HELP 1985 Jeep CJ7 will not turn over
 

I just traded for a jeep and I am a newbie, so I need your help please.

After letting it sit for a few weeks the Jeep would just click and not
turn over, so after reading online I changed the starter. Actually, I
bought beer for a friend who changed it.

Amazingly, it cranked and started and off to the Car wash I went.

Now that the jeep has sit again for a week I tried to start it and it
just cranks, but will not start.

I have no way to test the voltage or compression, but will try
anything.

The battery seems to be strong, as it will crank and crank, but willing
to replace or jump if I need to.

Brian
fitzkie@gmail.com

Re: HELP 1985 Jeep CJ7 will not turn over
 

In-line responses for clarity.


On Sat, 16 Dec 2006, Brian wrote:

> I just traded for a jeep and I am a newbie, so I need your help please.

Congratulations on your new Jeep, and welcome to the club.


> After letting it sit for a few weeks the Jeep would just click and not
> turn over, so after reading online I changed the starter. Actually, I
> bought beer for a friend who changed it.

Hmmm. There's a thing said about medical students: They hear hoofbeats
outside the window and immediately think "Zebra!". In this case, you
might have spent money on a starter that you didn't need to replace.
"Click but won't crank" is usually a symptom of low voltage or low current
to the starter, either because of a dead battery (low voltage) or dirty
connections (low current).


> Amazingly, it cranked and started and off to the Car wash I went.
>
> Now that the jeep has sit again for a week I tried to start it and it
> just cranks, but will not start.
>
> I have no way to test the voltage or compression, but will try
> anything.

Sure you have a way to test things.

You need three things for a gasoline engine to run: Spark, fuel and
compression.

Unless your engine sounds like it is cranking absurdly fast, you've
probably got compression. Nothing is going to break overnight that will
rob you of that.

Pull the air cleaner off and stick you nose down the carb throat. Smell
fresh gas? Hold the choke open, look down the throat and move the
throttle linkage (or have someone step on the gas pedal). You should see
gas squirting down by the lower set of valve plates. Yes? Then you've
got fuel. (Don't crank the engine now! You don't want it to burp fire
into your face, do you?) If you do this a few times the squirting will
stop. Don't worry. Cranking the engine for a minute will restore the
fuel in the pump. Put the air cleaner back on.

Carefully pull the spark wire that goes from the coil to the center tower
of the distributor cap off the cap. Using something insulated (I'm
worried about leakage through old insulation here knocking you on your
arse) hold the wire so that the metal end cap is near (1/4" or so) the
engine block while someone cranks the engine over. Watch out for moving
parts and loose clothing. You should see blue sparks jump the gap and
hear a snapping sound. I'm guessing that you won't.

Let us know what you find and someone will give you more specific
directions.


> The battery seems to be strong, as it will crank and crank, but willing
> to replace or jump if I need to.

If it "cranks and cranks" you don't need a jump or need to replace the
battery. My guess is that you have an electrical problem. It might be a
little tricky to track down, but not too hard to fix. Just don't replace
parts willy-nilly -- at least, not yet.



--
"I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
whips....r"
R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.

Re: HELP 1985 Jeep CJ7 will not turn over
 

In-line responses for clarity.


On Sat, 16 Dec 2006, Brian wrote:

> I just traded for a jeep and I am a newbie, so I need your help please.

Congratulations on your new Jeep, and welcome to the club.


> After letting it sit for a few weeks the Jeep would just click and not
> turn over, so after reading online I changed the starter. Actually, I
> bought beer for a friend who changed it.

Hmmm. There's a thing said about medical students: They hear hoofbeats
outside the window and immediately think "Zebra!". In this case, you
might have spent money on a starter that you didn't need to replace.
"Click but won't crank" is usually a symptom of low voltage or low current
to the starter, either because of a dead battery (low voltage) or dirty
connections (low current).


> Amazingly, it cranked and started and off to the Car wash I went.
>
> Now that the jeep has sit again for a week I tried to start it and it
> just cranks, but will not start.
>
> I have no way to test the voltage or compression, but will try
> anything.

Sure you have a way to test things.

You need three things for a gasoline engine to run: Spark, fuel and
compression.

Unless your engine sounds like it is cranking absurdly fast, you've
probably got compression. Nothing is going to break overnight that will
rob you of that.

