My Jeep Wrangler Won’t Turn Over (SOLUTIONS)

So, let’s see which tests we can perform to isolate the faulty component that needs replacement.

The first thing we want to determine is the age of your battery. Many people seem to forget that a car battery only lasts about 2-3 years these days, after which you can expect it to die at any time.

Usually, there is some sort of inscription or date stamp on the battery which indicates its age or purchase date. If your batter is well over 3 years you’re probably due for a replacement soon.  So, checking battery age is critical. Do that first!

Next, you want to determine if the battery is fully charged and if it can still handle the required cranking load. How do we do that?

Bad/Low Battery

Well, the most effective method to check battery health is by hooking up a voltmeter to take a reading under the LOAD setting. The starting point when diagnosing a dead battery is to verify that your battery has the correct voltage. Incorrect or low power to the starter will never start your Jeep!

Incorrect or low power to the starter will never start your Jeep!

• Batteries use CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) to measure starting power.
• Your battery could have power, however, when under load, the cranking amps are not powerful enough to get the starter to crank the engine.
• A good fully charged battery should read over 12.6 volts.
• If the battery reads 12.45 volts or less, it is low. If your battery is reading less than a 75 percent charge it needs to be recharged or replaced if it has expired.

Bad Starter

So if you’ve determined that your battery is healthy and fully charged, how do we go about testing the starter? Remember, the starter only has one function, and that is to turn/crank the engine.

That’s it! If the engine is turning over but not starting your problem lies elsewhere.

Starters usually last many years and can endure thousands of starts, however, if your Jeep has been regularly exposed to rivers, beach water, mud, and other moist or dusty conditions, it could drastically reduce the lifespan of your electrical components.

If your Jeep has been regularly exposed to rivers, beach water, and mud, it could drastically reduce the lifespan of your electrical components.

Typical symptoms of a bad starter are:

• It has no cranking ability and makes a clicking sound.
• The clicking sound you hear is the solenoid trying to engage the starter.
• The starter gears and spindle could be jammed tight inside.
• The wire cores could be burned out completely.

The starter will draw heavy current to try and start/turn the engine, however, if the battery voltage is low it could burn out the brushes or even the entire wiring inside, destroying it.

Typical symptoms of a bad starter are:

• Lights on but no crank
• Clicking sounds

Loose Earth Cable

Older Jeeps have been known for somewhat inadequate grounding, so don’t overlook this part. Make sure you have sufficient ground contact and that the earth strap is still in good working condition. You might even have to install a second earth ground cable if need be.

In many cases, the electrical faults on Jeeps aren’t usually electrical as they are more ground-related. Electrical components don’t only need the correct power but also a solid ground connection to function correctly.

Have a look at this quick video where Matt shows us how to repair a broken or corroded ground wire on a 2007 Jeep Wrangler. 

• A good way to test your ground is by using your voltmeter.
• You do this by placing the positive point on the positive battery post, and the negative lead on a clean metal surface on the starter body, or the solenoid mounted on it.
• Make sure the metal surface is free of any grease or oil.
• Ensure the voltage reading you get at rest is the same as the battery reading at rest.

Ignition Switch

Many Wrangler owners have reported faulty ignition switches. The key is stuck in the ignition start position, unbeknown to the driver. This results in the starter constantly engaging and eventually burning out.

If you are unaware of the strange sound it makes, it can go undetected and the starter will eventually fail.

• Inspect the ignition switch actuator pin.
• It’s a bad manufacturer design.
• Jeep has had many issues with these parts as far as recalls go.

The below video demonstrates how to install an ignition switch on a Jeep Wrangler. Have a quick watch below.

Recall Number	02V075000
Recall Date	03/08/2002
Component	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH
Summary	ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER AND IMPURITIES CAN ENTER INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT
Consequence	THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE
What Owners Should Do	DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH A REDESIGNED SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED-UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

My Jeep Won’t Start But It Turns Over

To diagnose, you first need to determine if the problem is electrical or fuel-related. If you have determined that fuel is being supplied to the injectors then your next option is to inspect for an electrical spark. Make sure you are getting a good strong spark to all your plugs.

Make sure you are getting a good strong spark to all your plugs.

It is also possible (but unlikely under normal circumstances) that your driveshaft is snapped, or the planetary track in the starter is worn, in which case a new starter is in order. Don’t forget to inspect for damaged teeth on the flywheel.

Jeep Won’t Start But Has Power 2018+

There are multiple reports of 2018 Jeep Wranglers suddenly not starting at random intervals. Owners would stop to fill up at a gas station only to be stranded with a non-starting Jeep.  All of the lights turn on and the radio works, but, no engine sound. No prior warning signs either.

Many reports indicate the battery and starters are all-new or have been recently replaced, ruling out those options. The vehicle would randomly just start again, sometimes after about an hour.

So, what could be the cause?

In this instance, it could be the transmission temperature switch. This means your transmission is running over the temperature limit. Hence, after sitting for about an hour it cools down and allows you to restart again as if nothing was wrong.

• In this case, you want to make sure your transmission fluid is full.
• Check the fluid levels first and top up if necessary.
• If the fluids are full, check your cooling temperature sensor.

If all else fails, another thing you can do is, try starting your Jeep from the (N) neutral position. Turn the key enough to move from (P) park to (N) neutral. Hold your foot on the brake while turning the key to start the ignition.

Jeep Wrangler JK Won’t Start One Click

If your Jeep won’t start and you simply hear one click, then you could have a faulty starter motor.  Again, using a voltmeter with a load function, make sure all your voltages are correct.

The solenoid could have enough power to engage and feed current to the starter, but a loss of current in the ground cable or a faulty battery could cause the starter to not crank properly.