Jeep Cherokee Won’t Start But Has Power [Working Solution]

One of the well-known characteristics of the Jeep Cherokee is its construction and the fact that it is dependable.

But, as with other vehicles, the car can occasionally refuse to start.

Such a situation can be annoying to many car crafters when the vehicle has sufficient power but is unwilling to start.

In this article, we’re going to discuss the common problems that cause the Jeep Cherokee to not start and offer helpful tips to help you get back to driving.

Jeep Cherokee Won't Start But Has Power [Working Solution]

Here is a step-by-step process to fix this problem:

Dead Battery
Faulty Alternator
Starter Problems
Lack of Fuel
Ignition Switch Issues
Clogged Fuel Filter
Worn Spark Plugs

Elaboration of all the points:

1. Dead Battery: The Most Common Culprit

A dead battery is often the first item on the list of things that are wrong with your car craft when it fails to turn on.

The most definite reason for the battery not being able to crank the engine is if the car has been inactive for a long period of time.

Symptoms:

The battery sounds fine but when trying to start the engine the sound of the engine starting cranking is non-existent.

Lamps that indicate the dashboard may be on but the starting crank is absent.

Solution:

The vehicle can be jump-started by the use of jumper cables and the battery of a different working vehicle. During troubleshooting connect the cables in sequence.

First connect the cables to the attitude on the battery of the car with the working battery and then the opposite third connect to its respective extreme.

With the car connected allow an initial vehicle to run for several minutes and then try to start your Cherokee.

2. Faulty Alternator: Power Supply Issues

When your Jeep Cherokee shows signs of not starting, one possible reason can be an alternator which is bad.

The purpose of the alternator is to charge the battery while the engine is active and if it gets defective, then the battery will never have sufficient energy.

Symptoms: Flickering lights or electric problems when the car is operating.
Solution: If there is suspicion of a defective alternator, it is quite wise to talk to a qualified mechanic about the appropriate replacement types.

3. Starter Problems: A Key Player in Engine Ignition

Starting the engine of the Jeep Cherokee is highly dependent on the starter’s functioning.

Even if the car battery is good, a defective starter will prevent the engine from starting.

Symptoms: The key is turned, but a clicking sound is the only sound that is heard.
Solution: Changing this starter may require the skill of specialists, and this is often hard.

4. Lack of Fuel: The Basics of Engine Functionality

This happens too, you running out of gasoline in your Jeep Cherokee.

This is a frequent error, particularly if the fuel level has not been taken into account because the gauge is faulty.

Symptoms: The starter cranks the engine but only the sound is produced.
Solution: If you encounter the case, just fill your fuel tank with gasoline and there should be no issues.

5. Ignition Switch Issues: A Vital Component

After the battery and starter diagnosis on a Jeep Cherokee that won’t crank, the starter ignition switch is one more area to check.

This part is what allows the engine to have electric power to operate.

Symptoms: When the ignition key is turned, the lights of the dashboard come on, then go out, or do not come on at all.
Solution: A bad ignition switch needs a professional who can switch it off.

6. Clogged Fuel Filter: Preventing Fuel Flow

Fuel cannot be delivered to the engine if its fuel filter is clogged. The engine will not start in this situation.

This is a crucial problem which can easily be missed.

Symptoms: The engine might make some noises that would suggest that it did not start properly or it might even not start at all.
Solution: To avoid this concern, the fuel filter should be changed periodically. In case of being clogged, it should be changed immediately.

7. Worn Spark Plugs: Ignition Troubles

Since the spark plugs ignite the fuel for the engine, if worn out like in this situation, will cause starting troubles for the engine.

If worn out, they will cause the engine to misfire or not even start at all.

Symptoms: Engine is not functioning well, misfire occurrence, inability to start, etc.
Solution: Monitor based on the performance of the engine and change the spark plugs where necessary.

How to Start Your Jeep Cherokee with a Dead Battery

You would be pleased to know that if your Jeep Cherokee’s battery is dead, you can jump-start it.

This is how you do that:

Make sure both cars’ jumper cables are connected and that positive and negative ends are correctly positioned.
Before attempting to do anything else, switch on the working vehicle and wait a few minutes.
Next, try cranking your Jeep Cherokee.

Identifying a Bad Starter

How do I know if the starter of the Jeep Cherokee has failed?

Here are some tell-tale signs:

Investigate the battery: If the battery is flat then maybe the starter may not be the culprit.
Pay attention to strange sounds: Rattling or buzzes are usually problems.

To troubleshoot starter malfunctions, use a multimeter to test the voltage at the starter. If the results are low, further check the electrical connections.