Pull the air cleaner off and stick you nose down the carb throat. Smell
fresh gas? Hold the choke open, look down the throat and move the
throttle linkage (or have someone step on the gas pedal). You should see
gas squirting down by the lower set of valve plates. Yes? Then you've
got fuel. (Don't crank the engine now! You don't want it to burp fire
into your face, do you?) If you do this a few times the squirting will
stop. Don't worry. Cranking the engine for a minute will restore the
fuel in the pump. Put the air cleaner back on.

Carefully pull the spark wire that goes from the coil to the center tower
of the distributor cap off the cap. Using something insulated (I'm
worried about leakage through old insulation here knocking you on your
arse) hold the wire so that the metal end cap is near (1/4" or so) the
engine block while someone cranks the engine over. Watch out for moving
parts and loose clothing. You should see blue sparks jump the gap and
hear a snapping sound. I'm guessing that you won't.

Let us know what you find and someone will give you more specific
directions.


> The battery seems to be strong, as it will crank and crank, but willing
> to replace or jump if I need to.

If it "cranks and cranks" you don't need a jump or need to replace the
battery. My guess is that you have an electrical problem. It might be a
little tricky to track down, but not too hard to fix. Just don't replace
parts willy-nilly -- at least, not yet.



--
"I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
whips....r"
R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.

Re: HELP 1985 Jeep CJ7 will not turn over
 

In-line responses for clarity.


On Sat, 16 Dec 2006, Brian wrote:

> I just traded for a jeep and I am a newbie, so I need your help please.

Congratulations on your new Jeep, and welcome to the club.


> After letting it sit for a few weeks the Jeep would just click and not
> turn over, so after reading online I changed the starter. Actually, I
> bought beer for a friend who changed it.

Hmmm. There's a thing said about medical students: They hear hoofbeats
outside the window and immediately think "Zebra!". In this case, you
might have spent money on a starter that you didn't need to replace.
"Click but won't crank" is usually a symptom of low voltage or low current
to the starter, either because of a dead battery (low voltage) or dirty
connections (low current).


> Amazingly, it cranked and started and off to the Car wash I went.
>
> Now that the jeep has sit again for a week I tried to start it and it
> just cranks, but will not start.
>
> I have no way to test the voltage or compression, but will try
> anything.

Sure you have a way to test things.

You need three things for a gasoline engine to run: Spark, fuel and
compression.

Unless your engine sounds like it is cranking absurdly fast, you've
probably got compression. Nothing is going to break overnight that will
rob you of that.

Pull the air cleaner off and stick you nose down the carb throat. Smell
fresh gas? Hold the choke open, look down the throat and move the
throttle linkage (or have someone step on the gas pedal). You should see
gas squirting down by the lower set of valve plates. Yes? Then you've
got fuel. (Don't crank the engine now! You don't want it to burp fire
into your face, do you?) If you do this a few times the squirting will
stop. Don't worry. Cranking the engine for a minute will restore the
fuel in the pump. Put the air cleaner back on.

Carefully pull the spark wire that goes from the coil to the center tower
of the distributor cap off the cap. Using something insulated (I'm
worried about leakage through old insulation here knocking you on your
arse) hold the wire so that the metal end cap is near (1/4" or so) the
engine block while someone cranks the engine over. Watch out for moving
parts and loose clothing. You should see blue sparks jump the gap and
hear a snapping sound. I'm guessing that you won't.

Let us know what you find and someone will give you more specific
directions.


> The battery seems to be strong, as it will crank and crank, but willing
> to replace or jump if I need to.

If it "cranks and cranks" you don't need a jump or need to replace the
battery. My guess is that you have an electrical problem. It might be a
little tricky to track down, but not too hard to fix. Just don't replace
parts willy-nilly -- at least, not yet.



--
"I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
whips....r"
R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.

Re: HELP 1985 Jeep CJ7 will not turn over
 

Add to Lees comments...

When you were at the carwash did the engine get wet or exposed to a lot of
steam?

Moisture and electricity mix very well.... and not always the way you want.

Remove and dry the inside of the distributor cap, spray with WD-40 if you
have it.

It is possible that old spark plug cables may be leaking.... but we can get
back to that later also....

