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Tiny
JEEPSKURFER
  • MEMBER
  • JEEP CHEROKEE
2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic 4x4, 4.0L, 135,000 miles. - Last Tuesday I ran into an unexpectedly deep water hole. It sat in about 3 feet of water for about 10 minutes tops.

The engine immediately seized and would not restart. Towed it to my buddy's house where I began to make repairs. I took out the sparks plugs and cranked the motor to push out any water. Very little water came out so I put in fresh spark plugs and changed the oil. The car started up on it's own until I pressed the accelerator and it died. I jumped the car off and drove to buy a new TPS sensor.(Wouldn't idle or start on it's own). Replaced the senser and it started right up after about a second of straining to start. It started like this everytime and ran great until today.

It made the 130 mile trip home fine. But would not start this morning. This leads me to beleive that the motor is not seized. The clicking I get when I turn the key past on is from the starter solenoid I'm assuming. I lead a jumper cable from the positive of my battery to the smaller terminal on the solenoid but got no response from the starter motor.

Does this mean that it is for sure the starter motor or could there be a problem somewhere else in the long line of complicated electricals?

By the way my battery is putting out 14 volts and all my instruments, lights, radio etc work.

Any suggestions for what else I should check before busting my knuckles trying to remove the starter would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!
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Sunday, January 28th, 2007 AT 10:15 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
CARUNDELL
  • MECHANIC
  • 602 POSTS
Hey Jeep,
Its very possible that the starter motor has failed, likely from water damage. I would recommend you remove the starter and take it to a parts supplier that can test it for free and go from there. Let us kow!

Chris
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Monday, January 29th, 2007 AT 11:25 AM
Tiny
JEEPSKURFER
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Well today I took the starter off. There was a little rust on the inside so I sand papered that out. Other than the the starter was not jammed so I put it back on. The car still wouldn't start on its own so I jump started it and it ran until I turned it off.

After that it would not restart and acted as if there was no battery at all. So I unhooked my battery and put in a new battery and still had no power.

After a while the car finally jump started again with my old battery but would not restart once I shut it off.

Tomorrow I'm putting in a brand new starter and having the battery checked again. It seems as if the battery will not hold a charge now.

I'm also investing in new battery cables to see if the problem is in the wiring. Although if I bypass the wiring to the stater from the positive battery terminal the car will still not start.

I'm keeping this thorough as possible for others who haven't learned the ancient Chinese technique of measuring depth of water.
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Monday, January 29th, 2007 AT 5:47 PM
Tiny
CARUNDELL
  • MECHANIC
  • 602 POSTS
Well Said Grasshoppa! :Shock: Let us know how it goes

Chris
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Monday, January 29th, 2007 AT 6:17 PM
Tiny
OZONE2979
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Im not a auto mechanic, I'm a jet (F-15) mechanic but I know a little about cars from experience. If the starter doesnt fix it I would jump it, put it in drive and see if you car stalls maybe in a few minutesl. If the car stalls out then look toward the alternator or wiring from the alternator to the starter. The power need a continuos loop (battery-alternator-starter-battery) and if there is a break in the wiring it will not charge or run in gear. I may be mistaken on your particular jeep but if I am hopefully someone on here will correct me. Hope I helped at all.
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Monday, January 29th, 2007 AT 8:15 PM
Tiny
JEEPSKURFER
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  • 6 POSTS
Thanks for the advice. I did put the car in gear while it was running but probably not long enough.

Thanks also to carundell for your input. I will update tomorrow and have pictures later in the week of how this whole thing began.
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Monday, January 29th, 2007 AT 10:29 PM
Tiny
JEEPSKURFER
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Well my new starter finally got here. Old one turned out still good but I'm not trusting it after it got wet.

I bought a multimeter to check the wires and they turned out alright.

Battery tested good.

So this morning I put on the new starter and got the same result as before. A few clicks then nothing.

I'm now out of ideas and money. Any body else got a clue besides the altenator?

EDIT: Won't even jumpstart now.
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Wednesday, January 31st, 2007 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
CARUNDELL
  • MECHANIC
  • 602 POSTS
Crap!
Time for some serious testing! Water invasion is def. The issue here. Back to basics is my motto! Let me know if ya need the circuit diagram and I'll help walk ya thru the test/diag!

Chris
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Wednesday, January 31st, 2007 AT 4:32 PM
Tiny
JEEPSKURFER
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Well I solved it. Kind of funny how actually. I was loosening the bolt for the negative lead to my battery and everytime I'd touch the spring for the hood my light would come on. I checked out the negative ground and discovered a lot of corrosion underneath where you clamp it down (just out of eyesight).

So I spent maybe 10 minutes thoroughly cleaning that out. I resecured it and bingo. Started right up. Turned it off. Started right back up.

After all that troubleshooting I have learned a lot about my vehicle and most importantly. Keep it simple stupid.

Thanks for all the help guys. It has been much appreciated. If I had a nickle left I'd donate it to your cause in a heartbeat.

Until next time.
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Wednesday, January 31st, 2007 AT 4:37 PM

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