03 KJ won't start... Troubleshooting...

AJBallantine · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:31 am

So my wife went to start the jeep this morning and boom. Nothing. She said it's not turning over, and it just clicks. All the lights (including my PIAA's) work. I had her jump the relatively new optima red top anyway, just in case and she said it started up and then immediately shut off. This makes me think it's neither the starter nor the alternator, and my suspicions lie with either a fuel issue or maybe an idle air control problem? Any thoughts? I just can't figure how either would cause both the jeep not to start until jumped, and then turn off immediately.

Trying to avoid the shop if possible

any suggestions?

ihatemybike · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:05 am

We've had similar problems with a dead battery. Eugene would start when jumped off Grumpy, but die as soon as the cables were detached. If you have a battery charger try charging it and see what it does, if you don't have a charger most LAPS will charge the battery for you for free.

gtommec · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:12 am

Check to make sure the terminals are clean and tight, My wifes Liberty did this once and the battery terminal was a little loose, once I tightened it up it stayed running with no issues. Also these KJs do not like running even if the battery is just a little low so I would do like Ihatemybike suggested and give the battery a good charge.

AJBallantine · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:22 am

The battery was replaced in january... And it shut off inmediately even with the junper cables still connected. Even with leaving the junpers on for 10 minutes, it still shut off as soon as it fired up.So I highly doubt that's the issue. I guess the more I think about it it actually could be my alternator... Guess I'll replace it anyway and hope it works.

ihatemybike · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:39 am

LAPS can test the battery and alternator before you start spending money.

AJBallantine · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:55 am

Yeah.... I'll check the connections too. That could def explain why the lights still have power but the starter and alternator don't...

501 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:36 pm

AJBallantine wrote:

The battery was replaced in january... And it shut off inmediately even with the junper cables still connected. Even with leaving the junpers on for 10 minutes, it still shut off as soon as it fired up.So I highly doubt that's the issue. I guess the more I think about it it actually could be my alternator... Guess I'll replace it anyway and hope it works.

I'd still check the battery. I bought a Sears Die hard and 6 to 8 months later it went bad. Took it back to Sears. They checked it and found out it was their battery. Gave me a replacement and it's worked fine for over a year & a half now.

AJBallantine · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 6:54 pm

It's not the battery or the connections. Engine started up and died again when I jumped it. Started it again while revving up the engine for about 60 secs and it continued to run. Alternator?

AJBallantine · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 6:56 pm

I've had no signs that the alternator was going up, and the battery never completely died... ThAts why I've been having trouble thinking it's the alternator.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:01 pm

AJBallantine wrote:

I've had no signs that the alternator was going up, and the battery never completely died... ThAts why I've been having trouble thinking it's the alternator.

Because it's not the alternator,it's your battery.Optima's are now well known for not lasting.Your alternator is controlled by the PCM and if the PCM is not getting the correct battery voltage it makes your KJ do funny things,and yes one is the alternator will not charge.

XJMA · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:40 pm

IT's the battery for sure. Return the crappy new red top and get anything else. Optima USED to be the best battery you could get - now they're made in mexico.

If you don't believe the long line of people that are telling you from experience that it is indeed the battery, just swap in a battery off of another running vehicle....it's the battery!!

AJBallantine · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:05 am

I know optimas review about 50/50, so I'll keep that in mind for my next one. But as for now, just as suspected, it's not the redtop. I pulled the battery and starter and had them tested. Both good. Gonna clean the iac valve tonight and see if that works. I'll letchya know!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:14 am

AJBallantine wrote:

I know optimas review about 50/50, so I'll keep that in mind for my next one. But as for now, just as suspected, it's not the redtop. I pulled the battery and starter and had them tested. Both good. Gonna clean the iac valve tonight and see if that works. I'll letchya know!

I can't tell you how many "tested good" batteries I've seen that are truely bad.

ihatemybike · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:02 am

It starts when being jumped so you pulled the starter for testing?

AJBallantine · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:58 am

Yeah. For the past year it's been cranking slower, and after 190000 miles I figure nows a good time as any to replace it since I'm diagnosing starting problems. I had em test it so I can rule it out as to why it still won't start. So, with a new starter, the engine cranks and starts well, but still dies immediately.

Just pulled the interstate battery out of my father-in-laws Durango, and it started and shut down again.

Pulled the IAC valve and cleaned it, all the while noticing that the plunger could wiggle a bit. Put it back in and engine cranked up. Switched back to the optima, same results... However, my idle seems to be struggling a bit. I just ordered a new IAC valve to see if that does the trick.

Thanks for the replies.

Billwill · **Posted:** Sat Oct 08, 2011 4:11 am

Put a voltmeter over the battery and check that the voltage goes to about 13.5 volts while running....if it does not do so then there is a problem with the alternator/charging system.

Are you getting any CELs?

AJBallantine · **Posted:** Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:41 pm

Well, the battery ran 7.5 volts when I put it on the charger. I went ahead an replaced the alternator yesterday, and now the battery is running 14.6 volts. I still was having problems with the jeep nearly stalling out as soon as I started it up, so I replaced the IAC valve as well.

Needless to say she starts up like she was new. Thanks for the responses

03 KJ won't start... Troubleshooting...

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