2003 Jeep Cherokee alternator or starter

Tiny
ZIMMER
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 JEEP CHEROKEE
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
My jeep love her but she is not turning on at all. I turn the key nothing happens. I checked the battery that is holding a charge. When she first went I got a jump and made it back home, as soon as I turned her off nothing turned over no lights nothing when I 1st turned her off I heard this ticking sound coming from my hood and the indicators would tick now nothing. Would this be the alternator or the starter?
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 AT 8:33 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
HI there,

You may have a flat battery due to a faulty alternator, get both tested first, make sure that they do a load test on the battery when it has been re charged, this is the only true test for battery condition, start here.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 AT 8:42 PM
Tiny
ZIMMER
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Every time I go to get my car fixed I tend to be over charged and the jobs are never done right. What should I be asking or making sure of? Last repair I did on my jeep what an over heating issue took her home the first time out of the shop and she was smoking I had to have her towed back in and they claimed it was a faulty switch. And then wanted to charge me. Again. I fought back that time. But this time what should I ask them to do? What kind of testing? And how do I know if I am being over charged? I have checked the cost of the alternators on line the range from $125 to $185. Any help on how to deal with the techs would be helpful. Thank you!
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Friday, November 7th, 2008 AT 7:34 PM
Tiny
JNOVACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 723 POSTS
Take the battery and altinator to autozone and ask them to load test the battery and test altinator they will do that for free also check your grounds all of them there are about 6 there under the hood and 2 under the jeep the 1 that goes from the frame to exhast and then to trans is the most commn to brake and cause the probblem your haveing
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Friday, November 7th, 2008 AT 8:07 PM

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