I'm currently doing a tune up on my 99. Distributor cap was pretty corroded, put in a new rotor, I have new wires, just not installed. On startup after sitting overnight, it try's to start but sounds dead, but the battery reads 12-13...

Just tonight I swapped out the cap and rotor thinking it may solve my problem, to no avail.

Called my buddy back home, I'm now living in Cali, he's in New York, and while the Jeep is ON, like radio and lights, not actually running, check gauges light comes on and the battery gauge goes dead.

I'm assuming I have a bad ground or a short. He said my headlight switch could be the culprit or the reader on the alternator.

I replaced my old alternator with a junkyard one that looked really really clean, so I don't think that's bad.

Any ideas?

 

Hello, put a volt meter on the battery, watch and see what it reads when you try to crank, might have 12v but no amperage....also make sure your connections at the battery and starter are clean and tight

 

Battery connections are good. I'll check the starter ones though.

 

Can you clarify? It cranks good, but won't fire? Or it cranks slow, or...?

If you suspect the battery, charge it overnight and then have it load tested at any parts store.

 

I'm sorry.

It cranks slow and requires me to throttle it and once it's started I need to hold the throttle for a while (up to 1 minute) until it idles itself.

 

Are there any codes present (check engine light on)?

A weak battery can cause slow cranking, plus other odd symptoms.

 

No CEL. And it runs perfectly once it idles. I had it running in Ocotillo Wells all weekend. Even did a night run, running my 30" led light bar 2 7" HID spots my hid headlights and my E fan, and I was still at 13-13.5

 

where abouts in cali are you?

 

Jeep battery terminals are common failure points. they wont even necessarily look bad from the outside but believe me if they are still on your car you should replace them. even if it's not your problem at the moment i still vote for RnR

 

In order for me to change them, I'd have to cut them off. And I'm still looking for a job here. I'm trying to live off what I brought with me a couple weeks ago. Once my funds permits me to buy terminals, I'll buy some.

 

Orange area.

 

Sounds like the battery is going out, quickly. Also clean and reinstall the engine grounds.

 

Did the grounds already. They looked fine. And it may be the battery, but if the battery was bad, it wouldn't hold charge at 12.5.

And for anyone curious, it's a yellow top

 

Battery's got a dead cell or short in it. Voltage only tells a small part of the story, the amperage it can deliver is what matters. Take it in to a parts shop and have it load tested, betcha it'll fail. She toast mon.

 

I've heard that the Yellow Tops are catching a bad rep these days. Something about them switching suppliers and producing a crappier product.

If I had the $$$, I'd get an Odyssey