"Lee Ayrton" <layrton@panix.com> wrote in message
news:Pine.NEB.4.64.0612161613190.17691@panix3.pani x.com...
>
> In-line responses for clarity.
>
>
> On Sat, 16 Dec 2006, Brian wrote:
>
>> I just traded for a jeep and I am a newbie, so I need your help please.
>
> Congratulations on your new Jeep, and welcome to the club.
>
>
>> After letting it sit for a few weeks the Jeep would just click and not
>> turn over, so after reading online I changed the starter. Actually, I
>> bought beer for a friend who changed it.
>
> Hmmm. There's a thing said about medical students: They hear hoofbeats
> outside the window and immediately think "Zebra!". In this case, you
> might have spent money on a starter that you didn't need to replace.
> "Click but won't crank" is usually a symptom of low voltage or low current
> to the starter, either because of a dead battery (low voltage) or dirty
> connections (low current).
>
>
>> Amazingly, it cranked and started and off to the Car wash I went.
>>
>> Now that the jeep has sit again for a week I tried to start it and it
>> just cranks, but will not start.
>>
>> I have no way to test the voltage or compression, but will try
>> anything.
>
> Sure you have a way to test things.
>
> You need three things for a gasoline engine to run: Spark, fuel and
> compression.
>
> Unless your engine sounds like it is cranking absurdly fast, you've
> probably got compression. Nothing is going to break overnight that will
> rob you of that.
>
> Pull the air cleaner off and stick you nose down the carb throat. Smell
> fresh gas? Hold the choke open, look down the throat and move the
> throttle linkage (or have someone step on the gas pedal). You should see
> gas squirting down by the lower set of valve plates. Yes? Then you've
> got fuel. (Don't crank the engine now! You don't want it to burp fire
> into your face, do you?) If you do this a few times the squirting will
> stop. Don't worry. Cranking the engine for a minute will restore the
> fuel in the pump. Put the air cleaner back on.
>
> Carefully pull the spark wire that goes from the coil to the center tower
> of the distributor cap off the cap. Using something insulated (I'm
> worried about leakage through old insulation here knocking you on your
> arse) hold the wire so that the metal end cap is near (1/4" or so) the
> engine block while someone cranks the engine over. Watch out for moving
> parts and loose clothing. You should see blue sparks jump the gap and
> hear a snapping sound. I'm guessing that you won't.
>
> Let us know what you find and someone will give you more specific
> directions.
>
>
>> The battery seems to be strong, as it will crank and crank, but willing
>> to replace or jump if I need to.
>
> If it "cranks and cranks" you don't need a jump or need to replace the
> battery. My guess is that you have an electrical problem. It might be a
> little tricky to track down, but not too hard to fix. Just don't replace
> parts willy-nilly -- at least, not yet.
>
>
>
> --
> "I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
> whips....r"
> R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.
>

Re: HELP 1985 Jeep CJ7 will not turn over
 

Add to Lees comments...

When you were at the carwash did the engine get wet or exposed to a lot of
steam?

Moisture and electricity mix very well.... and not always the way you want.

Remove and dry the inside of the distributor cap, spray with WD-40 if you
have it.

It is possible that old spark plug cables may be leaking.... but we can get
back to that later also....

"Lee Ayrton" <layrton@panix.com> wrote in message
news:Pine.NEB.4.64.0612161613190.17691@panix3.pani x.com...
>
> In-line responses for clarity.
>
>
> On Sat, 16 Dec 2006, Brian wrote:
>
>> I just traded for a jeep and I am a newbie, so I need your help please.
>
> Congratulations on your new Jeep, and welcome to the club.
>
>
>> After letting it sit for a few weeks the Jeep would just click and not
>> turn over, so after reading online I changed the starter. Actually, I
>> bought beer for a friend who changed it.
>
> Hmmm. There's a thing said about medical students: They hear hoofbeats
> outside the window and immediately think "Zebra!". In this case, you
> might have spent money on a starter that you didn't need to replace.
> "Click but won't crank" is usually a symptom of low voltage or low current
> to the starter, either because of a dead battery (low voltage) or dirty
> connections (low current).
>
>
>> Amazingly, it cranked and started and off to the Car wash I went.
>>
>> Now that the jeep has sit again for a week I tried to start it and it
>> just cranks, but will not start.
>>
>> I have no way to test the voltage or compression, but will try
>> anything.
>
> Sure you have a way to test things.
>
> You need three things for a gasoline engine to run: Spark, fuel and
> compression.
>
> Unless your engine sounds like it is cranking absurdly fast, you've
> probably got compression. Nothing is going to break overnight that will
> rob you of that.
>
> Pull the air cleaner off and stick you nose down the carb throat. Smell
> fresh gas? Hold the choke open, look down the throat and move the
> throttle linkage (or have someone step on the gas pedal). You should see
> gas squirting down by the lower set of valve plates. Yes? Then you've
> got fuel. (Don't crank the engine now! You don't want it to burp fire
> into your face, do you?) If you do this a few times the squirting will
> stop. Don't worry. Cranking the engine for a minute will restore the
> fuel in the pump. Put the air cleaner back on.
>
> Carefully pull the spark wire that goes from the coil to the center tower
> of the distributor cap off the cap. Using something insulated (I'm
> worried about leakage through old insulation here knocking you on your
> arse) hold the wire so that the metal end cap is near (1/4" or so) the
> engine block while someone cranks the engine over. Watch out for moving
> parts and loose clothing. You should see blue sparks jump the gap and
> hear a snapping sound. I'm guessing that you won't.
>
> Let us know what you find and someone will give you more specific
> directions.
>
>
>> The battery seems to be strong, as it will crank and crank, but willing
>> to replace or jump if I need to.
>
> If it "cranks and cranks" you don't need a jump or need to replace the
> battery. My guess is that you have an electrical problem. It might be a
> little tricky to track down, but not too hard to fix. Just don't replace
> parts willy-nilly -- at least, not yet.
>
>
>
> --
> "I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
> whips....r"
> R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.
>

