Slow Starter Problem

ZJjustin · Jan 5, 2025

So I've been looking on here for a while and most starter posts are click but no crank, or no solenoid click. Yesterday, mine did this twice: Start command via pushbutton, starter engages flywheel and does turn the engine over a little bit, and dies off. Sounds like the starter is doing things right but the battery isn't up to snuff. But hit the button a couple more times, and it starts right up and sounds great, no struggle.

Both main and aux batteries were replaced a couple of weeks ago. I know lemon batteries are a thing, and will be under warranty.

But I wonder how suspicious I should be of the starter needing replaced itself. I bought an extended warranty when I bought the jeep, just a few weeks ago. I'd think that would cover them replacing the starter but as it is intermittent I half expect them to just say "could not recreate." And as the starter DID try, and cranked a bit, it doesn't seem like it would be a bad connection somewhere, but of course it could be.

2017 WK2 3.6L, 94k miles.

ZJjustin · Jan 5, 2025

Just started it to warm up and go to the store. Batt's at 11.89 volts on the engine bay charging posts prior to starting. Kinda low, 17 degrees F outside. Started right up though this time. 14-ish volts while running, alternator is doing her part.

Double E · Jan 5, 2025

So "could not re-create" means they're not replacing anything. Pull the connections off of the starter, clean them up to shiny and put them back on. Do the same for the battery and freshen up the 2 grounds that reside to the side and below the fuse box in the engine compartment.
Dealer should have done that but these days, they're not about doing things right.
That freshen up will at least give you a good starting point to narrow down the weak starter and justify the expense (or re-visit for the issue) or you can just wait for it to get worse/fail entirely, requiring a tow.
I'm in the same boat as you where I'm not inclined to touch it since warranty covers it but it could leave you stranded and that sucks.

whoaru99 · Jan 5, 2025

ZJjustin said:
Batt's at 11.89 volts on the engine bay charging posts prior to starting.

When was the last time you drove it before measuring the voltage?

What is the typical use pattern of the Jeep? Sits a fair bit between short drives, by chance?

ZJjustin · Jan 5, 2025

Double E,
Well, "could not recreate" is a hypothetical, haven't taken it to them yet, but is my expectation if I take in say tomorrow, typical cop-out language. Luckily not my first rodeo. Thanks for the tips, will do. I've seen in other threads getting to those starter connections is a nightmare, so much so that to clean them you may as well pull and replace the starter? I bought this Jeep because I was tired of my MINI cooper getting towed...but indeed waiting for total failure forces the service departments hand. You're experiencing the same thing? Or similar situation regarding the service department?

EDIT: quote didn't show up so added forum member addressed towards.

ZJjustin · Jan 5, 2025

WhoArU99,
Good question. The little shop I work at closed for the two weeks of holidays, so it has only seen short little jaunts for most of the past two weeks, one exception being Friday night, the night before this happened, Had a nice ~1 hour drive to and from somewhere. Then sat in the driveway for about 14 hours. Started fine at the house, short ten minute drive to a walking trail, and it was there that it did the slow crank, fail to start. So I see your point, the short trips are taxing indeed, but it started great from sitting cold for 14 hours or so, then had a problem on the next start.

General use case is start, 45 minute drive to work, same home, but as mentioned above that hasn't been what she has been doing these last two weeks. Probably cleaning connections like DoubleE mentioned is a good idea, and indeed when I'm driving it further back to work this week maybe that will solve the whole thing. Kinda doubt it though, because it sounded really week maybe four times, then kicked over like a nicely charged battery. I always turn the auto start/stop ESS off via cancel button, but I've only had this Jeep less than a month, the previous owner may have used it all the time putting additional wear on the starter.

I've cycled the starter 3 times today running errands and it's been fine, knock on wood.

I didn't mention before, when it did start after the approximately 4 slow crank events, my auto temperature settings had changed like a body module saw low voltage and lost memory?

EDIT: quote didn't show up so added forum member addressed towards.

ColdCase · Jan 5, 2025

If you can put a battery tender or slow charger on it (connect at the jump post) and let it charge overnight more or less. Repeating your starting routine again may pull the battery and starter out of the equation for now, leaving a charging issue.

Double E · Jan 6, 2025

My experience with a slow-to-crank starter is from a WJ. They get slower and slower, then fail to spin the engine altogether with some moments of normal operation sprinkled around. New starter solves it right away but I've been thinking that a weak connection is causing extra and unnecessary strain on the starter during its life. The WJ starter swap process is straightforward and pretty easy but on the WK2, I'm not familiar with it (yet). Supposedly, the WK2 starter is more robust to handle all of the auto-stop/start cycles it is subject to in the V6.
(Not sure if the same starter is used for the 5.7L.)
The WK2 starter is probably also quite expensive these days but the local parts store will probably warranty it for life (meaning one replacement is all you'll get) so it's better than and less expensive then the OEM starter if you decide to swap it outside the warranty.

whoaru99 · Jan 6, 2025

Before I went down the path of starter problem, I'd be trying to sort out why it seems there may be a battery, parasitic drain, or charging issue.

11.89V is only 40-60% battery charge, depending who's numbers you look at.

ZJjustin · Jan 6, 2025

I bought a vehicle service contact/extended warranty, from the dealership, if we do get into replacing the starter, I'm hoping that warranty will cover it.

My first Jeep was a '96 ZJ, loved that Jeep. Starter in it was a breeze. But tone engine rebuild (broken cyl 5 piston skirt), two transmissions, and 3 transfer cases brought her life to a close. Even then, I do still miss her.

Don't have a remotely convenient way to trickle charge it overnight. Maybe it was just a fluke due to the frequent short trips, will keep monitoring for the time being.

ZJjustin · Jan 6, 2025

whoareu, very true. And it is a brand new battery. Could be a lemon battery, could be parasitic drain, charging I think is ok. Pulling the batteries and having them tested is a cheaper starting point than going right for the starter. Check the simple things first eh. When running I've never seen the voltage below 13.5 (using the instrument cluster display), usually more like 13.8-14 volts.

whoaru99 · Jan 6, 2025

A small Battery Tender or small NOCO Genius (750mA - 1A) I think is $25-$30, or so.

If you don't have a regular charger (10A or so), a NOCO Genius 10 seems to be a decent unit. Multiple charge modes, will go into maintenance/trickle mode, etc.

Ol Blue · Jan 6, 2025

ZJjustin said:
whoareu, very true. And it is a brand new battery. Could be a lemon battery, could be parasitic drain, charging I think is ok. Pulling the batteries and having them tested is a cheaper starting point than going right for the starter. Check the simple things first eh. When running I've never seen the voltage below 13.5 (using the instrument cluster display), usually more like 13.8-14 volts.

My money is on a parasitic drain. Might as well test that first, its free and easy with a voltmeter.

Slow Starter Problem

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