1997 WRANGLER SE WON'T START

after 6 days of rain, my 97 tj se won't start. there's a fast clicking,
so i thought it might be the battery. i put a vom on it and it read
12v, but i threw a 10a 5 hr charge on it anyway. the inside lights got
brighter, but it still won't turn, just clicking. i tried until it
stopped clicking, waited a few minutes, and same thing. i checked the
codes and got 12, 55. that's nice because i took the battery out to
charge it (12=battery recently removed). no other codes, so the
computer is not helping (iguess i should have checked it before
disconnecting the battery. there's not much to this 2.5l engine. the
battery was replaced about a year ago by my mechanic (some no name
battery that's supposed to last for 55 months). I don't have much time
to spend working on this jeep, if the battery is a good shot, i'll
replace it. any thoughts?? thanks

You need a new starter or solenoid.

Patrick
Ô¿Ô


> wrote in message
ups.com...
> after 6 days of rain, my 97 tj se won't start. there's a fast clicking,
> so i thought it might be the battery. i put a vom on it and it read
> 12v, but i threw a 10a 5 hr charge on it anyway. the inside lights got
> brighter, but it still won't turn, just clicking. i tried until it
> stopped clicking, waited a few minutes, and same thing. i checked the
> codes and got 12, 55. that's nice because i took the battery out to
> charge it (12=battery recently removed). no other codes, so the
> computer is not helping (iguess i should have checked it before
> disconnecting the battery. there's not much to this 2.5l engine. the
> battery was replaced about a year ago by my mechanic (some no name
> battery that's supposed to last for 55 months). I don't have much time
> to spend working on this jeep, if the battery is a good shot, i'll
> replace it. any thoughts?? thanks
>

wrote:
> after 6 days of rain, my 97 tj se won't start. there's a fast clicking,
> so i thought it might be the battery. i put a vom on it and it read
> 12v, but i threw a 10a 5 hr charge on it anyway. the inside lights got
> brighter, but it still won't turn, just clicking. i tried until it
> stopped clicking, waited a few minutes, and same thing. i checked the
> codes and got 12, 55. that's nice because i took the battery out to
> charge it (12=battery recently removed). no other codes, so the
> computer is not helping (iguess i should have checked it before
> disconnecting the battery. there's not much to this 2.5l engine. the
> battery was replaced about a year ago by my mechanic (some no name
> battery that's supposed to last for 55 months). I don't have much time
> to spend working on this jeep, if the battery is a good shot, i'll
> replace it. any thoughts?? thanks
>


Did you take off the battery terminals and clean them?

Does the inside light get real dim with the clicks?

Check the connection of the + cable on the starter look for corrosion also
check the ground connection and battery connections make sure they are
clean.

--
Coasty

Remove the SPOOGE to reply
> wrote in message
ups.com...
> after 6 days of rain, my 97 tj se won't start. there's a fast clicking,
> so i thought it might be the battery. i put a vom on it and it read
> 12v, but i threw a 10a 5 hr charge on it anyway. the inside lights got
> brighter, but it still won't turn, just clicking. i tried until it
> stopped clicking, waited a few minutes, and same thing. i checked the
> codes and got 12, 55. that's nice because i took the battery out to
> charge it (12=battery recently removed). no other codes, so the
> computer is not helping (iguess i should have checked it before
> disconnecting the battery. there's not much to this 2.5l engine. the
> battery was replaced about a year ago by my mechanic (some no name
> battery that's supposed to last for 55 months). I don't have much time
> to spend working on this jeep, if the battery is a good shot, i'll
> replace it. any thoughts?? thanks
>

You could easily be describing a dirty connection on one of the main
battery cables.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

wrote:
>
> after 6 days of rain, my 97 tj se won't start. there's a fast clicking,
> so i thought it might be the battery. i put a vom on it and it read
> 12v, but i threw a 10a 5 hr charge on it anyway. the inside lights got
> brighter, but it still won't turn, just clicking. i tried until it
> stopped clicking, waited a few minutes, and same thing. i checked the
> codes and got 12, 55. that's nice because i took the battery out to
> charge it (12=battery recently removed). no other codes, so the
> computer is not helping (iguess i should have checked it before
> disconnecting the battery. there's not much to this 2.5l engine. the
> battery was replaced about a year ago by my mechanic (some no name
> battery that's supposed to last for 55 months). I don't have much time
> to spend working on this jeep, if the battery is a good shot, i'll
> replace it. any thoughts?? thanks

Technically you're battery is closed to being discharged (0Volts doesn't
mean dishcharged)....I thinkit's something along the lines of 11.8 volts
for a fully discharged battery.

