Engine will not crank over?

try resetting your security system these guides will help us fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-reset-a-security-system

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Please run down these guides and report back.

when you open the door all the gauges go back and forth and it will not start

Could you explain in a bit more detail please? What exactly it happening and what happens when you put in the key and try to start it? Any noises or lights on the dash or anything? If I am understanding correctly it sounds like you are having a security/ or factory alarm problem. Get back to me and we will go from there.

open door gauges jump, put key in and it starts beeping, try to turn over and lights on inst. panel go on and off

Does this have a factory alarm system? If so I would say that there is something wrong with that and it is thinking it is being stolen so it won't start. Now just to make sure you are using the factory supplied key right? I have found that if you don't it goes into theft mode. I have had a customer leave me there spare key it was cut buy a parts store not the dealer so it was never programmed to start only open it and man till I had the customers factory key it would do nothing.

2001 wrangler sport having same problem! first time two weeks ago, then nothing till today. runs fine. shut it off, get back in and try to start and nothing. no gauge lights, no odometer reading nothing but beeps when key is in and gauges jump back and forth even when you take key out. does not stop till door is shut or door is open and you push the dome light switch in the door. I do not have factory alarm but aftermarket viper alarm. It will not arm when this happens but after turning key on and off several times jeep will just up and start like nothing was wrong. very irritating and makes me late! Dealer suggested new battery but heres the thing, if battery is dead, then why all of a sudden it starts right up with no hesitation? Does not "grind" like when a battery is dead or has no juice. possible brain problem?? any help on this matter would be super and I hope my non-factory alarm situation helps to clear this problem. I have 89k and no problems except for regular p1486 code (loose gas cap). If any questions [email protected] or if I can help more! Thank you!

just got off phone with alarm installer. he says does not sound like alarm problem but rather a loose battery cable or loose cable coming into fuse block. definitely not battery as mine fires right up once gauges and stuff stop jumping around (sometimes 3 minutes, sometimes 15 minutes). not cranking hard or repeating every time I try to start it so I believe battery is not the answer. will try tightening cables to see and get back with you!

I have the vehicle listed above that will not start. When it first failed I confirmed the battery was good (jump start and accessories light all turn on), a few hits to the starter with a hammer got it started again and I was able to get it home. The hammer trick did not work again after that. I replaced the starter, but still no luck, no clicks from the starter, nothing. I swapped the horn fuse and relay with ones for the starter to test if it was a bad fuse/relay thinking it was getting power, no change and the fuses look good too. I also tried a jump start in case the battery could not provide enough power, but no luck there either. The guys at AutoZone said that Jeeps of that year have trouble with the crankshaft position sensors and to replace that since it seems that went bad too. I have one of those coming tomorrow. No codes are shown when connecting an ODBII scanner, although I expected it to show a faulty sensor. The car has not been started for a week now though. The connections to the starter look good so unless it is a bad starter or I messed up the wiring to the starter somehow, it must be the crankshaft position sensor or something else. You cannot wire a starter backwards can you? I will try to start the starter straight off the battery tomorrow to confirm, but I cannot image I messed up installing a starter that I have many times before. What do you guys think it could be? Any advice and what else to try?

It could also be the body module (computer) I will check to see if I can find any tests to this ok.

If the starter will not engage, it has nothing to do with the crank sensor, so save your money and do not get it. There should be two wires at the starter, a hot straight from battery and a smaller wire to the small post on the solenoid. The only time the smaller wire should get power is when the key is in the start position. At that point, the starter is energized and cranks the engine. What to test is this. Have a helper turn the key to the start position while you check for power to the smaller wire on the starter. At that point, you should have twelve volts until the key is released. If you do and the larger wire has twelve volts all the time, the starter is bad. Let me know what you find.

After cleaning battery posts and checking them for looseness I had no luck. No lights, nothing. I reached under the dash, wiggled the fuseblock and bam! Lights, odometer, etc came on and jeep fired right up. Has only been a day, but have been in and out of jeep several times on the way to work and on the way home with no other incidents. Could be a fluke but when I get the extra time, I will get under the dash to see if I see anything out of the ordinary. Till then let me know what you find on the brain ok? As far as brain goes, dealership service dept said when battery gets below 9 amps brain starts shutting things down. But if my battery was bad, it would be weak cranking over, especially in the intense cold this morning so I dont believe its the battery at all. Will keep you posted and please do the same for me thanks!

Thank you for responding!
So there's no power to the smaller wire on the starter with the key in the crank position. I took out the starter and tested it to make sure it works - the gear pops out and spins fine. I also tried supplying 12V to the smaller pin on the starter from the battery (just momentary, hand touch) with the key in the crank position. No dice. Feels like it tries to start but either isn't getting gas or the spark plugs aren't firing. From what I can find online it might be a bad ignition switch actuator pin. What do you think?

