Re: Accessories stay on; Battery drains
 

you have some sort of battery drain. you can check the ing. switch if
it's bad
it's under the colum covers .not at the base. the saginaw steering colums
were dropped in 94
i would be checking out all the grounds real good when grounds are loose
or poor, elcectric relays make alot of noise and battery power looks for
grounds backtracking thru wires looking for the ground points and things
get dim
the main ones are on the engine block by the dipstick
the dash harness has some on the lt side under the kick panel and one is
under the drivers seat
you can check for a draw using a test lite and pulling fuses
RJO wrote:

> Hey everybody! I bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport last November, with
> 106,000 miles on it. I've since added 10,000 miles. Two seperate but
> possibly related problems that started right after I bought it have me
> flummoxed.
>
> The first is that when I turn the ignition key off, all the
> accessories stay on: the fan, radio, wipers, etc. I quickly learned to
> turn everything off before parking the car.
>
> The second showed up a few weeks later. When the car is parked for
> several hours, the battery (which is a new die-hard) drains enough so
> that the motor will turn over but not start. If it's parked for a
> longer time, it has no juice at all. Sometimes, after using the power
> locks to open the car, I can hear a rapid clicking behind the dash to
> the left of the main guage display. If I use a jump starter it will
> start, and after I drive it for a while, it will start again just
> fine. So it doesn't seem to be the charging system.
>
> I've talked to a mechanic who says it might be the coil or fuel pump,
> but that doesn't sound right.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, since I have to do this
> myself. I don't have the cash to take it to the garage.
>
> Thanks!

Re: Accessories stay on; Battery drains
 

you have some sort of battery drain. you can check the ing. switch if
it's bad
it's under the colum covers .not at the base. the saginaw steering colums
were dropped in 94
i would be checking out all the grounds real good when grounds are loose
or poor, elcectric relays make alot of noise and battery power looks for
grounds backtracking thru wires looking for the ground points and things
get dim
the main ones are on the engine block by the dipstick
the dash harness has some on the lt side under the kick panel and one is
under the drivers seat
you can check for a draw using a test lite and pulling fuses
RJO wrote:

> Hey everybody! I bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport last November, with
> 106,000 miles on it. I've since added 10,000 miles. Two seperate but
> possibly related problems that started right after I bought it have me
> flummoxed.
>
> The first is that when I turn the ignition key off, all the
> accessories stay on: the fan, radio, wipers, etc. I quickly learned to
> turn everything off before parking the car.
>
> The second showed up a few weeks later. When the car is parked for
> several hours, the battery (which is a new die-hard) drains enough so
> that the motor will turn over but not start. If it's parked for a
> longer time, it has no juice at all. Sometimes, after using the power
> locks to open the car, I can hear a rapid clicking behind the dash to
> the left of the main guage display. If I use a jump starter it will
> start, and after I drive it for a while, it will start again just
> fine. So it doesn't seem to be the charging system.
>
> I've talked to a mechanic who says it might be the coil or fuel pump,
> but that doesn't sound right.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, since I have to do this
> myself. I don't have the cash to take it to the garage.
>
> Thanks!

Re: Accessories stay on; Battery drains
 

you have some sort of battery drain. you can check the ing. switch if
it's bad
it's under the colum covers .not at the base. the saginaw steering colums
were dropped in 94
i would be checking out all the grounds real good when grounds are loose
or poor, elcectric relays make alot of noise and battery power looks for
grounds backtracking thru wires looking for the ground points and things
get dim
the main ones are on the engine block by the dipstick
the dash harness has some on the lt side under the kick panel and one is
under the drivers seat
you can check for a draw using a test lite and pulling fuses
RJO wrote:

> Hey everybody! I bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport last November, with
> 106,000 miles on it. I've since added 10,000 miles. Two seperate but
> possibly related problems that started right after I bought it have me
> flummoxed.
>
> The first is that when I turn the ignition key off, all the
> accessories stay on: the fan, radio, wipers, etc. I quickly learned to
> turn everything off before parking the car.
>
> The second showed up a few weeks later. When the car is parked for
> several hours, the battery (which is a new die-hard) drains enough so
> that the motor will turn over but not start. If it's parked for a
> longer time, it has no juice at all. Sometimes, after using the power
> locks to open the car, I can hear a rapid clicking behind the dash to
> the left of the main guage display. If I use a jump starter it will
> start, and after I drive it for a while, it will start again just
> fine. So it doesn't seem to be the charging system.
>
> I've talked to a mechanic who says it might be the coil or fuel pump,
> but that doesn't sound right.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, since I have to do this
> myself. I don't have the cash to take it to the garage.
>
> Thanks!

