[305Commander]

Could be the spark plugs ....are you over 35k ...had that problem with my magnum changed the plugs and everything was good 2 go

 

[a49erFan]

my 06 jeep coommander limited will not start some times. not all the time but just every once a while. it just clicks will not turn over and start. will someone please help

Moved your question into this thread, give it a read and I think you will find your answer.

 

[Creek]

Well it is back. Stopped for lunch and when I return to the XK it would not start.05 4.7 with 60K. I am on my second starter and second battery. Tried to jump it just clicked, call AAA tlod them to send a roll back, they sent their service guy. Tested the battery, it tested good he tried to locate the starter and could not. Ask me to turn the key to see if he could hear where the starter was and it started. This is the 4th time I have had this problem. Dealer who has always worked on it was closed, so I am taking it to a new dealer next week to see if they can find anything, at least this service guy suspects something other than the starter. More to come. Count so far 2 starters 1 battery 1 skim module and 2 keys I have a little over $1K into it and still have a problem. Did I say first starter and battery were replaced under warranty.

 

[jeep5253]

Well it is back. Stopped for lunch and when I return to the XK it would not start.05 4.7 with 60K. I am on my second starter and second battery. Tried to jump it just clicked, call AAA tlod them to send a roll back, they sent their service guy. Tested the battery, it tested good he tried to locate the starter and could not. Ask me to turn the key to see if he could hear where the starter was and it started. This is the 4th time I have had this problem. Dealer who has always worked on it was closed, so I am taking it to a new dealer next week to see if they can find anything, at least this service guy suspects something other than the starter. More to come. Count so far 2 starters 1 battery 1 skim module and 2 keys I have a little over $1K into it and still have a problem. Did I say first starter and battery were replaced under warranty.

Sorry your having so much trouble. I feel your pain.

 

[a49erFan]

I got up on Sunday morning to go to Sedona and my XK would not start, I had the dreaded clicking from the starter and the transmission was stuck in park. I rocked the XK enough to get it into neutral and jumped the battery.

This worked but I am keeping my eyes on it, batteries only last two years in AZ due to the extreme heat so I am hoping that is all I have to be concerned with.

 

[Creek]

I got up on Sunday morning to go to Sedona and my XK would not start, I had the dreaded clicking from the starter and the transmission was stuck in park. I rocked the XK enough to get it into neutral and jumped the battery.

This worked but I am keeping my eyes on it, batteries only last two years in AZ due to the extreme heat so I am hoping that is all I have to be concerned with.

49er,
If you can jump start it there is a good chance that it was just the battery, I actually thought that might have been my problem today snice my battery was changed out in Mar 07 and we seem to have that 2 yr problem in FL also. But on all four occassions, AAA has verified the battery as good.

 

[Creek]

Sorry your having so much trouble. I feel your pain.

Thanks,
My biggest concern is that I am going to the outer banks in two months and a breakdown on the beach can not only be costly, but you could lose you truck to the ocean. :ugh2:

 

[Yeggster]

OK ... just my opinion ... but based on experience with many vehicles over the years.

I had this happen twice on my Commander ... instead of freaking out and buying a bunch of parts the first time I tried the key 27 times and it started ... the second time it started on the 5th try.

I have seen this on a few vehicles over the years we used to call it a "flat spot" on the starter commutator ... if the starter happens to stop exactly on this flat spot (maybe one in a 1000 times) no current will go the to windings ...

I do not know if this is actually what's happening with your guys Commander ... but I believe that's what it is with mine ... by trying the key a bunch of times the starter will bump slowly past the flat spot and start up fine.

 

[Creek]

Yeggester

I was explaining that theory to my wife last night, but I find it hard to think this has happened on three different starters.

 

[robby]

Well,
Since we're playing speculation.....

After reading of this type of failure on this forum many times, many owners, different areas of the country, I'm beginning to wonder if these starters come equiped with crappy solenoids.

For those who don't know how it works, a quick overview:
The key switch only energizes the solenoid, which is simply a electro-mechanical relay.
Two things occur when the switch is turned to the crank position.
1. From the switch, full voltage is sent (with what appears to be another relay underhood) to the solenoid mounted on the starter. This energizes a electro-magnet that:
2. Slides the starter gear towards the flywheel and at the same time the sliding pole, once it has run out of travel, drives a contact disc against the terminal that you can see the positive battery cable bolted to.
This disc also is in contact with the motors, current in, terminals. (trying to simplify)
The disc completes the circuit, positive terminal (internal) to the motor itself.

When all this comes together: Turn key, energize relay, energize solenoid, slide gear, energize motor, motor spins engine, the cycle is complete.

OK then,
The description seems to always be the same.....click, down by the starter, no crank.
Battery tested good....continual fiddling resulted in starter motor came back to life.

I contend, the click you hear is the solenoid sliding the starter gear in position.
The silence you hear is the result of the contact disc not sending current to the motor itself.
Since many have found multiple switch cycles often will cause the starter to crank, I believe that the multiple strikes against the contact disc are resulting in it creating a clean spot and once again, completeing the circuit.
If I'm right, the failure will recur once that section of the disc corrodes again.

I have also seen 'flat spots' on an armature, which really is a burn spot, that if the starter stops rotating with one of the armature plates under one of the four brushes, the click, no crank, will also recur.
But, in this discussion, since Creek has gone through 3 starters, I find the flat spotting unlikely. (not impossible, but 3 times?)

My thoughts,
Rob

P.S. The downside of this discussion is, regardless if I'm right or wrong, the solenoid is not a sevice part (thanks Jeep) so you end up buying a starter regardless of failure.

 

[Yeggster]

Yeggster

I was explaining that theory to my wife last night, but I find it hard to think this has happened on three different starters.

IMO that gives more credence to the theory ... the starter could be designed poorly, and subsequent starters made in exactly the same manner, failed in the same way.

 

[Creek]

0730 this Tuesday 9/1 or maybe /2 is my appointment and I will let you know what if anything is found.

On a side note the wife has an 08 Liberty which she has been complaining to me about a brake noise. We were out today and I could definately hear it. Stopped to get a few fishing items and when she started the car the brake, esp, abs lights came on and are still on. Since I am going to a new dealer Orlando C/D/J in a new part town, I had her drive there. We arrived at 3:30 and the place closes at 3. To make a long story short although the mechanic could not get a starscan to look at it he took it for a ride and carwled underneath to take a look along with the test drive and thinks it is a sensor that went bad. So needless to say I am impressed, because I think he was off the clock and he assured the wife it was ok to drive. I have a good feel about6 this dealer.

I would have waited until next week to check this out if I had confedence that my XK would not leave me stranded. Later.

 

[Creek]

Just picked up my XK from the dealer, they said it was a broken wire in the wiring harness from the battery to the starter and replaced it. I had them save me the harness so I am going to see if I can find the open wire. I surly hope so so I can regain some confidence in this vehicle.

 

[Yeggster]

Just picked up my XK from the dealer, they said it was a broken wire in the wiring harness from the battery to the starter and replaced it. I had them save me the harness so I am going to see if I can find the open wire. I surly hope so so I can regain some confidence in this vehicle.

Cool! ..make note of the color of the wire .. maybe get a couple pics for us

 

[Creek]

So far I ahve not found any open wire, but did find one very corroded terminal. It is a mini connector that has a yellow/slate wire going to it. It is very hard for one person to hold the meter clips in place and move the wires without having a clip come loose. It is a 3 handed job at best. Will try to work on it more tomorrow. With the corresion I think the problem might be fixed, but think it could have been fixed much cheaper with a burnishing tool and a little spray cleaner. Not sure what this connection does.

 

[Creek]

Had time to check out the connector, although it only has one wire coming into it, the seems to be three female connections on it. I can get continuity on two of the three loctions, but with out a wiring diagram, I do not know what is feeding what or what direction things are flowing. I won't have the XK back form the wife until Saturday, maybe I can check out the connections then.

 

[Yeggster]

Good info keep us posted!

 

[Creek]

Good info keep us posted!

Hoping those in the know either speak up or refer us to where we might find the wiring info. The connector in question is probably located behind the skid plate but still have not had opportunity to look.

 

[robby]

Hoping those in the know either speak up or refer us to where we might find the wiring info. The connector in question is probably located behind the skid plate but still have not had opportunity to look.

Is it possible to provide a photo of this harness?
I need more to go on......picture is worth a thousand words.

Thanks,
Rob

PS,
I am refering to the part (piece) that was returned to you.
Currently your description has me visualizing a connector for the sub harness that is located just behind the battery tray and is part of the starter/alternator harness.

 

[Creek]

Is it possible to provide a photo of this harness?
I need more to go on......picture is worth a thousand words.

Thanks,
Rob

PS,
I am refering to the part (piece) that was returned to you.
Currently your description has me visualizing a connector for the sub harness that is located just behind the battery tray and is part of the starter/alternator harness.

I took some pictures and will try to figure out how to post. You are visualing the right I believe, it is the harness that connects the battery and starter and the sub harness has to be some tpye of control circuit.