Re: HELP 1985 Jeep CJ7 will not turn over
 

Add to Lees comments...

When you were at the carwash did the engine get wet or exposed to a lot of
steam?

Moisture and electricity mix very well.... and not always the way you want.

Remove and dry the inside of the distributor cap, spray with WD-40 if you
have it.

It is possible that old spark plug cables may be leaking.... but we can get
back to that later also....

"Lee Ayrton" <layrton@panix.com> wrote in message
news:Pine.NEB.4.64.0612161613190.17691@panix3.pani x.com...
>
> In-line responses for clarity.
>
>
> On Sat, 16 Dec 2006, Brian wrote:
>
>> I just traded for a jeep and I am a newbie, so I need your help please.
>
> Congratulations on your new Jeep, and welcome to the club.
>
>
>> After letting it sit for a few weeks the Jeep would just click and not
>> turn over, so after reading online I changed the starter. Actually, I
>> bought beer for a friend who changed it.
>
> Hmmm. There's a thing said about medical students: They hear hoofbeats
> outside the window and immediately think "Zebra!". In this case, you
> might have spent money on a starter that you didn't need to replace.
> "Click but won't crank" is usually a symptom of low voltage or low current
> to the starter, either because of a dead battery (low voltage) or dirty
> connections (low current).
>
>
>> Amazingly, it cranked and started and off to the Car wash I went.
>>
>> Now that the jeep has sit again for a week I tried to start it and it
>> just cranks, but will not start.
>>
>> I have no way to test the voltage or compression, but will try
>> anything.
>
> Sure you have a way to test things.
>
> You need three things for a gasoline engine to run: Spark, fuel and
> compression.
>
> Unless your engine sounds like it is cranking absurdly fast, you've
> probably got compression. Nothing is going to break overnight that will
> rob you of that.
>
> Pull the air cleaner off and stick you nose down the carb throat. Smell
> fresh gas? Hold the choke open, look down the throat and move the
> throttle linkage (or have someone step on the gas pedal). You should see
> gas squirting down by the lower set of valve plates. Yes? Then you've
> got fuel. (Don't crank the engine now! You don't want it to burp fire
> into your face, do you?) If you do this a few times the squirting will
> stop. Don't worry. Cranking the engine for a minute will restore the
> fuel in the pump. Put the air cleaner back on.
>
> Carefully pull the spark wire that goes from the coil to the center tower
> of the distributor cap off the cap. Using something insulated (I'm
> worried about leakage through old insulation here knocking you on your
> arse) hold the wire so that the metal end cap is near (1/4" or so) the
> engine block while someone cranks the engine over. Watch out for moving
> parts and loose clothing. You should see blue sparks jump the gap and
> hear a snapping sound. I'm guessing that you won't.
>
> Let us know what you find and someone will give you more specific
> directions.
>
>
>> The battery seems to be strong, as it will crank and crank, but willing
>> to replace or jump if I need to.
>
> If it "cranks and cranks" you don't need a jump or need to replace the
> battery. My guess is that you have an electrical problem. It might be a
> little tricky to track down, but not too hard to fix. Just don't replace
> parts willy-nilly -- at least, not yet.
>
>
>
> --
> "I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
> whips....r"
> R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.
>

Re: HELP 1985 Jeep CJ7 will not turn over
 

I will second the congrats, and say you have come to the right place for
CJ info.

