Help! Electrical problem. '98 XJ dead in parking lot
 

I stopped at a shop on my way home from work. When I went to re-start the Jeep
(4.0), the engine did not turn over and the car made a quiet buzzing noise
(from within the dash?) which slowly died away - as if something was
dis-charging. Then all power failed. I raised the hood, and wiggled all of
the "fuses" in the power control box and the power returned - even the
headlights would shine. But when I tried again to re-start the engine, it
would not turn over, and everything electrical would immediately cut-out, until
the process was repeated. Maybe it was just from leaving it to momentarily
build power, again.

The car was outside all weekend while we were camping, and the battery never
faltered when I left the site, nor when I left from work this evening. We're
supposed to get more snow, tonight, so I need to move it, soon.

Suggestions, please?

Thanks

Jim
Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Help! Electrical problem. '98 XJ dead in parking lot
 

Jjsegr did pass the time by typing:
> I stopped at a shop on my way home from work. When I went to re-start the
> Jeep (4.0), the engine did not turn over and the car made a quiet buzzing
> noise (from within the dash?) which slowly died away - as if something was
> dis-charging. Then all power failed. I raised the hood, and wiggled all of
> the "fuses" in the power control box and the power returned - even the
> headlights would shine. But when I tried again to re-start the engine, it
> would not turn over, and everything electrical would immediately cut-out,
> until the process was repeated. Maybe it was just from leaving it to
> momentarily build power, again.
>
> The car was outside all weekend while we were camping, and the battery never
> faltered when I left the site, nor when I left from work this evening. We're
> supposed to get more snow, tonight, so I need to move it, soon.
>
> Suggestions, please?

First check for a loose battery connection
and check the electrolyte in the battery.

Your batter might have lost a cell and that
will cause all sorts of problems.

However, since you jiggled the power center I'm
also tending toward a failed ASD relay. If it
dies or fails your vehicle will not start.

--
DougW

Re: Help! Electrical problem. '98 XJ dead in parking lot
 

Jjsegr did pass the time by typing:
> I stopped at a shop on my way home from work. When I went to re-start the
> Jeep (4.0), the engine did not turn over and the car made a quiet buzzing
> noise (from within the dash?) which slowly died away - as if something was
> dis-charging. Then all power failed. I raised the hood, and wiggled all of
> the "fuses" in the power control box and the power returned - even the
> headlights would shine. But when I tried again to re-start the engine, it
> would not turn over, and everything electrical would immediately cut-out,
> until the process was repeated. Maybe it was just from leaving it to
> momentarily build power, again.
>
> The car was outside all weekend while we were camping, and the battery never
> faltered when I left the site, nor when I left from work this evening. We're
> supposed to get more snow, tonight, so I need to move it, soon.
>
> Suggestions, please?

First check for a loose battery connection
and check the electrolyte in the battery.

Your batter might have lost a cell and that
will cause all sorts of problems.

However, since you jiggled the power center I'm
also tending toward a failed ASD relay. If it
dies or fails your vehicle will not start.

--
DougW

Re: Help! Electrical problem. '98 XJ dead in parking lot
 

Jjsegr did pass the time by typing:
> I stopped at a shop on my way home from work. When I went to re-start the
> Jeep (4.0), the engine did not turn over and the car made a quiet buzzing
> noise (from within the dash?) which slowly died away - as if something was
> dis-charging. Then all power failed. I raised the hood, and wiggled all of
> the "fuses" in the power control box and the power returned - even the
> headlights would shine. But when I tried again to re-start the engine, it
> would not turn over, and everything electrical would immediately cut-out,
> until the process was repeated. Maybe it was just from leaving it to
> momentarily build power, again.
>
> The car was outside all weekend while we were camping, and the battery never
> faltered when I left the site, nor when I left from work this evening. We're
> supposed to get more snow, tonight, so I need to move it, soon.
>
> Suggestions, please?

First check for a loose battery connection
and check the electrolyte in the battery.

Your batter might have lost a cell and that
will cause all sorts of problems.

However, since you jiggled the power center I'm
also tending toward a failed ASD relay. If it
dies or fails your vehicle will not start.

