I posted this on jeepforum.com, but haven't heard anything yet, so hopefully someone on here might have some ideas... I have been having problems with my mom's 05 Liberty, 3.7L. The starter solenoid will rapidly click. The battery load tested a little weak so I replaced it. It seemed to be ok for a couple days, then the same thing. I figured maybe a bad spot in the starter or something, so that was replaced, as soon as I put it in, it was doing the same thing. I reload tested battery, good. I have a constant pwr at the starter cable, the starter is grounded, and the stator wire is hot when cranking. I found some green inside the spade connector for the solenoid, so I cut it off and put a new spade terminal on. Still, just clicks. So I assumed maybe a bad spot in that wire, so I turned key on, and ran a jumper from the battery to the stator, it will crank. Now the strange thing is, as soon as I hook up a battery charger, it will crank over and start, without the jumper wire. The alternator is charging, and there is no draw on the battery when vehicle is off....Any ideas? It's been driving me insane the past week, and it is her only vehicle, so I'm givin her rides till its fixed, lol.

 

when you replaced the started did it come with a new solinoid? If so then it sounds like you have a weak connection. Basically corrostion on a wire or possible a bad/loose connection that you're not gettting enough current to the starter. Look at all ground wires going to the engine as well not just the possitive leads. I would make sure that you're getting good 12v triggering the starter solenoid as well.

Good luck.

 

NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS GRAB YOUR SHIFTER MOVE IT AROUND THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL- THEN TRY TO START IT !
I EMBARRASSED MY SELF BEFORE TRYING THIS - was stuck in town at the time -borrowed a wrench & re did cable ends _thinking that was it -CALLED MY BUDDY TIRED TO JUMP IT -NOTHING - GOT IN AND MOVED SHIFTER -STARTED RIGHT UP
NEUTRAL START SWITCH CAN BE A REAL PAIN TO DIAGNOSE SOMETIMES !

I OWN 2 ZJ`S ONLY EVER HAD THAT PROBLEM WITH ONE !
CLAUDE

 

Thanks guys, haven't messed with it any yet, need some time to cool off, lol. It looked like it had good gnds to the block. starter has new solenoid, thats the whole reason I changed it, assuming a solenoid issue. I'll try messin with the shifter, boy would I be hot if thats all it was....

I've also heard of those stupid electronic security keys causing problems too occasionally, anyone had problems with those things?

 

It sounds kinda like your battery cables are corroded. If I read your original post correctly, you basically bypassed your cable and it cranked. Cranking with the battery charger sounds as though with the battery charger hooked up you have enough amps to get through resistance in the battery cable, but without the aid of the charger your battery doesn't have enough. You stated that the stator cable is hot when cranking. I am assuming that this means you have power not heat. If you have heat, you have resistance somewhere. If it were me I would unhook the cable from the battery to the starter and use a jumper cable as a bypass to see if the factory battery cable is bad. Or you could meter the resistance and look up what it should be for that gauge and length of wire. It may take a bit of time, but wont cost you anymore $$$$.

 

Check the voltage on the trigger wire of the starter. Make sure you have 12 volts (battery voltage). If not then there is something else wrong. Could be the ignition switch itself. Hard to tell from here.....LOL

 

That was my next step was to run a jumper from battery to starter. We got battery cable layin all over at work, so It won't cost a dime to give it a shot. Had battery voltage at stator, and yeah power, not heat, my bad for using slang terms, lol.