Starter Replace and How I Test for a Bad Starter - Project 2004 Jeep Wrangler TJ

I got the dreaded "the Jeep won't start" call from my son this afternoon. Hey, stuff happens, and it's not a big deal. I'm just glad it failed to start at home, where it was easy to work on. Here's my process of troubleshooting to determine it was the starter... and then the quick and super easy replacement.

🔔 Please SUBSCRIBE if you want to see my videos! 🔔

[TheBobwalton]

Thank you for doing this video. My problem was the braided wire between the solenoid and starter was corroded and wasn't making a connection anymore. Your video help me diagnose by putting a jumper wire between the two and then being able to start the engine. There was no fixing it, had to replace the starter, but at least I knew I was replacing the right part! As a side note, do not use a small gauge wire to jump these two, you will melt the wire, don't ask me how I know :)

[AlphaBobFloridaOverlord]

Very helpful - I'm an old school shade tree mechanic, but I've never seen the layout on a Jeep. This definitely saved me some time, especially the torque specs and bolt sizes! Thanks! (Now I can look like an expert in front of my son!)

[RamosDominicano]

Good test for verifying the starter. Also, great camera work.

[jaredidunn]

Thank you so much for making and sharing. My TJ left me stranded and I was so frustrated troubleshooting this helps so much, my symptoms are the same.

[j.maxwaddell]

Great information and tips. CJ should have been learning how to work on his own Jeep! LOL

[JKsouthwest]

Thanks for sharing. I wish I never sold my '99 TJ, it was the best vehicle I ever owned.

[someparts]

That is the exact click I'm getting. Rubi TJ sits in the garage most of the time went to start and it clicked like a bad battery. Battery was older so I changed the battery and now just the click. Almost has to be the starter. 60k miles but original starter.

[bryanjcraig]

Really appreciate your video. It helped me diagnose my TJ Unlimited starting problem.

[ArnCital]

'03 Rubicon at 105k. I started replacement just for prophylaxis and am using a new PMGR starter. Geeze, the bolt into the bell housing will not come out--at age 74 I have enough experience twisting off 3/8" bolts and a propane torch was not enough so I will try my MAP next. It is a blind hole on mine so I will drill a small hole in the end and start squirting penetrating oil to get the bolt to come out When I reinstall it I will use some purple thread locker to do 2 things: keep the bolt in place and also to prevent water from getting to the threads causing this corrosion in the future. BTW, I use the starter on the trail to save wear on the clutch when jammed in the rocks; the factory has a clutch bypass feature on the fuse block which I extended to a dash switch.

[barryodog]

the starter did not sound good in last video! GREAT VIDEOS!

[EatThatShrimp]

Really awesome video. I'm having the same issue with my '02 TJ right now and this helped immensely. You are also very good at presenting. You should keep making videos.

[Kennykoo]

Good video. Also test your commections especially at the starter. Take off, wire, brush or sand, then try.

[tammyjones]

My 2004 TJ just died on my son as he was parking it. It stalled in 1st and made a loud click when he tried to restart. My 1st thought was starter

[trjb]

FYI a tj rubicon has a big metal shield blocking starter it is not fun to replace u will need extensions to be able to get a socket on the bolts they are 14 and 15 in a 2003 rubicon

[joshbernier]

If you get stranded you use any conducive material to touch two nuts on the relay together and it will normally start the Jeep.

[doc]

Very nice video. Thanks for sharing 😊✌
btw- I just had a new starter installed in a Silverado. Now when I start the truck, my clock resets. I figured I had a bad battery or ground. But the battery stays at 11.9 volts when not running and 14.1 when running, and my grounds are tight.

[davedalessandroDalessandro]

I'm having the same problem when I made my test wire hit the battery it did exactly what yours did but we're connected to the starter turn bright orange was so hot what could that be I'm thinking of changing the starter something has to be wrong there it shouldn't turn so hot that it's ready to melt

[bkell]

Thanks for showing the verification test. Gotta get the kid to start doing the work, though! ;o)

[kkk]

Car dont start? Fuse good? yes. ok .
Bang starter. Starts? Yes?Time to change that bad boy.
Banging and no start? time to take your time and do what he did and drag wire.

[hikerJohn]

My starter has just started making a different sound when starting like it's struggling a little but the battery is good so I'm thinking of changing it soon. I wander if there's a way to test it with voltage drop or something before removing it or if I should just get a new one anyway. 2002 TJ Sport 4.0 (same color as yours) 135K miles.