Re: Accessories stay on; Battery drains
 

bob@rjoassoc.com (RJO) wrote in message news:<c5bdc97c.0404100946.2465a92e@posting.google. com>...
> Hey everybody! I bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport last November, with
> 106,000 miles on it. I've since added 10,000 miles. Two seperate but
> possibly related problems that started right after I bought it have me
> flummoxed.
>
> The first is that when I turn the ignition key off, all the
> accessories stay on: the fan, radio, wipers, etc. I quickly learned to
> turn everything off before parking the car.
>
> The second showed up a few weeks later. When the car is parked for
> several hours, the battery (which is a new die-hard) drains enough so
> that the motor will turn over but not start. If it's parked for a
> longer time, it has no juice at all. Sometimes, after using the power
> locks to open the car, I can hear a rapid clicking behind the dash to
> the left of the main guage display. If I use a jump starter it will
> start, and after I drive it for a while, it will start again just
> fine. So it doesn't seem to be the charging system.
>
> I've talked to a mechanic who says it might be the coil or fuel pump,
> but that doesn't sound right.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, since I have to do this
> myself. I don't have the cash to take it to the garage.
>
> Thanks!

When you do get this fixed, another thing that helped me with
long-term accessory drain is getting a deep-cycle battery (I got an
Optima). It works great for things like leaving your GPS/radio on
while parked and shut off (so as not to lose satellites, or to use
your Jeep as the campout stereo system), etc. Gives you lots of
freedom, and also protects you against cycle drain like alarm systems
exact on your battery.

Good luck,
Matt

Re: Accessories stay on; Battery drains
 

bob@rjoassoc.com (RJO) wrote in message news:<c5bdc97c.0404100946.2465a92e@posting.google. com>...
> Hey everybody! I bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport last November, with
> 106,000 miles on it. I've since added 10,000 miles. Two seperate but
> possibly related problems that started right after I bought it have me
> flummoxed.
>
> The first is that when I turn the ignition key off, all the
> accessories stay on: the fan, radio, wipers, etc. I quickly learned to
> turn everything off before parking the car.
>
> The second showed up a few weeks later. When the car is parked for
> several hours, the battery (which is a new die-hard) drains enough so
> that the motor will turn over but not start. If it's parked for a
> longer time, it has no juice at all. Sometimes, after using the power
> locks to open the car, I can hear a rapid clicking behind the dash to
> the left of the main guage display. If I use a jump starter it will
> start, and after I drive it for a while, it will start again just
> fine. So it doesn't seem to be the charging system.
>
> I've talked to a mechanic who says it might be the coil or fuel pump,
> but that doesn't sound right.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, since I have to do this
> myself. I don't have the cash to take it to the garage.
>
> Thanks!

When you do get this fixed, another thing that helped me with
long-term accessory drain is getting a deep-cycle battery (I got an
Optima). It works great for things like leaving your GPS/radio on
while parked and shut off (so as not to lose satellites, or to use
your Jeep as the campout stereo system), etc. Gives you lots of
freedom, and also protects you against cycle drain like alarm systems
exact on your battery.

Good luck,
Matt

Re: Accessories stay on; Battery drains
 

bob@rjoassoc.com (RJO) wrote in message news:<c5bdc97c.0404100946.2465a92e@posting.google. com>...
> Hey everybody! I bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport last November, with
> 106,000 miles on it. I've since added 10,000 miles. Two seperate but
> possibly related problems that started right after I bought it have me
> flummoxed.
>
> The first is that when I turn the ignition key off, all the
> accessories stay on: the fan, radio, wipers, etc. I quickly learned to
> turn everything off before parking the car.
>
> The second showed up a few weeks later. When the car is parked for
> several hours, the battery (which is a new die-hard) drains enough so
> that the motor will turn over but not start. If it's parked for a
> longer time, it has no juice at all. Sometimes, after using the power
> locks to open the car, I can hear a rapid clicking behind the dash to
> the left of the main guage display. If I use a jump starter it will
> start, and after I drive it for a while, it will start again just
> fine. So it doesn't seem to be the charging system.
>
> I've talked to a mechanic who says it might be the coil or fuel pump,
> but that doesn't sound right.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, since I have to do this
> myself. I don't have the cash to take it to the garage.
>
> Thanks!

When you do get this fixed, another thing that helped me with
long-term accessory drain is getting a deep-cycle battery (I got an
Optima). It works great for things like leaving your GPS/radio on
while parked and shut off (so as not to lose satellites, or to use
your Jeep as the campout stereo system), etc. Gives you lots of
freedom, and also protects you against cycle drain like alarm systems
exact on your battery.

