Hemi won't start; battery good; any ideas?

I8AHUMR · 02-13-2010, 05:21 PM

As the heading says, my 05 5.7L won't start. Came out of the store, tried to fire her up and nothing. No symptoms up until this. I have all electrical working but no start. Get the typical click when turning the key but nothing else. Tried jumping it with no success. Pulled the battery out and took it to advance to get it tested. (The battery is only 7 months old since a similar thing happening before). The test showed 12.8V and 968 CCA telling me the battery is good.

I'm thinking the starter? Anybody else have something similar happen? If so what was the issue with yours? Thanks...

Walt · 02-13-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I8AHUMR

As the heading says, my 05 5.7L won't start. Came out of the store, tried to fire her up and nothing. No symptoms up until this. I have all electrical working but no start. Get the typical click when turning the key but nothing else. Tried jumping it with no success. Pulled the battery out and took it to advance to get it tested. (The battery is only 7 months old since a similar thing happening before). The test showed 12.8V and 968 CCA telling me the battery is good.

I'm thinking the starter? Anybody else have something similar happen? If so what was the issue with yours? Thanks...

Read somewhere in here that the leads to the starter either come loose or get corroded. Net result is a high resistance fault. If true, recommend you remove / clean / re-assemble as a cheap and relatively easy fix before you spend mega-bucks somewhere else.

I'm presuming no codes are showing (with the key trick).

I8AHUMR · 02-13-2010, 06:35 PM

I've read somewhere about the leads becoming corroded as you say. It's in the parking lot a few miles up the street and after pulling and checking the battery it was too dark to go back and take a look. I plan on that tomorrow.

Enlighten me on the key trick if you would. I know how on my YJ but not on this

Walt · 02-13-2010, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I8AHUMR

I've read somewhere about the leads becoming corroded as you say. It's in the parking lot a few miles up the street and after pulling and checking the battery it was too dark to go back and take a look. I plan on that tomorrow.

Enlighten me on the key trick if you would. I know how on my YJ but not on this

On-off-on-off-on-off without starting the engine. One thousand one, one thousand two, .......... then leave it on. Should say DTC Report in the EVIC with dashes underneath, then any codes will show on 2nd line (on my '08 at least). Can anyone with an '05 WK verify or correct this?

I8AHUMR · 02-13-2010, 06:56 PM

Didn't realize it's the same as a YJ. Thanks Walt

**brutusjeep** · 02-14-2010, 03:41 PM

I'm going to say your starter died. That is what happened to me. Just went dead one day with no warning. The 5.7's eat starters.

**Texas WJ** · 02-14-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brutusjeep

I'm going to say your starter died. That is what happened to me. Just went dead one day with no warning. The 5.7's eat starters.

Up until recently I really haven't read too much one way or the other about them, but for some reason over the past couple of weeks I've noticed the problem cropping up here on the forum.

And as luck would have it, I think my starter is on it's way out too. Every couple of days I'll get that one "click" and nothing else. It'll eventually start just fine within a minute or two. I was unsure if it was the ignition switch or the starter, but it looks like I'll be looking more closely at the leads, connections and probably replace the unit if need be.

80,000 miles on this unit. Not terribly impressive, but not a huge disappointment either.

Thanks for all the info everyone.

I8AHUMR · 02-14-2010, 05:01 PM

As said above, the battery tested fine. Just out of curiosity, I trickle charged it overnight and tried it again today with no luck. Just the one single click. I'm going to have it taken care of tomorrow morning. I'll update the status. Ironically I've got <200 miles left on the warranty. Glad it happened when it did!!

**brutusjeep** · 02-15-2010, 09:01 AM

Definitely sounds like the starter. My battery went dead at the same time as well. I think I had about 46k on it when it died. You can tap it once to try and get one start.

I8AHUMR · 02-15-2010, 02:09 PM

As expected, it was the starter. Thanks for all the comments/info...