Baystate Jeepers

Last Wednesday I decided to take the jeep into work. Got in, turned key, it didn't turn over at all. Lights and radio turned on, but no cranking. Got in the other car, went to work.

I let it sit for a few days to let it think about the grief it caused and Friday evening, it started no problem. Drove it Friday night and all Saturday, started it many many times with no issue at all. This morning, got in and no start. Same deal, lights and radio work, battery gauge reading about 12V.

I can hear something click once when I turn the key, but nothing after.

Any ideas?

Cant remember Ish , auto or stick ? The single click thing makes me want to say a bad connection. If its a stick , there is a switch on the clutch peddle that wont let you start it without the peddle being on the floor. Try slamming the peddle to the floor. If its an auto there is a switch in the tranny that wont let it start in gear. If auto ,try putting it in neutral . If you have someone with you and it wont start ,have them tap on the starter while you have the key in the start mode. Let us know. FjR68

What Frank said.

If you are handy with a test light or voltmeter you can check the voltages at the starter.
1) The bolt on the started with the positive cable from the battery should have 12 volts on it all the time.
2) The small wire to the starter should get 12 volts to it when you turn the key to START. If not then it may be the clutch interlock if a stick or the neutral safety switch if an auto.
3) The second big stud on the started should have 12 volts when the key is turned to START. If you do get 12 volts here and the starter isn't turning over the engine then the starter is bad.

What Kurt said ! FjR68

Its a stick.

Sounds like i'll have to get a voltmeter.

If it is the clutch switch, I'll have to find the mod to let the jeep be started without pushing in the clutch at all.

BlackNBlue-ISH wrote:... I'll have to find the mod to let the jeep be started without pushing in the clutch at all.

Here ya' go...
Around page 184 of your owners manual

1. Locate the Power Distribution Center (PDC) in the
engine compartment.
2. Put a 10 Amp fuse in the PDC cavity (#28) marked as
Clutch Override.
NOTE: A fuse is provided in fuseblock cavity (f19 or
f20) marked as Spare.

Sweet, thanks! I'll give that a shot tonight and hopefully be able to drive the jeep off the snowbank I parked it on haha

I don't know about TJs, but on my JK if you put the t-case in 4-LO it bypasses the clutch switch.

TJs aren't that smart Reminds me that I want to add a switch for clutch defeat on my LJ...

"TJs aren't that smart Reminds me that I want to add a switch for clutch defeat on my LJ..."

Can you pull the fuse? Worked on my TJ
And Ish - cheap volt meters at HF. And some days they're free

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Just for fun, I got in to see if it would start, and it did. No issues. Just started like normal. Then I went to put a 10A fuse in the #28 fuse location (described as "clutch override" on my fuse block cover) and there was nothing to put the fuse into. No contacts at all.

That's Weird...

You are sure it is a manual transmission?

schwalby wrote:You are sure it is a manual transmission?

If it's not, it is for sure a wacky automatic.

My TJ had the same issue at Rausch. I did the bypass trick and left it that way. Only downside is it will start in gear now. If someone is sloppy with the clutch at start up AND doesn't know the defeat is on they can buck forward a little. Scared the poop out of my wife.