|
|
JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
I got a 1988 Jeep Wagoner, it was flood damaged in Katrina ..., a second car. I mainly use it for trips to the hardware store.
So it's been sitting over the winter, won't start .... I know my way under the hood, I've rebuilt an engine, CV joints, brakes, etc., etc., etc., ... but electronics are not my strong suit. Nothing electrical works - no lights, radio, etc., etc., etc.. The battery is good, all battery cables seem to be in good shape, and the meter says there is power to the solenoid. I was thinking maybe the solenoid is stuck, but I believe the lights would still work if that was the case. I'd like to get some plywood from the hardware store to start building a new set for the summer .... I don't know what to troubleshoot next. Any ideas?? Thanks, -JoeJoe Posted: Mar 8, 2009 6:15pm ------------------------------ Ok, so I seem to have solved the problem ... on a hunch, I hooked up jumped cables to my other car. When I heard the door buzzer, I knew she would start - took a little time but she eventually fired up. I'm left somewhat confused, the battery charger said it was fully charged and wouldn't charge. So how does a full battery not start a car? I would love to be enlightened here. -JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
|
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
I had a Jeep from the same period and lets just say their quality wasn't great. I had problems that even the Jeep mechanics couldn't figure out.
|
Magnus Eisengrim Inner circle Sulla placed heads on 1053 Posts |
My guess is that there is some corrosion on one of the battery terminals. The battery may have been charged, but it wasn't making good contact with the wires. The jump connected to the cable ends and not the battery. If I'm right, you will have intermittent starting problems until you clean up the corrosion.
Good luck. John
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.--Yeats |
JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
I had cleaned them with a wire brush ... I took the wires off and cleaned the tips of them as well, so I dunnu. There is a little rust on the bolts ... might want to buy new clamps. The problem with a flood damaged car is everything electrical starts to rust.
If I was smart I would sell this thing while she still runs, but I weathered out hurricane Hugo and she weathered out Katrina ... so I have some sort of emotional attachment to her. I really like this Jeep. -JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
|
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
I'm worried about getting a used car around here because of a big flood we had last year. Hope you get it running good.
|
arkon476 New user 30 Posts |
Check the ground connection from the battery to the car frame (where it's bolted to the metal body).
Had a problem with corrosion there once. |
JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
I tried to start her today, she turned over a few times but died ... I check the ground connection Arkon, if that was the problem it would be a big problem. I replaced the cable last year, and apparently the bolt has now rusted to the stud, and turning it turns the entire stud out of the engine block. Which wouldn't be that big of a deal, except it turned the cables also and they twisted around and prevented it from being removed.
But that doesn't matter ... I charged the old battery last night and after switching them out she started fine. So I chalking it up to a bad battery that won't charge. Which ****es me off, because I just bought that battery last year - I remember it so well, I had to carry that battery three blocks downtown on a broken foot! Its under warranty but I'll be darned if I know where the receipt is. Oh well, at least she still runs... -JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
|
MAGICBYTIM Special user Louisiana 531 Posts |
If you bought a new battery, tape the receipt to the battery. I do that now because I bought a battery about ten years ago that had a plastic pouch to put the receipt in. I have only seen it once. Now I put the receipt in a plastic piece from a picture thing in a wallet. Then tape it to the side of the battery. I should not have to look for battery receipts again.
|
dmueller Loyal user Central Illinois 227 Posts |
The battery shops here use a punch set to stamp the date of purchase into the top of the battery. No need to worry about lost paper that way. Check your's they might have done the same
|
JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
The mystery never ends ... after I swapped out the battery, I took the dead one in the house and hooked it up to the charger - the green light flicked on reading "charged".
Well, for whatever reason I just left it like that ... I noticed this morning that the orange "charging" light had somehow magically turned itself on. How odd is that?? -JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
|
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Only one answer left, your car is haunted.
|
JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
Haunted is such an ugly word ... I prefer ... "my car has personality".
Who can blame it ... if you had to weather out Hurricane Katrina, you'd be a changed man too. I know weathering out Hugo changed me. -JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
|
Magnus Eisengrim Inner circle Sulla placed heads on 1053 Posts |
Does your car shine
John
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.--Yeats |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Not very magical, still... » » Any mechanics here that can help me?? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |