BREAKING: ‘97 XJ problem goes down the rabbit hole. Owner requests advice.
Hello you beautiful freaks.
Car won’t start.
Happened once last week but started up again after putting it in neutral and backing it up. Ran a few more days with no issue.
Happened last night, no dice putting it in neutral. Not an NSS problem as far as I can tell.
Found that if I disconnect and reconnect the battery, I can turn on the dash and accessories run fine…
Until I try to crank the engine. Clicks, then nothing. No crank. (Side note: When it was running, sometimes it turned slowly before starting, like 1..2.. Go!) Dash no longer works after the click. Doesn’t click again until I disconnect and reconnect the battery.
Used a multimeter to check the grounds. The first time after connecting the battery, they all show 12+ volts like normal. Afterward, just 2+ (only at the grounds, but the battery test itself remains 12+). I gave the gunky ones a clean. No improvement. One of ground connections (battery-engine) had a nick in the wiring, but after applying some electrical tape, the multimeter tests aren’t showing me any issues with that connection, so I’m not sure if that’s causing the problem.
Tried a jumper multiple times. Jumper turns it on, but it only stayed on after removing the cables once, and never again since.
While the car is running with the jumpers, the alternator seems to be running and I checked the grounds with the multimeter too—13+ volts. Then, when I pull off the cables and the car dies (but still has the key turned) I checked again — this time, only .5 (or .05? Can’t remember rn) volts. Turn it off, back to 2+.
My next target is the Solenoid. Posting this in hopes someone can tell me it’s actually something simpler.
Please, thanks, Happy 4th.
(Edit: UPDATE: My dad came over and helped me with it, we literally just took apart and scrubbed the main battery fittings and wire-ends and it was fine afterwards)