Crazy4diesels
New member
Hey Guys,
Sorry I've been such a stranger lately... Been busy hiking. I've decided that life's too short to work on things forever - it's time to have some fun before I get too old. I still have the Jeeps (my 05 TJ and my 50 M38). I still drive the TJ every day, doors off - windows out - at every oppertunity. Lots of rain this summer so top's been up more than down, oh well...
Anyway, I went into a store the other day and when I came out and went to start the Jeep all I got was one loud clunk from the starter (it engaged the flywheel and shut down without turning the engine. Everything went dead at the same time - no instrument panel, no idiot lights - nothing. The battery (original) had been working fine up to that point and never sounded "weak". I saw that the neg terminal post was sunken into the case and the case was bubbled out on the side - some sort of internal failure. I jumped it with the hood down (I have permanently attached cables like a towtruck) in case it might blow up. I watched the volt meter all the way home (about 20 miles at night) in case it should "take off". It did not. The computer controlled regulator did a good job. The lights were flickering and the volt meter was drifting around but it never went over 14. After installing a new battery the ECM had to relearn its curves since all memory got erased. First time I've been stuck in my Jeep.
-John (Boston)
Sorry I've been such a stranger lately... Been busy hiking. I've decided that life's too short to work on things forever - it's time to have some fun before I get too old. I still have the Jeeps (my 05 TJ and my 50 M38). I still drive the TJ every day, doors off - windows out - at every oppertunity. Lots of rain this summer so top's been up more than down, oh well...
Anyway, I went into a store the other day and when I came out and went to start the Jeep all I got was one loud clunk from the starter (it engaged the flywheel and shut down without turning the engine. Everything went dead at the same time - no instrument panel, no idiot lights - nothing. The battery (original) had been working fine up to that point and never sounded "weak". I saw that the neg terminal post was sunken into the case and the case was bubbled out on the side - some sort of internal failure. I jumped it with the hood down (I have permanently attached cables like a towtruck) in case it might blow up. I watched the volt meter all the way home (about 20 miles at night) in case it should "take off". It did not. The computer controlled regulator did a good job. The lights were flickering and the volt meter was drifting around but it never went over 14. After installing a new battery the ECM had to relearn its curves since all memory got erased. First time I've been stuck in my Jeep.
-John (Boston)
