When i turn my key, the engine doesn't turn over. The gauges turn on, including heat & radio, but the engine doesn't turn over. The battery is fine, the cable from the battery to the starter is in good shape. The contacts between the battery and starter have been cleaned. When i make contact between the two large terminals on the starter solenoid, the starter whines, so i think the starter is ok, but how do i know for sure? could the solenoid be broken, or is this an issue with the electronics, like an ignition wiring issue? thanks for the help.

 

che take starter out and tested

 

Sounds like a bad solenoid to me. But, like the previous guys says take it to your local auto parts store and have it tested. All of them that I know will test a starter for free.

 

Iit could still be the battery
my girlfriend had the same problem about 3 weeks ago and i had the same problem just this morning my battery was fine all the gauges turned on but I couldn't get the car turnover, I even got a jump from my neighbor, and it wouldnt turn over.
I figured the starter, my battery was 5 years old so I went ahead and decided to get a new 1 just in case, I swapped out the battery and everything started right up without a problem

I included a link to the posting that gave me the idea to try it anyways
http://autoforum.classifieds1000.com...t_Battary_good

 

Another thing to check would be the ground or negative battery cable. Trace it all the way from the battery connection to the stud it is hooked to on the passenger side rear of the engine block. Ensure your connections are solid at both ends and that your cable is in good shape.

 

put the jeep in NEUTRAL,IF IT TURNS OVER ITS YOUR NEUTRAL SWITCH,IF IT TURNS OVER IN ANOTHER GEAR IT'S OUT OF ADJUSTMENT,make sure you test by pushing your shifter all the way forward,and go from there,you can also stick a long screwdriver and bypass the selenoid,if it starts it could be your neutral switch.

 

Hope its not the NSS
That's 200 new right there, unless you go to the yard and can talk em to getting it for 50

 

ok, so i put my jeep in neutral and it turned over and started up. is there any danger in running it like this for a little while? Also, when i put my car in park & shut it off, i can start it back up when it is still in park. Does this mean that my starter just isn't getting enough juice?

 

Search, how to clean NSS and then follow the instructions. It'll cost less the $5 and you won't have to worry about it again.