Jeep Cherokee won’t start – how to fix it?

Whether it’s at home, at work, or worse, on the side of the road, it’s never fun to be behind the wheel of a car that won’t start. And it is even more painful to find yourself with a broken down car without knowing why.

Jeep Cherokee, Fifth generation (KL) – (photo by Jeep)

Three areas should be explored as a priority if you want to find the cause of this concern. First it is good to test the battery and the starter connections. Then, the fuel and the fuel pump are also to be checked. Finally, check the spark plugs which can often be the source of the problem.


The battery and the starter

Necessary items

  • A digital multimeter
  • A friend’s vehicle with a working battery
  • Jumper cables

When a car does not start, the problem is often with the battery and / or the starter. Starting there will allow you to quickly get an idea of ​​the reasons for the failure.

To identify a battery failure, first turn the key and switch on the ignition. Turn on the headlights. If they are weak or if they do not turn on, then the battery may be dead. An empty or weak battery can be restarted through jumper cables and another car.

Jeep Compass, 5th gen, battery location

How to jump start

  1. Bring your two vehicles closer together. Park the functional car near the broken down vehicle. The two covers must be close enough so that the clamps can connect the batteries.
  2. Connect the clamps to the terminals of the failed battery. Keeping both vehicles off, open the hoods and locate the batteries for each car.
  3. Have a friend hold one end of the cables. Make sure the clamps do not touch each other. Connect the red cable to the positive terminal of the battery, then the black cable to the negative terminal.
  4. Do the same with the functional battery. Once the clamps are connected, start the functional vehicle and make sure that all accessories such as the heater or air conditioning, the radio and the various lights are off. All of these require energy from the battery, which can make it difficult to start a broken down car.
  5. After a few minutes, switch on the ignition of the broken car, without starting it. Also make sure that all accessories are switched off.
  6. Start the disabled vehicle. Finally, start the car receiving the charge and let it run. With the engine running, remove the cables from each vehicle, starting with the negative clamp, then the positive clamp.
  7. Drive the vehicle for 15 minutes. Drive for fifteen minutes with the vehicle whose battery has just been repaired. This allows the alternator to fully charge the battery.
Cable connections for jump starting

Have your battery tested. It would be a good idea to have your battery tested soon after starting using pliers to determine if it needs to be replaced.

Tip: A qualified mechanic is able to check your battery if you cannot do it yourself. If the battery is OK but the engine does not start, the starter may be the cause and it should be replaced.

How to test starter

The starter can be tested with a multimeter placed on the contact wire connecting the starter to the battery. Have a friend turn on the ignition and attempt to start the car. This is when this wire should reveal the voltage it is receiving from the battery. If your tester or multimeter indicates that current is flowing, be reassured: the wire connecting the starter is healthy. If the starter just makes a clicking noise, or makes no noise, then you have found the source of your vehicle’s starting failure.

Fuel and fuel pump

Check the fuel of the car

Switch on the ignition and observe the fuel gauge. This should usually tell you what fuel you have left in the tank.


Sometimes the gauge may malfunction and show more gasoline than there is actually. If you suspect that a lack of fuel may be the cause of the failure, fill the tank and try to start again. If it works, then you have discovered the source of the problem: the fuel gauge is no longer reliable, it will need to be repaired.

Also make sure that the last person to refuel did not get the wrong fuel. Indeed, it can be put diesel instead of gasoline or vice versa.

Check the fuel pump

Remove the fuel cap and listen to the sound of the fuel pump turning when you turn on the ignition.

Note: For this step, you may need the help of a friend to turn the key while you are listening.

Sometimes it is difficult to hear the pump. Using a fuel pressure tester (gauge) can tell you if the fuel is working and if it is sending enough fuel to the engine. Most recent vehicles have an access point to which the pressure gauge can be connected.

Observe the pressure gauge as you start the car. If there is no pressure, the fuel pump connection should be checked to ensure that electricity is reaching it. If pressure is present, compare your readings to the manufacturer’s instructions to determine if the pressure is correct.

The candles

Check the spark plugs

If you don’t have a problem with the fuel, then it’s time to check the spark plugs. Open the hood and locate the spark plug cables.

Remove one of the cables and use a spark plug wrench to remove one. Inspect it, looking for the slightest defect. If the white ceramic is cracked or if the spark plug gap is too large, it must be replaced.


Try with a new candles

To check that the vehicle is receiving power, take a new spark plug and insert it into the spark plug wire.

Place the end of the candle on a metal surface to ground it. This completes the electrical circuit.

Run the engine

Ask a friend to try to start, while you hold the candle to the ground.

Caution: Do not touch the spark plug directly with your hand or you may get an electric shock. If the vehicle does not produce a spark, it is possible that the ignition coil or the distributor (Delco) is the cause. They must be checked.

Even if the three most frequent points have been checked, there can be many reasons that cause a car breakdown. In-depth diagnostics can be performed by the professionals, to determine what element is preventing your vehicle from starting and what repairs are needed to get your car back on the road quickly.

Author: Nabeel K
Email: nabeel@wheelsjoint.com



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