J30 Will not start

[azza]

Hi,

My 93 J30 with 89K miles on it will not start. I can hear a loud clicking sound but the engine does not crank. I do not think it is the battery as the stereo and the lights work fine. Do you gurus think I have a starter problem ? Any help would be greatly appreciated before I take it to the dealer or a mechanic so that I can know for sure I am not getting screwed ?I just spent 3000$ on replacing the transmission on this one. Am starting to feel frustrated.

Thanks,Saleem

[IvoryJ30t]

ok, first off the clicking is the solenoid which provides power to the starter.

declaring the battery good because the headlights come on and the radio works is incorrect. the headlights and radio only consume 10% of the energy required to start your car.

try to jump start it. if that doesnt work, the starter is shot.

[IvoryJ30t]

i dont remember if the solenoid is intergal with the starter on the j, but it could also be corroded power wires to the starter. or corroded/loose battery terminals.

[Q451990]

Check the battery voltage with a multi meter and tell us what it is under the load from the starter. Sounds like a bad battery to me though... classic symptoms.

Heath

[IvoryJ30t]

that would be why i told him to try to jump it.

using the headlights/radio to judge a batterys charge is incorrect.

[Q451990]

At least on the Q45, running the engine on a bad battery (e.g. after a jump start) is a good way to fry the alternator. Unlike some cars, the Q has difficulty sustaining itself on just the alternator at times - the J is probably the same way.

I was with a buddy who had a bad battery on his Furd Ranger. Truck just wouldn't start, but the lights worked intermittantly inside the truck at full brightness, etc. Jumped it off and drove 100+ miles without a hitch. Turned it off and it wouldn't start again. I assumed it was a major electrical issue somewhere, but it was just a bad battery. Cars do weird things in low voltage conditions...

If in doubt just replace the battery.

Heath

[jtesensky]

Bad Battery = Clicking soundBad Alternator = Dummy dash ligts ("Air bag", "AT Check", so on)I'm putting money on the battery...

[jtesensky]

Hey Heath... GO PANTHERS, oh & thanks for beating up the Eagles for me (Pack in '05)

[azza]

Thnaks guys for the advice. It was a bad battery and had it replaced. Thanks again. You guys are wonderful.

Saleem

[Eswift]

At least on the Q45, running the engine on a bad battery (e.g. after a jump start) is a good way to fry the alternator. Unlike some cars, the Q has difficulty sustaining itself on just the alternator at times - the J is probably the same way.

you are correct. I have a voltmeter and the system voltage drops near battery voltage at low rpm'sand definitley 12V flat at idle.

[Q45tech]

The injectors, ignition,ecu, sensors and fuel pump consume 16 amperes alone.........that is 40% of the alternators output at idle.Turn the lights,radio, and heat on and there is little or no capacity left.Rear window defroster is a negative as is running the fans or headlights on high.

Even at 60 mph it is possible to drive an hour with a breakeven or net loss or slight gain in very cold or warm weather,,,,,the fan speed is the key.

Measure the battery voltage [everything off] :State of ........... Specific........... Voltage Charge............ Gravity........... (12 Voc) ---------------------------------------------------------------100%.......... 1.265....... 12.68 75%.......... 1.225 ...... 12.45 50%.......... 1.190....... 12.24 25%.......... 1.155....... 12.06 Discharged.......... 1.120....... 11.89

[Mayhem_J30]

i dont remember if the solenoid is intergal with the starter on the j, but it could also be corroded power wires to the starter. or corroded/loose battery terminals.

The solenoid is seperate from the J's starter and is mounted on the outside of the starter. On ramps the starter is pretty easy to access. 3 bolts if I remember correctly.