Wrangler YJ ignition switch problem
 

Here's what happened: I started my jeep ('87 YJ 4.2L) and the starter
kept cranking, would not disengage. I didn't know what was happening
and drove off. It sucked all the juice out of my battery and burnt up
the starter.

My first thought was that my solenoid (the part that sends juice from
the battery to the starter) was stuck. I replaced my solenoid,
starter motor, and battery. When everything was in place I connected
the leads on my battery and the jeep turned over (and would have
started) even though the ignition switch (the one on the steering
column) was set to 'off'. So I think the ignition switch on the
steering column is stuck in the 'start' position.

How do you replace that thing? Where is it, is it right there where
you put the key in? Do I need to take the steering wheel off and get
to it that way? Chilton is pretty useless here, they really don't
show you where it is or how to get at it.

Next question - which wire on my solenoid comes from the steering
column? I'm considering a simple 'on-off' switch and a starter button
simply because I can't find where the starter switch is on the
steering column. Any advice?

Re: Wrangler YJ ignition switch problem
 

The switch is down at the bottom of the column on the top.

I 'think' there are two green wires on the starter relay that control
the starter. I also know if you have these reversed, the starter just
cranks.

Did any other wires smoke out?

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)


lsaugier@hilcorp.com wrote:
> Here's what happened: I started my jeep ('87 YJ 4.2L) and the starter
> kept cranking, would not disengage. I didn't know what was happening
> and drove off. It sucked all the juice out of my battery and burnt up
> the starter.
>
> My first thought was that my solenoid (the part that sends juice from
> the battery to the starter) was stuck. I replaced my solenoid,
> starter motor, and battery. When everything was in place I connected
> the leads on my battery and the jeep turned over (and would have
> started) even though the ignition switch (the one on the steering
> column) was set to 'off'. So I think the ignition switch on the
> steering column is stuck in the 'start' position.
>
> How do you replace that thing? Where is it, is it right there where
> you put the key in? Do I need to take the steering wheel off and get
> to it that way? Chilton is pretty useless here, they really don't
> show you where it is or how to get at it.
>
> Next question - which wire on my solenoid comes from the steering
> column? I'm considering a simple 'on-off' switch and a starter button
> simply because I can't find where the starter switch is on the
> steering column. Any advice?
>

Re: Wrangler YJ ignition switch problem
 

The switch is down at the bottom of the column on the top.

I 'think' there are two green wires on the starter relay that control
the starter. I also know if you have these reversed, the starter just
cranks.

Did any other wires smoke out?

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)


lsaugier@hilcorp.com wrote:
> Here's what happened: I started my jeep ('87 YJ 4.2L) and the starter
> kept cranking, would not disengage. I didn't know what was happening
> and drove off. It sucked all the juice out of my battery and burnt up
> the starter.
>
> My first thought was that my solenoid (the part that sends juice from
> the battery to the starter) was stuck. I replaced my solenoid,
> starter motor, and battery. When everything was in place I connected
> the leads on my battery and the jeep turned over (and would have
> started) even though the ignition switch (the one on the steering
> column) was set to 'off'. So I think the ignition switch on the
> steering column is stuck in the 'start' position.
>
> How do you replace that thing? Where is it, is it right there where
> you put the key in? Do I need to take the steering wheel off and get
> to it that way? Chilton is pretty useless here, they really don't
> show you where it is or how to get at it.
>
> Next question - which wire on my solenoid comes from the steering
> column? I'm considering a simple 'on-off' switch and a starter button
> simply because I can't find where the starter switch is on the
> steering column. Any advice?
>

Re: Wrangler YJ ignition switch problem
 

The switch is down at the bottom of the column on the top.

I 'think' there are two green wires on the starter relay that control
the starter. I also know if you have these reversed, the starter just
cranks.

Did any other wires smoke out?

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)


lsaugier@hilcorp.com wrote:
> Here's what happened: I started my jeep ('87 YJ 4.2L) and the starter
> kept cranking, would not disengage. I didn't know what was happening
> and drove off. It sucked all the juice out of my battery and burnt up
> the starter.
>
> My first thought was that my solenoid (the part that sends juice from
> the battery to the starter) was stuck. I replaced my solenoid,
> starter motor, and battery. When everything was in place I connected
> the leads on my battery and the jeep turned over (and would have
> started) even though the ignition switch (the one on the steering
> column) was set to 'off'. So I think the ignition switch on the
> steering column is stuck in the 'start' position.
>
> How do you replace that thing? Where is it, is it right there where
> you put the key in? Do I need to take the steering wheel off and get
> to it that way? Chilton is pretty useless here, they really don't
> show you where it is or how to get at it.
>
> Next question - which wire on my solenoid comes from the steering
> column? I'm considering a simple 'on-off' switch and a starter button
> simply because I can't find where the starter switch is on the
> steering column. Any advice?
>

Re: Wrangler YJ ignition switch problem
 

The switch is down at the bottom of the column on the top.

