Jeep Cherokee Voltage Probs

showmotive · #1 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 09:46 PM

I went to start up the jeep tonight and got nothing.. Jumped it and it ran fine. On the way home the volt meter jumped up to 19 and the check gauges light came on. Shorly after it went back to normal and then jumped back up again. Made it home and shut the truck down. Went to start it again and got nada. No power at all. The battery is obviously dead but could anything else be wrong??

2fast4u · #2 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by showmotive

I went to start up the jeep tonight and got nothing.. Jumped it and it ran fine. On the way home the volt meter jumped up to 19 and the check gauges light came on. Shorly after it went back to normal and then jumped back up again. Made it home and shut the truck down. Went to start it again and got nada. No power at all. The battery is obviously dead but could anything else be wrong??

I would borrow a buddys battery temporarily and see if the voltage still acts screwey... sometimes the low voltage messes with the electronics since they are all computer controlled. It is also possible that the voltage regulator is busted... my wrangler it was built in the factory harness so i hope if that is your issue it is part of the alternator....

showmotive · #3 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 10:02 PM

The jeep is a 99 with the original battery so I'm just gonna pick up a new one from work tomorrow. The voltage regulator I believe is in the ECU on this truck which makes me happy.

JiM P 2001 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 10:57 PM

it won't make you happy if you need a new ECU! lol

mustangraven · #5 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 08:09 AM

with non starting issues the first thing I always do is removing the terminals and clean them then reattach them making sure they are tight. being that the battery is a 99 it is probably about seen the end of its life. You can pick up one of the yellow walmart batteries for around 50 bucks and they are a high cold cranking amp battery and work very well for a cheap price. sounds like a simple battery issue in any case. you can also pull the battery and bring it to any autoparts store and they will do a load test/ charging test on it for free. Hope this helps some good luck.

2fast4u · #6 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustangraven

with non starting issues the first thing I always do is removing the terminals and clean them then reattach them making sure they are tight. being that the battery is a 99 it is probably about seen the end of its life. You can pick up one of the yellow walmart batteries for around 50 bucks and they are a high cold cranking amp battery and work very well for a cheap price. sounds like a simple battery issue in any case. .

Yeah def a good cleanup will help along... dont forget to clean the terminal connections before putting a new battery in too...

FWIW the yellow ones are closer to 70 bucks at walmart now !

My cherokee is a 99 as well... the battery this fall let me know it wasnt going to be lasting the winter so i replaced it with the biggest (highest CCA) one i could fit in the hole that had the same terminals. I also got mine at Walmart... the Camaro gets the Optima.
Mine acted poorly when the battery was toast although mine made more sense... the running voltage with high draw accessories would pull it well below 14v... indicated to me an adequate but not great factory charging system...

showmotive · #7 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 02:33 PM

Battery was good. Terminals were. Terrible. I put in. 685 cca battery and cleaned the cables up. Jeep ran fine with no probs. I'm gonna take it for a ride tonight and see If the voltage spikes again.