Of course, clean the terminal posts first and be sure it's getting a
good connection. Rust and oxide will create a voltage drop and won't
allow the battery to charge(but probably just float).

wrote:
> after 6 days of rain, my 97 tj se won't start. there's a fast clicking,
> so i thought it might be the battery. i put a vom on it and it read
> 12v, but i threw a 10a 5 hr charge on it anyway. the inside lights got
> brighter, but it still won't turn, just clicking. i tried until it
> stopped clicking, waited a few minutes, and same thing. i checked the
> codes and got 12, 55. that's nice because i took the battery out to
> charge it (12=battery recently removed). no other codes, so the
> computer is not helping (iguess i should have checked it before
> disconnecting the battery. there's not much to this 2.5l engine. the
> battery was replaced about a year ago by my mechanic (some no name
> battery that's supposed to last for 55 months). I don't have much time
> to spend working on this jeep, if the battery is a good shot, i'll
> replace it. any thoughts?? thanks
>

First pull and clean the battery terminals. Check the positive cable to
the starter and the negative cable to ground for being clean and tight.
If in doubt, pull them, clean, and tighten.

Your symptoms sound like a battery on its last legs if the charger makes
your lights brighter. Unless you find a *really* bad cable, plan on
getting it running long enough to go get a good name brand battery.
Ignore the warranty as 4 years is a long time even for a premium
battery. Charge or jump it, and head for a battery dealer.

If you can't turn the headlights on for 10 minutes and still read 12
volts, the battery is going.

Steve Brady proclaimed:
> Technically you're battery is closed to being discharged (0Volts doesn't
> mean dishcharged)....I thinkit's something along the lines of 11.8 volts
> for a fully discharged battery.
>
> Of course, clean the terminal posts first and be sure it's getting a
> good connection. Rust and oxide will create a voltage drop and won't
> allow the battery to charge(but probably just float).
>
> wrote:
>
>> after 6 days of rain, my 97 tj se won't start. there's a fast clicking,
>> so i thought it might be the battery. i put a vom on it and it read
>> 12v, but i threw a 10a 5 hr charge on it anyway. the inside lights got
>> brighter, but it still won't turn, just clicking. i tried until it
>> stopped clicking, waited a few minutes, and same thing. i checked the
>> codes and got 12, 55. that's nice because i took the battery out to
>> charge it (12=battery recently removed). no other codes, so the
>> computer is not helping (iguess i should have checked it before
>> disconnecting the battery. there's not much to this 2.5l engine. the
>> battery was replaced about a year ago by my mechanic (some no name
>> battery that's supposed to last for 55 months). I don't have much time
>> to spend working on this jeep, if the battery is a good shot, i'll
>> replace it. any thoughts?? thanks
>>

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I should have mentioned that the
battery is about a year old and it died one other time (well I assume
that it died, because I recharged it and it worked fine all summer).
But, now you got me thinking because last time I charged it, I also
cleaned the terminal connectors. I'm going to recharge, clean the
terminals and terminal connectors, the starter and solenoid connections
and see if that fixes it. Probably a good idea to do that once a year
away, huh?

While you are in there check and clean the main electrical grounds. There
should be three. Check the cable also, sometimes they disintegrate from the
inside.

--
(remove SPAM)
2002 Jeep WJ 4 Liter Automatic
Sharing is why we are all here....... or should be.
..
> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks for all the great suggestions. I should have mentioned that the
> battery is about a year old and it died one other time (well I assume
> that it died, because I recharged it and it worked fine all summer).
> But, now you got me thinking because last time I charged it, I also
> cleaned the terminal connectors. I'm going to recharge, clean the
> terminals and terminal connectors, the starter and solenoid connections
> and see if that fixes it. Probably a good idea to do that once a year
> away, huh?
>

Buy a new battery.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

wrote:
>
> Thanks for all the great suggestions. I should have mentioned that the
> battery is about a year old and it died one other time (well I assume
> that it died, because I recharged it and it worked fine all summer).
> But, now you got me thinking because last time I charged it, I also
> cleaned the terminal connectors. I'm going to recharge, clean the
> terminals and terminal connectors, the starter and solenoid connections
> and see if that fixes it. Probably a good idea to do that once a year
> away, huh?