Great it sounds like you have a loose connection at the fuse panal so just keep an eye on it and if it comes back you may have bad connection at the panal or fuse connection. Anyway great that is running hope it stays that way.

Can I ask if when you are trying to start it is the red security light flashing on the dash?

Cheers, Ken

@Ken. No red security light, no check engine light, etc. Ended up taking it to a mechanic...he said that there were pieces of aluminum in the ignition switch with caused it to fail. I guess that makes sense, the car is old and the aluminum shavings were from the key. In any case, thanks everyone for your advise!

Erich

Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.

Cheers, Ken

Electrical problem
2003 Jeep Wrangler 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Manual 130K miles

Upon starting my 03 wrangler (4.0, 6cyl, 5speed) the starter hung up (or remained engaged) for several seconds
after ignition. This was not the first time for this to happen but it is very rare. Ran fine after that, but upon my next attempt to start the jeep (20 min. later +or-) absolutely no response from the starter or solenoid with key in the start position. Battery fully charged, all
electronic functions operating with key in run mode.
Assumed starter hung up or solenoid bad and with 130K I replaced starter to be safe anyway. All connections sound and correct (only 2 wires, hot from battery, and
relay with blade connection) but same problem. Checked starter relay in power dist. box under hood,
checked 30 amp square fuse in position6 in power dist
box. relay good, fuse blown. Checked fuse in location 20 behind glove box, this fuse was good. Replaced
30amp square and had assistant watch as I again
turned key to start. Starter relay made noise but the
large 30amp fuse blew immediately after. Rechecked
relay and other fuses, only 30 amp square from position6 power dist. box blown. Haynes electric
schematic vague and not very helpful, but I believe
the clutch neutral switch is functioning fine. I'm at
a loss.

Hello ..thanks for the donation ..much appreciated I would double check the starter relay ... and also check the ignition switch is working correctly !! STARTER DOES NOT DISENGAGE Starter Motor Improperly Installed: Tighten to correct torque specifications. See STARTER MOTOR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION, andTORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Starter Relay Faulty: Test and replace if required. See STARTER RELAY under COMPONENT TESTING. Ignition Switch Faulty: Replace if required. Starter Motor Faulty: Test and replace if required. See STARTER MOTOR under COMPONENT TESTING. STARTER FAILS TO OPERATE Batter Discharged or Faulty: Charge and replace if necessary. Starting Circuit Wiring Faulty: Test and repair if required. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Starter Relay Faulty: Test and replace if required. See STARTER RELAY under COMPONENT TESTING. Ignition Switch Faulty: Replace if required. Clutch Pedal Position Switch Faulty: Replace if required. Park/Neutral Position Switch Faulty Or Misadjusted: Replace if required. Starter Solenoid Faulty: Test and replace if required. See STARTER SOLENOID under COMPONENT TESTING. Starter Motor Faulty: Replace if required. See STARTER MOTOR under COMPONENT TESTING.

hope this helps

a few months ago our Jeep would periodically not start. The dash lights would come on but the engine was dead! Checked battery...fully charged. Finally one morning it just would not start and we had to have it towed. We put in a new starter and this seemed to fix the problem until yesterday and the problem happened again. We try to start it several times, then we leave it for about 3 minutes then try againand it starts.???? any ideas?

Sometimes when you do not buy a oem starter you can have this problem, some off brands of remaned starters have this problem,and it is in the quality, also check the ground, there is a starter relay on the passenger side fender behind the battery, possible going bad, one other thing you might try is the starter sylinoid. located on the fire wall. one of my jeeps had a problem with the key cylinder, was not turning all the way, and not making contact...just some suggestions. things I have ran into...I have had multiple Jeeps..hope this helps

Electrical problem
2003 Jeep Wrangler 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic
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My Wrangler will not start won't even crank, Every thing points to a dead battery however battery is fully charged. Also all the gauges are possesed.Thay jump back and forth unless the brake is applied or the key is turned over in attempt to start the vehicle. Any help would be great

Sure sounds like a bad connection.If you have a meter, test the power at different spots in the Jeep (near battery,at starter, under the dash) see if you can find where the voltage is low.Could be a bad ignition switch.Do you get any power at the small wire on the starter with key in crank position? Does your Jeep have ANY aftermarket electrical equipment?

i went to start my wrangler in the morning. I inserted the key and turned it. I thought I heard a popping noise and then my car wouldn't start. My car made some clicking noises and the speedometer and all the other needle guages were jumping all over the place. Even after the key was removed. I checked all the fuses and they were intact. The battery showed proper voltage and I even charged it. but I still cant start the car. Is it some kind of short, or something else?