Starting Your Jeep Cherokee with a Dead Key Fob

Even if the key fob is dead, the Jeep Cherokee can be started with the key.

Here’s what you need to do:

Find the tiny notch located on the fob and pry it open to reveal the physical key.
Place the physical key into the ignition and operate it to commence the engine.

Electrical Problems: Rare But Possible

Mitigations: ‘’Push down’’ on the interlock and unstick the handheld control unit. There are chances that electrical connections will turn off completely.

However, this is a very rare case. Occasions have been reported where the system fuse erupts leading to swishing sounds.

Symptoms: Lights turning off and on quickly, strange flashing of the lights where lights belong that lights on the dashboard indicator.
Solution: If you feel some electrical issues may not be apparent then take your car to an experienced mechanic who can diagnose such an issue in detail.

Conclusion

In conclusion, troubleshooting a Jeep Cherokee that fails to turn on may include checking for a flat battery, defective alternator or starter, fuel supply problems, ignition switch failure, choked fuel filters, or even cut spark plugs.

Most of these problems can be easily corrected with the help of specialists.

But for inexcusable obstacles to the work of the Jeep Cherokee even for these circumstances do not be afraid and go to a car engineer.

FAQs

What are the reasons why a car won’t start but has power?

Several factors could prevent a car that has power from starting. Check for a loose connection in the battery first.

Corroded or loose terminal connections can also be the cause of a car that won’t start. Secondly, check the starter motor.

A bad starter might not engage even if the engine is turning over with power. Furthermore, check for problems in the ignition system.

A defective ignition coil or worn spark plugs can make it hard to start the vehicle. Another factor that should be taken into account is fuel.

An empty tank or a blocked fuel filter may prevent the ignition of the engine. First, the system that supplies fuel might be damaged.

Last, the security system is yet to be ruled out as a factor.

What fuse would stop a car from starting?

Another reason why a car would suddenly fail to start is because of a blown ignition fuse. The ignition system fuse needs to be working to enable the ignition switch.

If this fuse blows, then it is unlikely that the engine will be able to start as there will be no electrical signal required to crank the engine.

Furthermore, the fuse responsible for the fuel pump has to be there as well. As the fuel pump fuse blows, the engine will no longer get fuel pressure.

That too can cause the vehicle to fail to start.

Can fuse affect car starting?

Sure, the fuse that blew can have an impact on the engine being turned on. Simply put, fuses are used to protect such electrical devices across the car.

If there is a fuse that is associated with the starting system blown out, then something is likely to happen to the flow of electrical current.

This could render a lot of necessary elements inoperative, like the starter motor, or the ignition system.

On top of that, other cars have a fuse that supplies the fuel pump or the engine management system with power.

If these fuses are blasted, it leads to starting difficulties or a total failure to start the engine. The searching through and swapping of blown fuses is an easy task to resolve.

For the specific locations and functions of fuses related to the starting system of the truck, it is always advisable to refer to the owner’s handbook.

What are the symptoms of a bad solenoid?

Visual inspection of starter solenoid executives such as lever switch solenoids and push-pull solenoids can also be helpful to the owner in diagnosing sabotage.

You might also experience a problem with starting your car. This is caused by starter solenoid issues as the pump is unable to push forward the starter motor.

You may also experience ignition issues and this will lead to hearing a solenoid click sound when you try to start your car.

It shows that the solenoid is still receiving power but the functional component is very weak. In some instances, the engine will either crank slowly or fail to turn over.

Will a bad solenoid drain a battery?

A bad solenoid will drain the battery at the quickest rate possible.

Failure or versatile solenoid haphazard cannot secure position that which is placed in, very actively dallies in the waiting position.

This shrinks the shutting circuit of live electrical wires. So thus, battery hibernating electrical energy is almost nonexistent.

Also, some solenoids will have defects of pressing against one another leading to loose and unstable connections.

Later due to parts being served together it may draw a large amount of electrical energy causing melting.

In both instances, the battery will become unusable, simply speaking voltage without current is useless.

What are the two main causes of solenoid failure?

The two leading reasons why solenoid malfunctions happen are electromagnetic factors and mechanical component wear.

Electric failures most time stem from short circuits, overvoltage, or wrong wiring.

Overheating followed by destruction of the coil and or any component inside the unit would result.

Mechanical wear and tear is also a scope for concern, this type of failure happens because of the moving and sometimes rotating components that are sometimes bowed by friction and heat.

As time goes by, the movement of parts, for instance, the plunger and spring, can lead to distortions in their structure, which degrade their efficiency.