Your 2001 Jeep Wrangler has a starter motor to spin the internal parts of the engine, building enough compression and spark to start the engine. If the starter motor on your Jeep stops working, is dragging or makes grinding noises, it is time to test and possibly replaced the starter. Replacement starter motors are readily available at most auto parts stores, from any Jeep dealer or even through many salvage yards.
Open the hood of the Jeep and locate the negative battery cable on the battery. The battery in the Jeep Wrangler is located on the passenger's side of the engine compartment against the firewall.
Remove the negative battery cable from the battery terminal after loosening the retaining bolt with a wrench. Isolate the cable from the battery while you work.
Raise the front of the Jeep with a jack, then position a set of jack stands under the frame or front axle to support the Jeep. Lower the jack until the Jeep is resting securely on the jack stands, then pull the jack out from under the Jeep so you don’t have to work around it.
Locate the starter motor on the passenger's side of the engine, near the back, working from under the Jeep. Find the wiring harness connectors on the rear of the starter solenoid, mounted on top of the starter. One connector is a push-in style and the other is a stud with a retaining nut.
Disconnect the “S” connector from the starter solenoid by pressing the locking tab, then unplug the connector. Lay the wire aside then remove the nut from the “B” terminal with a socket and ratchet. Slide the wire off and lay it off to the side as well.
Locate the two mounting bolts on the front of the starter. Remove them with a socket and ratchet, starting with the bottom bolt first. Slide the starter back until the nose cone clears the hole in the bell housing. Lower it out of the engine compartment.
Raise the new starter into place and slide the nose into the hole in the bell housing. Install the two mounting bolts and tighten them with a socket and ratchet. Plug the “S” connector into the back of the solenoid, making sure the locking tab engages then slide the ring connector from the larger wire onto the “B” terminal. Thread the retaining nut onto the terminal and tighten it with a socket and ratchet.
Raise the Jeep off the jack stands with your jack, remove the stands from under the Jeep and lower the Jeep to the ground. Install the negative battery cable on the negative terminal of the battery then tighten the retaining bolt with a wrench.
Test the starter repair by attempting to start the Jeep. If it functions correctly, the repair was successful.