I also will second looking down the carb to see if you get gas squirts
when you push the pedal down. If you don't, you can toss a splash of
maybe 1/4 cup r so in the carb and it might go vroom. You might have to
do that twice.

If so, that means the gas is siphoning back to the tank. One reason for
this is an upside down gas filter. The filter has two outlets, the
center one goes to the carb and the 'top' one goes tot he return line.
If the return line tube isn't at top, gas syphons when it sits. Another
reason for that can be a pinhole leak in the suction line from the pump
to the tank.

If you have no spark, then I would start by cleaning the contacts on the
starter solenoid that sits on the fender. One wire from there controls
the spark when starting. Likely a blue one on the side post.

Also the coil power plug itself is known to get punky.

Let us know if anything helps.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


Brian wrote:
>
> I just traded for a jeep and I am a newbie, so I need your help please.
>
> After letting it sit for a few weeks the Jeep would just click and not
> turn over, so after reading online I changed the starter. Actually, I
> bought beer for a friend who changed it.
>
> Amazingly, it cranked and started and off to the Car wash I went.
>
> Now that the jeep has sit again for a week I tried to start it and it
> just cranks, but will not start.
>
> I have no way to test the voltage or compression, but will try
> anything.
>
> The battery seems to be strong, as it will crank and crank, but willing
> to replace or jump if I need to.
>
> Brian
> fitzkie@gmail.com

Re: HELP 1985 Jeep CJ7 will not turn over
 

I will second the congrats, and say you have come to the right place for
CJ info.

I also will second looking down the carb to see if you get gas squirts
when you push the pedal down. If you don't, you can toss a splash of
maybe 1/4 cup r so in the carb and it might go vroom. You might have to
do that twice.

If so, that means the gas is siphoning back to the tank. One reason for
this is an upside down gas filter. The filter has two outlets, the
center one goes to the carb and the 'top' one goes tot he return line.
If the return line tube isn't at top, gas syphons when it sits. Another
reason for that can be a pinhole leak in the suction line from the pump
to the tank.

If you have no spark, then I would start by cleaning the contacts on the
starter solenoid that sits on the fender. One wire from there controls
the spark when starting. Likely a blue one on the side post.

Also the coil power plug itself is known to get punky.

Let us know if anything helps.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


Brian wrote:
>
> I just traded for a jeep and I am a newbie, so I need your help please.
>
> After letting it sit for a few weeks the Jeep would just click and not
> turn over, so after reading online I changed the starter. Actually, I
> bought beer for a friend who changed it.
>
> Amazingly, it cranked and started and off to the Car wash I went.
>
> Now that the jeep has sit again for a week I tried to start it and it
> just cranks, but will not start.
>
> I have no way to test the voltage or compression, but will try
> anything.
>
> The battery seems to be strong, as it will crank and crank, but willing
> to replace or jump if I need to.
>
> Brian
> fitzkie@gmail.com

Re: HELP 1985 Jeep CJ7 will not turn over
 

I will second the congrats, and say you have come to the right place for
CJ info.

I also will second looking down the carb to see if you get gas squirts
when you push the pedal down. If you don't, you can toss a splash of
maybe 1/4 cup r so in the carb and it might go vroom. You might have to
do that twice.

If so, that means the gas is siphoning back to the tank. One reason for
this is an upside down gas filter. The filter has two outlets, the
center one goes to the carb and the 'top' one goes tot he return line.
If the return line tube isn't at top, gas syphons when it sits. Another
reason for that can be a pinhole leak in the suction line from the pump
to the tank.

If you have no spark, then I would start by cleaning the contacts on the
starter solenoid that sits on the fender. One wire from there controls
the spark when starting. Likely a blue one on the side post.

Also the coil power plug itself is known to get punky.

Let us know if anything helps.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


Brian wrote:
>
> I just traded for a jeep and I am a newbie, so I need your help please.
>
> After letting it sit for a few weeks the Jeep would just click and not
> turn over, so after reading online I changed the starter. Actually, I
> bought beer for a friend who changed it.
>
> Amazingly, it cranked and started and off to the Car wash I went.
>
> Now that the jeep has sit again for a week I tried to start it and it
> just cranks, but will not start.
>
> I have no way to test the voltage or compression, but will try
> anything.
>
> The battery seems to be strong, as it will crank and crank, but willing
> to replace or jump if I need to.
>
> Brian
> fitzkie@gmail.com