--
DougW

Re: Help! Electrical problem. '98 XJ dead in parking lot
 

You are describing a loose r really corroded main power cable. Likely
right at the battery.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Jjsegr wrote:
>
> I stopped at a shop on my way home from work. When I went to re-start the Jeep
> (4.0), the engine did not turn over and the car made a quiet buzzing noise
> (from within the dash?) which slowly died away - as if something was
> dis-charging. Then all power failed. I raised the hood, and wiggled all of
> the "fuses" in the power control box and the power returned - even the
> headlights would shine. But when I tried again to re-start the engine, it
> would not turn over, and everything electrical would immediately cut-out, until
> the process was repeated. Maybe it was just from leaving it to momentarily
> build power, again.
>
> The car was outside all weekend while we were camping, and the battery never
> faltered when I left the site, nor when I left from work this evening. We're
> supposed to get more snow, tonight, so I need to move it, soon.
>
> Suggestions, please?
>
> Thanks
>
> Jim
> Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Help! Electrical problem. '98 XJ dead in parking lot
 

You are describing a loose r really corroded main power cable. Likely
right at the battery.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Jjsegr wrote:
>
> I stopped at a shop on my way home from work. When I went to re-start the Jeep
> (4.0), the engine did not turn over and the car made a quiet buzzing noise
> (from within the dash?) which slowly died away - as if something was
> dis-charging. Then all power failed. I raised the hood, and wiggled all of
> the "fuses" in the power control box and the power returned - even the
> headlights would shine. But when I tried again to re-start the engine, it
> would not turn over, and everything electrical would immediately cut-out, until
> the process was repeated. Maybe it was just from leaving it to momentarily
> build power, again.
>
> The car was outside all weekend while we were camping, and the battery never
> faltered when I left the site, nor when I left from work this evening. We're
> supposed to get more snow, tonight, so I need to move it, soon.
>
> Suggestions, please?
>
> Thanks
>
> Jim
> Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Help! Electrical problem. '98 XJ dead in parking lot
 

You are describing a loose r really corroded main power cable. Likely
right at the battery.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Jjsegr wrote:
>
> I stopped at a shop on my way home from work. When I went to re-start the Jeep
> (4.0), the engine did not turn over and the car made a quiet buzzing noise
> (from within the dash?) which slowly died away - as if something was
> dis-charging. Then all power failed. I raised the hood, and wiggled all of
> the "fuses" in the power control box and the power returned - even the
> headlights would shine. But when I tried again to re-start the engine, it
> would not turn over, and everything electrical would immediately cut-out, until
> the process was repeated. Maybe it was just from leaving it to momentarily
> build power, again.
>
> The car was outside all weekend while we were camping, and the battery never
> faltered when I left the site, nor when I left from work this evening. We're
> supposed to get more snow, tonight, so I need to move it, soon.
>
> Suggestions, please?
>
> Thanks
>
> Jim
> Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Help! Electrical problem. '98 XJ dead in parking lot
 

The cables are clean and tight. I returned 3 hours later & it repeated the
same behavior. The lamps burned bright when the power would flow. It does
have its original ('98) battery, though....

A few minutes later, it started as if nothing was wrong. Driving home, the
ammeter read just above 14v, as usual.

I just finished shoveling that snow, so now I'll go check the battery's fluid
level, clean the terminals and cables. i'll also keep the ASD relay in mind.
Thanks, guys, for the replies.

Re: Help! Electrical problem. '98 XJ dead in parking lot
 

The cables are clean and tight. I returned 3 hours later & it repeated the
same behavior. The lamps burned bright when the power would flow. It does
have its original ('98) battery, though....

A few minutes later, it started as if nothing was wrong. Driving home, the
ammeter read just above 14v, as usual.

I just finished shoveling that snow, so now I'll go check the battery's fluid
level, clean the terminals and cables. i'll also keep the ASD relay in mind.
Thanks, guys, for the replies.

Re: Help! Electrical problem. '98 XJ dead in parking lot
 

The cables are clean and tight. I returned 3 hours later & it repeated the
same behavior. The lamps burned bright when the power would flow. It does
have its original ('98) battery, though....

A few minutes later, it started as if nothing was wrong. Driving home, the
ammeter read just above 14v, as usual.

I just finished shoveling that snow, so now I'll go check the battery's fluid
level, clean the terminals and cables. i'll also keep the ASD relay in mind.
Thanks, guys, for the replies.