Facing trouble starting your Jeep Wrangler? If so then there must be something wrong with the starter system. Read to learn more about the jeep Wrangler starter location.
FAQs
Where is the starter on a 2004 Jeep Wrangler?
In the 2004 jeep Wrangler, the starter is located on the passenger’s side, right next to the exhaust.
How do I know if it’s a starter or battery?
If you hear a single click on rotating the key in the ignition, it means there’s something wrong with the starter. On the other hand, if you hear slow or no cranking, there must be something problematic with the battery.
What is the sound of a bad starter?
A loud clicking is the telltale sign of a bad starter. However, It doesn’t necessarily need to be a single click but sometimes, it could be a slower lilt or a fast tempo clicking.
What are 2 symptoms that would indicate a faulty starter solenoid?
Two obvious symptoms of a faulty starter solenoid are no clicking noise and the engine failure to start or crank.
Location
Before we head to our main topic, let us explain the starter so you can better figure out its location. A starter is a small motor that takes power to run from the battery. It acts as a transmission relay between the battery and the engine. So whenever you turn the key inside your car’s ignition, it takes power from the battery to turn the engine on.
Considering this, the common location of the starter is between the engine and transmission. However, we can’t say that the starter of each model can be found in the same location. Sometimes, it’s built on the driver’s side – below the engine cylinders’ left bank.
However, in some other models, starters are located on the passenger’s side – below the exhaust manifold. Also, the starter may be located on top of your jeep’s engine – underneath the intake manifold but it happens very rarely.
Common Locations
The starter may indeed be located in different locations in different models but locating a starter on your Jeep Wrangler is not that difficult. Wrangler’s starters are mostly built on the driver’s side of its engine.
Since the purpose of the starter is to start the engine’s block, it must be located somewhere near the flywheel. So, to locate the starter, you simply need to locate the flywheel. And fortunately, unlike the starter, the flywheel is mostly located between the engine block and gearbox.
Signs of a faulty starter
So you’ve finally located the starter and are ready to replace it? But wait! Are you sure that it needs replacement? That it’s the starter that is problematic and not the engine or ignition coil? To confirm your suspicions, here are some telltale signs of a faulty starter:
Smoke
The starter is solely an electric component that is prone to get damaged by short circuits and blown fuses. Whenever you try to crank the engine anxiously, the starter may break or overheat which in turn may lead to its permanent failure. Thus, if you smell or see smoke coming out of the starter system, you should consider replacing it as soon as possible.
Starter drenched in oil
In rear-wheel drives, the starter is mostly located on the passenger’s side of the engine whereas, in front-wheel drives, it’s located on the driver’s side of the engine.
Whatever the kind of vehicle you have, if you find the starter drenched in oil, it means there’s something wrong with it. If you don’t resolve this issue on time, the problem may get even bigger, causing you hefty expenses.
Unusual sounds
If your engine won’t crank on turning the key in it but instead, it emits a single click, it’s a clear sign of a faulty starter. On the other hand, if the vehicle emits chattering sounds on turning the key, it means there’s more of a problem with the battery than the starter. But again, if you found that there’s no problem with the battery, there must be something wrong with the starter.
In some cases, a starter motor dies without emitting even a single sound but it happens very rarely. Most of the time, your starter motor will declare its death by making a proper grinding and whirring noise so listen up attentively.
No cranking
If your vehicle’s engine is cranking abnormally slow or not cranking at all, it’s also another sign of a bad starter. On the other hand, if you can’t hear the engine cranking even though the starter motor is spinning, there must be a problem with the battery.
However, if the engine is cranking but still the jeep isn’t starting, it might be due to the faulty starter, not the battery.
Causes
Many factors may prevent your starter motor from working properly. Some of those factors are as follows;
- Oil leaks
- Corroded or dirty connections at your starter motor
- Loose battery connections and wiring to the starter
- Corroded battery
- Worn-out or damaged electric parts
- Bad fuse or relay
How To Fix Bad Starter
For damaged electrical components
If your starter motor is not behaving properly due to bad brushes, internal windings, or any other mechanical fault, the chances are your starter motor doesn’t have enough torque and power to crank the engine. To solve this, you need to check the electrical connections between the battery, starter, solenoid, and earth.
If you don’t find any problem with these connections and everything is properly tight and cleaned, remove your starter motor from all the connections and loads and test it off the engine. If it makes bad noises when not attached to anything while spinning up, it means it’s damaged mechanically.
Faulty starter solenoid
If your wrangler starts easily sometimes but starts misbehaving other times, it means there’s something wrong with the starter solenoid. Solenoid usually shows this sporadic behavior when it sends no current to the starter or sends ds complete current. Such kinds of issues are generally caused by bad internal windings or bad commutator’s spot.
To fix this error, you need to check all the connections (the external ones) for loose plugs and wires. Don’t forget to check external relays and fuses. On finding the faulty component, replace it with the new one as per the dealer’s manual. Unfortunately, fixing a faulty relay is not possible and the only solution is to purchase a new starter solenoid and fit it in.
For corroded components
Corrosion may lead to cable failure which in turn may jeopardize your engine’s conductivity. To remove this corrosive deposit, you need to mix water with sodium bicarbonate in a 1:1 ratio. Start by washing the terminal head. Clean the corroded area with the mix for some time and then rinse it with hot water.
Don’t forget to check for corrosion and grime around your engine box. Also, the ground cables, positive connecting cables, and solenoid connectors should be checked and washed.
Don’t forget to test-run the motor
After examining and making necessary fixes to your starter motor, the last thing you need to do is to test run it in a repair shop. Luckily, some shops don’t charge anything for these test runs. The test run will help you better understand whether a motor needs to be replaced or can be fixed temporarily.
Certain features like haggard and old shaft, amateur brushes, sluggish or no cranking, and no or bad current transmission are signs of an old starter motor. In all these cases, you need to replace it as soon as possible.
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