I 'think' there are two green wires on the starter relay that control
the starter. I also know if you have these reversed, the starter just
cranks.

Did any other wires smoke out?

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)


lsaugier@hilcorp.com wrote:
> Here's what happened: I started my jeep ('87 YJ 4.2L) and the starter
> kept cranking, would not disengage. I didn't know what was happening
> and drove off. It sucked all the juice out of my battery and burnt up
> the starter.
>
> My first thought was that my solenoid (the part that sends juice from
> the battery to the starter) was stuck. I replaced my solenoid,
> starter motor, and battery. When everything was in place I connected
> the leads on my battery and the jeep turned over (and would have
> started) even though the ignition switch (the one on the steering
> column) was set to 'off'. So I think the ignition switch on the
> steering column is stuck in the 'start' position.
>
> How do you replace that thing? Where is it, is it right there where
> you put the key in? Do I need to take the steering wheel off and get
> to it that way? Chilton is pretty useless here, they really don't
> show you where it is or how to get at it.
>
> Next question - which wire on my solenoid comes from the steering
> column? I'm considering a simple 'on-off' switch and a starter button
> simply because I can't find where the starter switch is on the
> steering column. Any advice?
>

Re: Wrangler YJ ignition switch problem
 

I don't have any evidence that there are any wires burnt out. Given
that I've replaced the firewall solenoid, battery, and starter, is
there anything else besides an ignition switch that would cause the
starter motor to crank uncontrollably? Is it possible I wired the new
firewall solenoid wrong and that's what's causing it? That seems
unlikely to me.

The ignition switch is pretty difficult to get at - I'm still not sure
I'm even able to see it. Is there anything in particular I should
look for (many wires, few wires, blue clip, white clip, etc) to know
that I've definitely found the ignition switch? I see the ignition
rod... thingy... disappear down in there somewhere but can't see where
it goes.

Re: Wrangler YJ ignition switch problem
 

I don't have any evidence that there are any wires burnt out. Given
that I've replaced the firewall solenoid, battery, and starter, is
there anything else besides an ignition switch that would cause the
starter motor to crank uncontrollably? Is it possible I wired the new
firewall solenoid wrong and that's what's causing it? That seems
unlikely to me.

The ignition switch is pretty difficult to get at - I'm still not sure
I'm even able to see it. Is there anything in particular I should
look for (many wires, few wires, blue clip, white clip, etc) to know
that I've definitely found the ignition switch? I see the ignition
rod... thingy... disappear down in there somewhere but can't see where
it goes.

Re: Wrangler YJ ignition switch problem
 

I don't have any evidence that there are any wires burnt out. Given
that I've replaced the firewall solenoid, battery, and starter, is
there anything else besides an ignition switch that would cause the
starter motor to crank uncontrollably? Is it possible I wired the new
firewall solenoid wrong and that's what's causing it? That seems
unlikely to me.

The ignition switch is pretty difficult to get at - I'm still not sure
I'm even able to see it. Is there anything in particular I should
look for (many wires, few wires, blue clip, white clip, etc) to know
that I've definitely found the ignition switch? I see the ignition
rod... thingy... disappear down in there somewhere but can't see where
it goes.

Re: Wrangler YJ ignition switch problem
 

I don't have any evidence that there are any wires burnt out. Given
that I've replaced the firewall solenoid, battery, and starter, is
there anything else besides an ignition switch that would cause the
starter motor to crank uncontrollably? Is it possible I wired the new
firewall solenoid wrong and that's what's causing it? That seems
unlikely to me.

The ignition switch is pretty difficult to get at - I'm still not sure
I'm even able to see it. Is there anything in particular I should
look for (many wires, few wires, blue clip, white clip, etc) to know
that I've definitely found the ignition switch? I see the ignition
rod... thingy... disappear down in there somewhere but can't see where
it goes.

Re: Wrangler YJ ignition switch problem
 

lsaugier@hilcorp.com wrote:
> I don't have any evidence that there are any wires burnt out. Given
> that I've replaced the firewall solenoid, battery, and starter, is
> there anything else besides an ignition switch that would cause the
> starter motor to crank uncontrollably? Is it possible I wired the new
> firewall solenoid wrong and that's what's causing it? That seems
> unlikely to me.
>
> The ignition switch is pretty difficult to get at - I'm still not sure
> I'm even able to see it. Is there anything in particular I should
> look for (many wires, few wires, blue clip, white clip, etc) to know
> that I've definitely found the ignition switch? I see the ignition
> rod... thingy... disappear down in there somewhere but can't see where
> it goes.
>

The switch is at the bottom end of the rod.

As I mentioned, there are two green wires on that firewall
relay/solenoid unit that are easy to mix then it just starts with
battery power.

Try swapping them.

Mike