to the starter solenoid not allowing full voltage. Check your connection at the starter, may be loose, or you may have a broken cale with corosion in it like I did. To find the break you would have to wiggle the cable and feel for the popping of the wires inside the cable.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Oct 18, 2009 3:05 pm

click - normally means the solenoid on the starter is dead

(at least it does on Chevy's - haven't had any problem on the Jeep)

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:18 pm

Simple test, get in the KJ, turn your headlight on, start the KJ, if it clicks and the headlights dim to almost nothing... bad battery, if they dont check the starter connection, and grounds. if good. you probably got a bad one.

WestyKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:17 pm

Thanks for all your help. It turned out to be the battery.

My 2 year old Optima Yellow Top was shorted out.

Not exactly the life cycle I expected from the Optima's.

Is there anything I could have done to cause that, or was it just a bad battery?

Hood297 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:23 pm

WestyKJ wrote:

Thanks for all your help. It turned out to be the battery.

My 2 year old Optima Yellow Top was shorted out.

Not exactly the life cycle I expected from the Optima's.

Is there anything I could have done to cause that, or was it just a bad battery?

any kinda warranty? Did you have anything else wired to it?

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:55 pm

My redtop has a three year replacement warranty... Got your reciept?

WestyKJ · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:49 am

Ocassionally used the winch and had the winch cables hooked to it all the time, even when the winch was in the garage.
( I have a front hitch and only put the winch on when we go wheeling.)

Looked everywhere for the receipt. Unfortunately, couldn't find it.

Thanks again for all the help guys.

Hood297 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:09 pm

well did your winch have a quick disconnect thing? i could see the +,- to get bridged which would kill it, but im sure they are tucked away pretty well.

maybe just bad luck.. or a bad battery

Liberty won't start-ideas?

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