Good luck,
Matt

Re: Accessories stay on; Battery drains
 

bob@rjoassoc.com (RJO) wrote in message news:<c5bdc97c.0404100946.2465a92e@posting.google. com>...
> Hey everybody! I bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport last November, with
> 106,000 miles on it. I've since added 10,000 miles. Two seperate but
> possibly related problems that started right after I bought it have me
> flummoxed.
>
> The first is that when I turn the ignition key off, all the
> accessories stay on: the fan, radio, wipers, etc. I quickly learned to
> turn everything off before parking the car.
>
> The second showed up a few weeks later. When the car is parked for
> several hours, the battery (which is a new die-hard) drains enough so
> that the motor will turn over but not start. If it's parked for a
> longer time, it has no juice at all. Sometimes, after using the power
> locks to open the car, I can hear a rapid clicking behind the dash to
> the left of the main guage display. If I use a jump starter it will
> start, and after I drive it for a while, it will start again just
> fine. So it doesn't seem to be the charging system.
>
> I've talked to a mechanic who says it might be the coil or fuel pump,
> but that doesn't sound right.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, since I have to do this
> myself. I don't have the cash to take it to the garage.
>
> Thanks!

When you do get this fixed, another thing that helped me with
long-term accessory drain is getting a deep-cycle battery (I got an
Optima). It works great for things like leaving your GPS/radio on
while parked and shut off (so as not to lose satellites, or to use
your Jeep as the campout stereo system), etc. Gives you lots of
freedom, and also protects you against cycle drain like alarm systems
exact on your battery.

Good luck,
Matt

Re: Accessories stay on; Battery drains
 

On 11 Apr 2004 09:17:00 -0700, mhammer8@yahoo.com (Matt) wrote:

>bob@rjoassoc.com (RJO) wrote in message news:<c5bdc97c.0404100946.2465a92e@posting.google. com>...
>> Hey everybody! I bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport last November, with
>> 106,000 miles on it. I've since added 10,000 miles. Two seperate but
>> possibly related problems that started right after I bought it have me
>> flummoxed.
>>
>> The first is that when I turn the ignition key off, all the
>> accessories stay on: the fan, radio, wipers, etc. I quickly learned to
>> turn everything off before parking the car.
>>
>> The second showed up a few weeks later. When the car is parked for
>> several hours, the battery (which is a new die-hard) drains enough so
>> that the motor will turn over but not start. If it's parked for a
>> longer time, it has no juice at all. Sometimes, after using the power
>> locks to open the car, I can hear a rapid clicking behind the dash to
>> the left of the main guage display. If I use a jump starter it will
>> start, and after I drive it for a while, it will start again just
>> fine. So it doesn't seem to be the charging system.
>>
>> I've talked to a mechanic who says it might be the coil or fuel pump,
>> but that doesn't sound right.
>>
>> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, since I have to do this
>> myself. I don't have the cash to take it to the garage.
>>
>> Thanks!
>
>When you do get this fixed, another thing that helped me with
>long-term accessory drain is getting a deep-cycle battery (I got an
>Optima). It works great for things like leaving your GPS/radio on
>while parked and shut off (so as not to lose satellites, or to use
>your Jeep as the campout stereo system), etc. Gives you lots of
>freedom, and also protects you against cycle drain like alarm systems
>exact on your battery.
>
>Good luck,
>Matt
As for everything staying on. I'd have to suspect the ignition switch.
Maybe at one point it overloaded and some of the contacts are now
burnt on.

As for the unknown draw killing the battery

I would disconnect the positive cable from the battery and put an ohm
meter between the cable and vehicle ground.

The reading should be in K ohms (thousands). I'd bet yours will be in
the 100's if not 10's of ohms. Simple ohms law reveals the actual draw
on the battery. Volts divided by resistance = current in amps

Once you've checked the reading, start pulling fuses. A couple extra
clip leads helps get the meter under the dash so you can watch it as
you proceed.

When the reading jumps into the K ohm range, you've probably found the
culprit.

On mine it was a short in the power antenna which was fixed by simply
leaving the fuse out.

