[golphnut01]

I have a 2000 Jeep TJ. I had a smell of burning leaves so I had to pull the blower squirrel cage to clean it out. (Leaves around the resistor). To do that I had to take the battery out, unplug and take the ECM off the firewall to get to the blower. Sure enough it had leaves in it. Put everything back together now the Jeep clicks once when I turn the key but will not turn over. Not a continuous clicking like a dead battery. Jeep has a security alarm. Strong battery less than one year old and it started fine right before doing all this. I have not checked fuses yet. I wanted to get some suggestions on the way. It had to be cleaned out though. No choice.

 

[Digger84]

no crank is not PCM

step one put in park or neutral and with a loose wire touch plus 12 from battery positive to SMALL terminal on solenoid on side of starter
does that make it crank?
if cranks is circuit that controls starter but also starter and solenoid and battery and battery cables/connections are ALL ok
if no crank problem is battery or battery cables/connections at either end or starter/solenoid or mechanically locked engine

simple no cost test to determine where to look next

 

[golphnut01]

no crank is not PCM

step one put in park or neutral and with a loose wire touch plus 12 from battery positive to SMALL terminal on solenoid on side of starter
does that make it crank?
if cranks is circuit that controls starter but also starter and solenoid and battery and battery cables/connections are ALL ok
if no crank problem is battery or battery cables/connections at either end or starter/solenoid or mechanically locked engine

simple no cost test to determine where to look next

Will check these tomorrow and update. Thanks.

 

[bobjp]

It is a poor connection at the battery after you reconnected it. Wiggle the clamps, it will probably start right up. I would clean the cables and battery posts well and make sure that the clamps are actually clamping on the posts.

And single click or multiple clicks can both be symptoms of a low battery or poor connection.

 

[RiverandSand]

Pull all the connectors you undid and inspect each for pushed pins or corrosion, clean all contacts and carefully reconnect them making sure they are fully seated.

 

[golphnut01]

To everyone that responded. Took battery connectors apart, cleaned and reconnected. Same result. One click, no attempt to turn over. Did not try loose wire jumping from the battery to the starter. Will require some help to do that and I was alone today. Will start on it again next weekend. This thing has an alarm on it from the previous owner and I am thinking it is involved somehow. Thinking it may not have reset like it should.

 

[bobjp]

You'll have to clarify what a "click" is. When the key is moved from "Run/Acc" to "start", some things turn off, and some things turn on.

If the click you're referring to is the starter solendoid, then the problem is with the connections at the batter or the starter. Or it is a weak battery. it is not related to the security system.

 

[mukluk]

Your initial post mentioned you'd not checked for blown fuses. Have you done so yet?

 

[golphnut01]

Your initial post mentioned you'd not checked for blown fuses. Have you done so yet?

Not yet but that is gonna be my next check since it is fairly easy. Will be Friday before I can get back on it though.

 

[golphnut01]

So I finally got back around to resolving my starting issue. No power at the starter so I started tracing the power back to the battery. Chalk this one up to stupidity or blindness. Either one will do. It is kind of tight around the battery terminals. The positive terminal has three cables going to it. This thing has an alarm, a stereo amp, too much crap. Anyway, I missed the actual power cable. When I took it off it must have gotten tucked back up under the fuse box and I just got around to tracing cables. Thanks for all of the suggestions though. I researched all of the possibilities and learned a lot.