Strange intermitent starting issue - SOLVED
 

Ok, think I found the problem. The cable from the pos(+) battery terminal
to the starter solenoid was loose. So much I could turn the nut with my
fingers. Got that tightened up and all should be ok.

Something Rich Hampel mentioned. I don't have a ground strap on my engine.
Should I have a (was it 20 gauge) wire running from my starter pole to the
battery ground connector? I only see one pole on the starter.


Thanks,

Bill

Re: Strange intermitent starting issue - SOLVED
 

ABSOLUTLY not. that would be a diect short and smoke when you hit the
starter.
Just a good ground from the motor to frame and or from the battery ground to
the motor or frame.
john

"William Oliveri" <wuji@bigvalley.net> wrote in message
news:bpmt4n$1ngulk$1@ID-193866.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Ok, think I found the problem. The cable from the pos(+) battery terminal
> to the starter solenoid was loose. So much I could turn the nut with my
> fingers. Got that tightened up and all should be ok.
>
> Something Rich Hampel mentioned. I don't have a ground strap on my
engine.
> Should I have a (was it 20 gauge) wire running from my starter pole to the
> battery ground connector? I only see one pole on the starter.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill
>
>

Re: Strange intermitent starting issue - SOLVED
 

ABSOLUTLY not. that would be a diect short and smoke when you hit the
starter.
Just a good ground from the motor to frame and or from the battery ground to
the motor or frame.
john

"William Oliveri" <wuji@bigvalley.net> wrote in message
news:bpmt4n$1ngulk$1@ID-193866.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Ok, think I found the problem. The cable from the pos(+) battery terminal
> to the starter solenoid was loose. So much I could turn the nut with my
> fingers. Got that tightened up and all should be ok.
>
> Something Rich Hampel mentioned. I don't have a ground strap on my
engine.
> Should I have a (was it 20 gauge) wire running from my starter pole to the
> battery ground connector? I only see one pole on the starter.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill
>
>

Re: Strange intermitent starting issue - SOLVED
 

ABSOLUTLY not. that would be a diect short and smoke when you hit the
starter.
Just a good ground from the motor to frame and or from the battery ground to
the motor or frame.
john

"William Oliveri" <wuji@bigvalley.net> wrote in message
news:bpmt4n$1ngulk$1@ID-193866.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Ok, think I found the problem. The cable from the pos(+) battery terminal
> to the starter solenoid was loose. So much I could turn the nut with my
> fingers. Got that tightened up and all should be ok.
>
> Something Rich Hampel mentioned. I don't have a ground strap on my
engine.
> Should I have a (was it 20 gauge) wire running from my starter pole to the
> battery ground connector? I only see one pole on the starter.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill
>
>

Re: Strange intermitent starting issue - SOLVED
 

On or about Fri, 21 Nov 2003, William Oliveri of wuji@bigvalley.net wrote:

> Ok, think I found the problem. The cable from the pos(+) battery terminal
> to the starter solenoid was loose. So much I could turn the nut with my
> fingers. Got that tightened up and all should be ok.

Just what I was going to suggest you check. That flash you saw was an
electrical arc at the battery post. There was enough of a connection to
handle a low-amp draw like the relay, but not enough to handle the
high-amp draw of the starter.


> Something Rich Hampel mentioned. I don't have a ground strap on my engine.
> Should I have a (was it 20 gauge) wire running from my starter pole to the
> battery ground connector? I only see one pole on the starter.

Your early 80s CJ-7 is pretty close to my `79 CJ-5. The ground points for
mine (hi, Mike!!) are:

Battery (-) to engine block.
On the 6-cyl the (-) battery cable goes to a bolt just
behind the oil dipstick. (This takes care of your starter, BTW, no need
for a seperate cable to the starter.)
Engine block to frame, jumping around the left engine mount.
(#2 cable with lug ends)
Engine block at bell housing to firewall, a mesh strap.
The strap attaches to the left-most heater box mounting
stud, roughly the center of the firewall.

