QuestionQUESTION: Good day,
I drove into a parking garage today after driving 50 miles on the freeway and parked the 2001 Grand Cherokee Laredo. No problems before today. On my return later I found that the car doesn't start. It tries and tries to turn over, but nothing. None of the gages (Jeep's spelling) seem to activate other than the battery that goes up to maybe 9. None of the other gages move, not even the fuel or oil. The lights that stay on is check gages and the security key (doesn't blink). Tried putting the car in neutral and tried starting the car, it definitely didn't like that and didn't even bother trying to start.
I called AAA and the guy tries jump starting. No start. They put gas in it "because he can smell fuel" (sure he can). No start. He tries banging really hard on the fuel filter. No go. So he says he'll call a tow truck. An hour and half later the guy shows up, says he can't tow the car since it's a 4x4. He tries banging on the fuel filter. No go. So now I'll need to get a small tow truck to get me out of the space I'm in. My battery is running really low now since the lights are dimming and they tried starting the car so often.
After they're gone thinking it might be the security system I tried turning my alarm on/off/on/off and then opening my tailgate. No go. Same thing.
The battery cable was loose when I went to it initially. I tightened it and all the lights, even the headlight was nice and bright. Unfortunately, as I said before we tried turning the car on so often I think the battery is draining. When we would try to start the car the lights didn't dim too much. Before I left the car for the night I unplugged the battery from the terminal.
Any ideas how I might be able to fix this problem instead of calling a tow truck to yank my truck out? If it's something I can't fix right then and there should I bring it to a dealer or an independent repair shop?
Thanks for your time and patience and thanks in advance.
ANSWER: this may sound funny but dont laugh until the jeep starts up then u can thank me. U more then likely have a crank sensor pulling down the system the 5 volts. If u have a 4.0L engine the cranks sensor is on the driver side tranny bell housing unplug it and then see if the gauges come back it will start then but takes 5 to 10 seconds b4 it will and also have a check engine light on. Same outcome if u have a v8 the crank sensor is under the starter though haft to take it out to unplug it.
Let me know what U find out.
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QUESTION: Thanks for taking the time to respond to my question. What you wrote sounds easy and I'd really like to try it, but I think I might be a little over my head. I checked my repair manual for my 4.0L engine and I couldn't find the "tranny (transmission?) bell housing" or the crank sensor location. Is it under the hood or under the car? You said it's on the driver side. I'm sorry but I'm just not really under the hood savvy. If I had a picture I might be able to find it. Thanks again.
AnswerI dont have pics sorry. The sensor it self is under the driver side body the tranny bell housing is the big fat end near the engine. The sensor connector which is the part I want u to disconnect it on the passenger side under the hood. The connector will be 3 wires at the vary back near the firewall which is the metal of the same color as the jeep. It will be located right next to the oil filter about 3 to 6 inches from it. Black connector 3 wires. gray with a black stripe,black with light blue stripe and orange wires.
