The Jeep Cherokee is the perfect vehicle if you are looking for adventure as it is an excellent off-roader. However, if you are preparing to go on your next trip and the car won’t start, it’s going to put a wrench in your plans.
The question is, what could cause your car not to start. Hopefully, this article will answer that question, so you can get to the root of the problem as soon as possible.
There could be multiple reasons why your Jeep Cherokee won’t start. Here’s a list of the most common reasons:
We totally understand that this list can look a bit scary and intimidating, especially if you have no clue about mechanical jargon. So in this article, we will explain the function of these parts and why they could be causing you a problem.
When your car won’t start, it can seem like the end of the world, especially if you have a busy day planned. However, sometimes the problem can have an easy solution. On the other hand, it could be something outside your expertise and may need professional attention.
Here are some of the most common reasons why your Jeep Cherokee won’t start:
A bad battery is one of the most common reasons why your Jeep Cherokee, or any car for that matter, won’t start.
A bad battery can be easily tested by getting your electrical system checked or by having it load tested (testing that determines a system’s performance under real-life conditions).
If you want to get it tested, you can remove it and take it to your local automotive store. They should, first of all, try and charge the battery to determine if it works.
However, even if the battery does work, it may still be declared bad, so they may sell you a new one. This is one of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to resolve your issue.
Usually, the starter is the go-to suspect as to why your car isn’t starting. The starter has the responsibility of turning over the engine so it can start. Essentially, if this isn’t working then it could be the cause of your car not turning over.
The role of the alternator is to charge the battery while the vehicle in question is on and running. If this isn’t working, you won’t have enough power to run your car. Like a bad battery, the alternator can be checked by having your electrical system checked or by having its load tested.
Corroded battery terminals can be another cause of why your car won’t start. This isn’t a very common cause, however, you can test this by removing the battery cables and seeing if they are either corroded or dirty.
Firstly, to resolve this issue, try cleaning the battery terminals and then reconnecting them. Try restarting your vehicle and see if the issue has been resolved.
What is a starter solenoid? A starter solenoid is one of the key components for starting your car.
Simply put, it receives electrical currents from the car battery and ignition system which then begins a chain electrical reaction to start the combustion engine. It is the spark that starts your vehicle’s engine.
If this isn’t working, it is advised to check the fuses and replace them if necessary.
The starter relay is associated with the starter solenoid but they are not the same thing. The starter relay switches on the current that activates the starter solenoid.
If it’s not working, it will cause resistance to the electrical current from the battery, which means there won’t be enough power to start up your car.
Spark plugs send an electrical signal from the ignition coil pack to the engine to get your vehicle started. If your spark plugs aren’t firing, it could be the cause of your car not starting.
A fuel pump does what it says on the tin. It is responsible for supplying the gas to the engine. The fuel pump sends the fuel to the engine where it is then distributed to all the different cylinders.
Your vehicle needs an appropriate ratio of fuel-to-air to run efficiently. If your tank is running empty, your car won’t be able to start up.
Another reason your Jeep Cherokee won’t start maybe because of a clogged fuel filter or clogged fuel lines. Sometimes it can be both. A tell-tale sign of this is the sudden smell of gas that will come from the engine compartment.
As soon as you notice this, you need to clean out the filter and lines.
If this is the issue, it’s a good idea to take your car to your local auto store and ask for an inspection. If they find that this is a problem, then they should hopefully fix it on sight.
Your vehicle’s fuel injectors going bad can be another common reason it doesn’t start. Fuel injectors ensure that when the gas travels from the tank through the pump and into the engine, it is evenly dispersed through all the cylinders.
So, if one of these isn’t working, your Jeep Cherokee won’t run as efficiently. If you think this could be the problem, take your car to your local auto shop so they can inspect it and hopefully resolve the issue.
When it comes to car terminology, you’ve probably never heard of an Oxygen sensor, or even know it can get clogged or be faulty. An oxygen sensor is a device that measures the amount of oxygen in your exhaust gas.
This allows the engine to adjust the fuel-to-air ratio so it can run more efficiently. If the ratio is not correct, it can impact your Jeep Cherokee and stop it from starting.
Ignition coils are responsible for sending an electrical current to the spark plugs to all of the correct cylinders to start your car. If this is the cause of the problem, it may be ideal to take your car to your local auto shop.
There is an easy way to determine what could be the problem. Before starting this technique make sure to check to see if the battery terminal is corroded as this could be dangerous and your car definitely won’t start.
All you need to do to determine what the issue could be is connect a battery charger to your battery, then when it has enough battery try and start it up again.
This does not resolve the problem fully. If your battery does keep failing then it could mean your car has a faulty alternator which will need to be inspected and replaced by an automotive professional.
You can definitely jump-start a car with a bad starter but it isn’t going to resolve your problem. This is because the problem is not a lack of power to the engine, but rather an issue with the components in the starter.
If you do suspect that your starter is the problem, the best way forward is to go to your local mechanic and ask if they can replace the specific part. Before you fully determine it’s the starter that is the problem, be sure to try jump-starting your battery and seeing if this solves the problem.
Jeep Cherokees do have problems like all cars do, but some problems may be more frequent than others. Common problems associated with Jeep Cherokees come from engine stalling or transmission problems.
These can be expensive repairs, but there can be some more inexpensive issues that can occur.
An example of this is the power liftgate, not opening. Jeep Cherokees have a system called Uconnect which is software that hooks up with a cloud service. There have been a few reports where this software has been hacked and people’s information has been leaked.
Like any other car, if your Jeep Cherokee isn’t starting start checking the basics such as the battery, and cables before taking it to a mechanic. Next, you should check the battery terminals and try to jump-start it.
Most of the time, it may just be that your battery is dead and needs a quick jump-start but sometimes there could be a more complicated issue. If that is the case, it is a good idea to seek professional help from a certified mechanic.