Hope that helps

-Kk-

Re: Accessories stay on; Battery drains
 

On 11 Apr 2004 09:17:00 -0700, mhammer8@yahoo.com (Matt) wrote:

>bob@rjoassoc.com (RJO) wrote in message news:<c5bdc97c.0404100946.2465a92e@posting.google. com>...
>> Hey everybody! I bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport last November, with
>> 106,000 miles on it. I've since added 10,000 miles. Two seperate but
>> possibly related problems that started right after I bought it have me
>> flummoxed.
>>
>> The first is that when I turn the ignition key off, all the
>> accessories stay on: the fan, radio, wipers, etc. I quickly learned to
>> turn everything off before parking the car.
>>
>> The second showed up a few weeks later. When the car is parked for
>> several hours, the battery (which is a new die-hard) drains enough so
>> that the motor will turn over but not start. If it's parked for a
>> longer time, it has no juice at all. Sometimes, after using the power
>> locks to open the car, I can hear a rapid clicking behind the dash to
>> the left of the main guage display. If I use a jump starter it will
>> start, and after I drive it for a while, it will start again just
>> fine. So it doesn't seem to be the charging system.
>>
>> I've talked to a mechanic who says it might be the coil or fuel pump,
>> but that doesn't sound right.
>>
>> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, since I have to do this
>> myself. I don't have the cash to take it to the garage.
>>
>> Thanks!
>
>When you do get this fixed, another thing that helped me with
>long-term accessory drain is getting a deep-cycle battery (I got an
>Optima). It works great for things like leaving your GPS/radio on
>while parked and shut off (so as not to lose satellites, or to use
>your Jeep as the campout stereo system), etc. Gives you lots of
>freedom, and also protects you against cycle drain like alarm systems
>exact on your battery.
>
>Good luck,
>Matt
As for everything staying on. I'd have to suspect the ignition switch.
Maybe at one point it overloaded and some of the contacts are now
burnt on.

As for the unknown draw killing the battery

I would disconnect the positive cable from the battery and put an ohm
meter between the cable and vehicle ground.

The reading should be in K ohms (thousands). I'd bet yours will be in
the 100's if not 10's of ohms. Simple ohms law reveals the actual draw
on the battery. Volts divided by resistance = current in amps

Once you've checked the reading, start pulling fuses. A couple extra
clip leads helps get the meter under the dash so you can watch it as
you proceed.

When the reading jumps into the K ohm range, you've probably found the
culprit.

On mine it was a short in the power antenna which was fixed by simply
leaving the fuse out.

Hope that helps

-Kk-

Re: Accessories stay on; Battery drains
 

On 11 Apr 2004 09:17:00 -0700, mhammer8@yahoo.com (Matt) wrote:

>bob@rjoassoc.com (RJO) wrote in message news:<c5bdc97c.0404100946.2465a92e@posting.google. com>...
>> Hey everybody! I bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport last November, with
>> 106,000 miles on it. I've since added 10,000 miles. Two seperate but
>> possibly related problems that started right after I bought it have me
>> flummoxed.
>>
>> The first is that when I turn the ignition key off, all the
>> accessories stay on: the fan, radio, wipers, etc. I quickly learned to
>> turn everything off before parking the car.
>>
>> The second showed up a few weeks later. When the car is parked for
>> several hours, the battery (which is a new die-hard) drains enough so
>> that the motor will turn over but not start. If it's parked for a
>> longer time, it has no juice at all. Sometimes, after using the power
>> locks to open the car, I can hear a rapid clicking behind the dash to
>> the left of the main guage display. If I use a jump starter it will
>> start, and after I drive it for a while, it will start again just
>> fine. So it doesn't seem to be the charging system.
>>
>> I've talked to a mechanic who says it might be the coil or fuel pump,
>> but that doesn't sound right.
>>
>> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, since I have to do this
>> myself. I don't have the cash to take it to the garage.
>>
>> Thanks!
>
>When you do get this fixed, another thing that helped me with
>long-term accessory drain is getting a deep-cycle battery (I got an
>Optima). It works great for things like leaving your GPS/radio on
>while parked and shut off (so as not to lose satellites, or to use
>your Jeep as the campout stereo system), etc. Gives you lots of
>freedom, and also protects you against cycle drain like alarm systems
>exact on your battery.
>
>Good luck,
>Matt
As for everything staying on. I'd have to suspect the ignition switch.
Maybe at one point it overloaded and some of the contacts are now
burnt on.

As for the unknown draw killing the battery

I would disconnect the positive cable from the battery and put an ohm
meter between the cable and vehicle ground.

The reading should be in K ohms (thousands). I'd bet yours will be in
the 100's if not 10's of ohms. Simple ohms law reveals the actual draw
on the battery. Volts divided by resistance = current in amps

Once you've checked the reading, start pulling fuses. A couple extra
clip leads helps get the meter under the dash so you can watch it as
you proceed.

When the reading jumps into the K ohm range, you've probably found the
culprit.

On mine it was a short in the power antenna which was fixed by simply
leaving the fuse out.

Hope that helps

-Kk-