[mr.lucas.e.eyre]

I've got a 2016 Jeep Cherokee that just broke 100k miles. For the last 3 or 4 months it's been doing this weird thing. It randomly won't start.

It is sporadic when it starts or doesn't. When it starts it usually struggles to turn over for a second before it does.

When it doesn't, there's nothing. The dash works great. All lights are on, bright as can be. But the engine doesn't make a sound. I cannot jump start it. I have to plug in to a battery charger for about 15 minutes to start it up.

Any thoughts on what could be wrong? I'm thinking the starter. The dash is just fine and lights aren't dim, so I don't think it is the battery. When I disconnect the negative battery terminal the car keeps running so I don't think it is the alternator. I did a parasitic drain check and when off the battery pulls between 1 and 4 amps but I haven't been able to figure out from where by pulling fuses.

 

[Roadijeff]

I think you found the problem when you said it will start after connecting it to a battery charger for 15 minutes. Something is draining the battery when it is off. It has enough power for the lights but starting the engine requires a lot more power.

Whatever method you use to check the 1-4 amp battery drain, keep it connected while you pull one fuse at a time and see when the drain stops.

 

[93YJ4FUN]

Regular Cherokee or Grand Cherokee? Grand Cherokee has a second battery.

 

[mr.lucas.e.eyre]

Regular Cherokee or Grand Cherokee? Grand Cherokee has a second battery.

Regular cherokee.

Update: I had to replace the battery. It died on me and I charged it but it gave me a fault saying the battery was unchangeable and wouldn't charge so I bit the bullet and bought a new battery.

$200 later and the car has been starting perfectly every time. I already bought a new starter from rockauto which should be here Thursday. I am not changing it unless the car dies again. So far it hasn't. I am gonna do another parasitic drain check once the new fuse for my multimeter comes in. But if nothing else changes, that's a wrap and I've learned something.

 

[Andertey]

I think it's too cold because my car is like this now, but on hot days, it's back to normal again

 

[93YJ4FUN]

It's all about the cold cranking amps for a starting battery.