Other ground points for this series of CJ (may match others or not, I
cannot say)

Headlights to grill, one each, to a screw just below the cold air
intake flange.
Underhood accessories (like windshield washer pump) to a screw in
the firewall just outboard of the wiring harness bulkhead connector.
Dash lights, to a screw near the light switch.
Taillights, one each to a screw in the wheel well splash panel.
Fuel gauge sender, to a screw in the frame member just for'd of
the tank.


Hope this helps.

Re: Strange intermitent starting issue - SOLVED
 

On or about Fri, 21 Nov 2003, William Oliveri of wuji@bigvalley.net wrote:

> Ok, think I found the problem. The cable from the pos(+) battery terminal
> to the starter solenoid was loose. So much I could turn the nut with my
> fingers. Got that tightened up and all should be ok.

Just what I was going to suggest you check. That flash you saw was an
electrical arc at the battery post. There was enough of a connection to
handle a low-amp draw like the relay, but not enough to handle the
high-amp draw of the starter.


> Something Rich Hampel mentioned. I don't have a ground strap on my engine.
> Should I have a (was it 20 gauge) wire running from my starter pole to the
> battery ground connector? I only see one pole on the starter.

Your early 80s CJ-7 is pretty close to my `79 CJ-5. The ground points for
mine (hi, Mike!!) are:

Battery (-) to engine block.
On the 6-cyl the (-) battery cable goes to a bolt just
behind the oil dipstick. (This takes care of your starter, BTW, no need
for a seperate cable to the starter.)
Engine block to frame, jumping around the left engine mount.
(#2 cable with lug ends)
Engine block at bell housing to firewall, a mesh strap.
The strap attaches to the left-most heater box mounting
stud, roughly the center of the firewall.

Other ground points for this series of CJ (may match others or not, I
cannot say)

Headlights to grill, one each, to a screw just below the cold air
intake flange.
Underhood accessories (like windshield washer pump) to a screw in
the firewall just outboard of the wiring harness bulkhead connector.
Dash lights, to a screw near the light switch.
Taillights, one each to a screw in the wheel well splash panel.
Fuel gauge sender, to a screw in the frame member just for'd of
the tank.


Hope this helps.

Re: Strange intermitent starting issue - SOLVED
 

On or about Fri, 21 Nov 2003, William Oliveri of wuji@bigvalley.net wrote:

> Ok, think I found the problem. The cable from the pos(+) battery terminal
> to the starter solenoid was loose. So much I could turn the nut with my
> fingers. Got that tightened up and all should be ok.

Just what I was going to suggest you check. That flash you saw was an
electrical arc at the battery post. There was enough of a connection to
handle a low-amp draw like the relay, but not enough to handle the
high-amp draw of the starter.


> Something Rich Hampel mentioned. I don't have a ground strap on my engine.
> Should I have a (was it 20 gauge) wire running from my starter pole to the
> battery ground connector? I only see one pole on the starter.

Your early 80s CJ-7 is pretty close to my `79 CJ-5. The ground points for
mine (hi, Mike!!) are:

Battery (-) to engine block.
On the 6-cyl the (-) battery cable goes to a bolt just
behind the oil dipstick. (This takes care of your starter, BTW, no need
for a seperate cable to the starter.)
Engine block to frame, jumping around the left engine mount.
(#2 cable with lug ends)
Engine block at bell housing to firewall, a mesh strap.
The strap attaches to the left-most heater box mounting
stud, roughly the center of the firewall.

Other ground points for this series of CJ (may match others or not, I
cannot say)

Headlights to grill, one each, to a screw just below the cold air
intake flange.
Underhood accessories (like windshield washer pump) to a screw in
the firewall just outboard of the wiring harness bulkhead connector.
Dash lights, to a screw near the light switch.
Taillights, one each to a screw in the wheel well splash panel.
Fuel gauge sender, to a screw in the frame member just for'd of
the tank.


Hope this helps.