2007 jeep gc won't start. Lights, battery all Dash lights had been acting strangely before this happened. Turned the car off, Swapped AC relay with starter relay and nothing.

SOURCE: car will not turn over

Hi,

If I understand you right, the problem is the engine will not crank, that is turn over when you turn they ignition key to START. Having said that, might it be that the issue is with the starter system. The starter system is initiated at the ignition switch when the key is turned to start. At this point, the ignition switch then provides +12VDC to a starter relay (if the vehicle has got one) or direct to the starting solenoid. The relay is but a remote switch with slightly higher amperage capacity. The starter relay then engages and supplies +12VDC to the staring solenoid. The starting solenoid then performs two (2) functions. It provides the switching action (hundreds amps) from the battery heavy cable to the actual starter motor. The solenoid likewise pushes a small pinion gear along the shaft of the starter motor to engage the ring gear. The ring gear is of course on the edge of the flywheel which in turn is attached to the crankshaft.

Starter system problems could be corrected by:
1. check battery, battery cables and connections;
2. charge the battery if required;
3. clean brushes and guides of brush holders of the starter motor;
4. clean the commutator and commutator segments;
5. check/replace the armature or field coils if determined to be defective;
6. in some extreme cases it could be the drive pinion or the flywheel gear ring is defective.
7. often it is the big switch that the solenoid activates that looses contacts causing no +12V internally to the motor.
8. Most likely would be a defective starter relay or the IGN switch itself. Relative to this, you might try and check the connectors/terminals and electrical joints.

In the picture below, the upper portion is the starter solenoid while the one below it is the actual starter.

Given the amount of work to overhaul a starter, you might consider just replacing it.

So recommended course of action is determine if there is +12VDC at the starter solenoid when IGN switch is turned to START.

Hope this be of initial help/idea. Pls post back how things turned up or should you need additional information.

Good luck and kind regards.

Thank you for using FixYa.

SOURCE: try to start car and nothing happens. replaced

Do the dash lights come on ? They should come on when the key is turned to the on position. If nothing happens check the engine relay. It is not too expensive to replace if you really want to eliminate that as the problem. Check all wires going to the starter and make sure it is wired correctly.

SOURCE: OCCASIONALLY WHEN YOU TURN IGNITION KEY NOTHING HAPPENS

Had the same problem. There was something loose under the fuse box on the drivers side under the hood, If I moved it, the lights on the i/p and drl lights came on and it would start

SOURCE: Engine won't start. Dash lights flash rapidly when key turned.

the battery says 12 volts but may be dropping to 4 or 5 under a load...i would suggest jumpstarting the car and see what happens.the battery should read in the high 12 volts and not less than 9.5 under cranking. the dash lights go out on your car when starting,and the alarm will go off ,and disable the ignition if the voltage is too low in cranking the car because the computer will shut it down and activate the anti theft.....check your battery posts are tight. best of luck

SOURCE: My 2007 Jeep GC Laredo has failed to start 3 times

Seen this happen before, A guy had bought a brand new jeep cherokee, the second morning it would not even crank or turn the motor, he had a faulty key switch, could be your problem as well...

Testimonial: "We aren't sure (yet) what the problem is, but the ignition key is one of the possible causes. When the vehicle is in the shop...it doesn't fail."