Hi connorbarrett,

Thank you for the donation.

Symptoms indicates a possible ground connection problem. Check the battery negative cable connections to see if it is broken.

2003 jeep wrangler 4.0L standard won't start. It won't turn over at all so had starter checked and its ok. Will run fine with a push start and got all interior and exterior lighting checked fuses and none seem to be blown and I know starter is getting power what are my other options

Check the starter relay if it has one, clutch switch and ignition switch-double check battery condition and connections-

We put another relay in its spot with no change and tried to cheat the clutch switch with still no change...thinking ignition switch next but have driver airing and was concerned if I took bottom plastic off steering column would I do anything to trigger stag deployment

Sounds like igniton switch problem-follow the repair manual how to disable the air bag system-

My 04 jeep wrangler will not start. It started about 5 days ago, i got out the car went in a store for a min when i came out and tried to start it sort of halfway started then shut off and started beeping and the gauges started jumping back and forth really fast. I took the key out and tried it again and nothing. tried it again..nothing. on the third try, it fired right up. Ran fine for 5 days until today. On my drive to work today when i turned on the radio it kept turning on then off. so i turned it off thinking something was wrong with the radio. then i noticed the battery gauge moving from side to side (it is usually stable at 14v). then a few minutes later on the drive, the "check gauges" light came on. closer to my destination it went off. When i got to work i turned off the engine and all the gauges started jumping back and forth. when i opened the door and closed it again they stopped. It seems that the jump only when power is applied to the instrument panel cause power is applied when the door opens to show the odometer reading. Try to start it and nothing happened. Then i decided to turn the headlights on and tried to start it, it cranked but didnt turn over. So i turned the headlights off and it fired right up. HELP!!!!!!

Ok I need to which model of wrangler you have rubicon or sahara or ?. Then I would also like it if you can call around to your local parts stores and see if one does a free scan and take it there and have them scan it and write down the codes and then have them clear them and get back to me with any codes. You will need a digital multi meter too so we can do some tests I am thinking we need to check the BCM. Get back to me with the info needed and we will take it from there.

its a Rubicon. I have a Digital Multimeter at home, will do the measurements this afternoon and get back to you with the codes.

ok. so i went to auto zone and they hooked up the diagnostic machine and it said no codes found. I dont think it will show any cause like i said, the light went off, it is running now like nothing happened. I have the multimeter when ever you are ready just tell me what to measure and where.

Ok no codes makes it harder. It should have set a code as this is an obd2 system and it has a memory. So this means it didn't set the code. Now you say it isn't acting up now? If it isn't acting up we won't find any problems as now it working right. Get back to me if this is correct. If it is still acting up then I would like to do a pin test on the BCM. Get back to me.

it works fine now, i am not sure what triggered the event, so i cannot induce it. i will monitor it and if it should start to act up again i will do the pin test. what am i looking for when i do this?

If it acts up again just get back to me and I will look it up and walk you through the tests to see what is happening. Till then.

My jeep is kinda of doing the same thing..It would have check engine light on then it would go off finally if I drove it for about 20mins and would turn it off it would try to turn over but acted like it was out of gas and would take about 2hrs to start back up. Mind you the temp gauge never went over 210 but noticed it would take till it got down to almost 100 before starting. The engine never over heated and once it started it would drive like a champ. The the other day it had no power at all but would take a charge and would again drive great meanwhile my check engine light would come on and off while the check gauge light came on..Taking it to the mechanic monday

ok, so it happened again, but this time I was nowhere near a computer so i could not ask you how to test it. So i did what i did last time, i turned on the headlights and it came right back. It seem to lose power completely cause the interior lights dont work until like 3 seconds of having the headlights turned on, and the trip odometer resets to zero. Also i have a stereo that needs a security code if it loses power. so that asks me for a code which can only mean it has lost power completely. There is no consistency with the time that it happens so i cannot quite say what triggers it. If i know the tests you want me to do i can perform them whenever and where ever this thing happens cause it is unpredictable

Ok what I would like you to do is remove the auto shutdown relay it is in the underhood relay fuse box. Now turn it over and you should see that the terms are numbered. Measure the resistance between term number 85 and 86 it should read between 50 to 80 ohms if not in spec then replace the auto shutdown relay. If it tests fine then I need you to probe F15 fused switch how much voltage do you get? Let me know what you find.

ok resistance on the ASD relay comes in at 75.5 ohms and the voltage on F15 comes in at 12.55 volts. this was done with the car working fine. i have not had a chance to get it while it is acting funny.

Ok when it act up next do the test again and now it is testing fine. I know this can be frustrating and it may take a bit as when it running fine nothing is going to test bad but just be patient we will get this figured out I am in it till it is fixed if you are.