Hey, folks! Happy New Year from the Charger site!

I have a friend who has a 97 Cherokee and it is dead. Battery is good, so we're thinking the starter has seen better days. First, how difficult is it to get to the starter? Second, any other ideas on why it won't turn over? No clicking or anything when the key is turned.

Thanks for any help you might give.

dvae

 

If there is a starter relay in the power distribution center under the hood, I'd start testing there. Make sure the tranny is in park or neutral and the e-brake is set. If the relay is a bosch type, the terminals should be numbered, wiring diagram on the relay. If you use a jumper between the 30 and 87 terminal sockets, the starter should crank. Use a fuse on the jumper, incase something is shorted. If the starter cranks, you know the starter is ok. Make sure the tranny is out of gear, before doing any testing, it wouldn't hurt to have a helper apply the brakes, during testing.

Is this an automatic?

I just wanted to add, you can go to autozone.com and click on (vehicle repair guides) follow the links, there is testing information for the starter circuits.

 

jdl - thanks very much. I appreciate the info and help.

dave

 

My brother's 93 had this problem, the bushing in the starter went bad so it would not turn over, if he hit it with a hammer on the end of the starter it would turn over though.