judbgrdmchn

2011 Grand Cherokee 6 cyl

The push start didn't work, so I inserted the fob & it started right up. Loaded my boat, got out of the way, & decided to shut it off to attempt a normal push button start. Now It won't start at all.

There was an odd noise after I started it with the fob, kind of like a stick hitting the fan. Once I shifted out of Park, it went away & didn't make the noise again when I put it back into Park. Dash lights are normal, fuel pump is audible, brake lights working, and a single click is heard from the right side of the engime compartment when trying to start it.

Any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated.

BlueRidgeMark

So, the click is the ONLY response you get?

If so, try a jump start. If no go on that, check your cables.

If this is an automatic, fuggedaboud a push start. In theory it''s possible. In practice, it's nearly impossible.

Noah911

Sounds like starter, or for some reason.. no power going to the starter.

4.3L XJ

Agreed

judbgrdmchn

Someone attempted a jump, but nothing changed.

judbgrdmchn

A mechanic stopped & says the click was the starter solenoid. He believed the starter is bad, but it's not very old. Maybe something got knocked loose when they replaced the alternator. The ground from the alternator to the frame was loose, but after tightening it, still no start.

I made it home, now I just have to figure out what suddenly made it stop starting.

Noah911

Yours is a newer model Grand Cherokee. It's not a XJ, ZJ, or WJ... (Edited: I meant ZJ, WJ, or WK... But, a lot of people here know about the XJ's too)

Because of that, a lot of the people here on this portion of the site do not have direct knowledge pertaining to your particular model of Grand Cherokee.

A starter problem is ussually universal-type of failure symptoms, but the reasons behind that may be exact model specific reasons... I have read about, or heard about the newer model Grand Cherokee having an issue that sounds like it may be something you'd want to look into and investigate. There have been a lot of the newer ones having starter issue problems! I read about it awhile back, and people were saying that some of them were afraid to take their newer Jeeps anywhere for fear of being abandoned r/t the starter problems where it just up and doesn't work to start the vehicle out of the blue like that...

It would be worth looking into. Going to the portion of this site dedicated to your model of Grand Cherokee to see what they say. There might be a recall of sorts on it for it too? I don't really know? Except to say I believe I have heard it is a widespread problem...

(Edited again: I think I'm wrong.. You are in the right place on this forum to ask for your year model.. maybe? I don't know?) I'll see if I can find anything about the starter issues I read about, and try to post back...

Noah911

I found this.... "Wireless Control Module" this is what I remembered reading. Look that up. A lot of people posting about it on the web.

(Copied & pasted)
My car wouldn't turn on at certain times. When I took it to Jeep they told me that:

"the reason for your intermittent starting problem is because the WCM (Wireless Control Module) for the vehicle is internally shorted out causing the vehicle to shut down the computers. To fix this problem you would have to replace the WCM. This repair would cost $842 + Tax."

I've come to realize that this is more of a common problem that I anticipating- taking consideration other posts and that my jeep dealership told me the parts were on back order as well. My question, why isn't there a recall?

Noah911

(copied and pasted)

Engine Will not Start Due to Wireless Control Module Fault on Jeep Grand Cherokee

Problem Description and Possible Solution
A no crank or no start condition may develop due to electronic lockup of the wireless control module (WCM), also referred to as the Sentry Key Remote Entry Module (SKREEM). When this module fails the remote keyless entry system will also not operate. The WCM is commonly replaced to correct this concern.


RepairPal Fair Price Estimate
$88 - $111: No-Start Diagnosis
Problem Data
RepairPal Verified
Average mileage: 125,511 (17,000–1,640,857)17 model years affected: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016



(Me)
I guess it affected a lot more years than I thought. I think it could be related because I think you said the remote keyless entry didn't work.. Might be starter too though? But if it isn't, you'll have a new starter and a problem that'll not be fixed, or end up coming back again... Best to test the system out to see if your starter is okay before letting anyone replace it. You said it was a newer starter too? Could of had the original starter replaced, when it didn't need to be.. because of the WCM being at fault in the first place? Not sure if that helped.. let us know what happens.

judbgrdmchn

My remote keyless entry does lock & unlock the doors. Inserting the fob into the ignition causes the Jeep to properly cycle through the Accessory & Run modes.

I'm getting it to a shop today. I'll post the results.

GreaseMonkey17

I don’t have any good news for you but we’ve done several dozens starters on the same setup you’re running and also had a boatload of fob failures they’re also very very sensitive to any degree of moisture . Best of luck to you !

fb97xj1

I am not saying this is your problem, because i dont know, but read up on the TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) as well.

judbgrdmchn

It was the starter. Still under warranty, so just paid labor.

If I start having more issues, I'll further investigate the TIPM. There was supposedly a recall, but I don't see any record of the work being performed or of any outstanding recalls on my Jeep.

Thanks all for the help. If I could've reached the starter, I could've banged on it to get it going.

dave1123

For future reference, that's a WK2. WJ-99-04, WK-05-10, WK2-11-20.

I just replaced my original starter in my 2000 WJ only because it had 253K miles on it and was starting to crank a little slow. I guess they don't build them like that anymore. Now you've got me worried because I put a new Mopar starter in it!

Noah911

I replaced the original starter in my 2004 WJ when it was 15 years old. It was at 130-some thousand miles.

It was giving me warnings. I was getting slow/soft cranking for probably about a month or two prior. One day it was inoperable. The WJ started up with a jump though.. I was thinking it was the battery. Less than a week after getting the jump to get it going, it up and quit on me altogether (jumpstarting did not work this time). I put in a new battery, but that didn't solve anything. Next, I put in a new starter. I had done some crude tests in the field to help determine with some level of certainty that it was the starter this time before I replaced it. My WJ started. It sounded strong and better than I ever remembered!