Jeep Wrangler - Dealer couldn’t fix! No crank No start

In this video, we show you how to fix a 2005 Jeep Wrangler that won't start. After trying everything, The dealer couldn't fix it, so we showed you how to do it no parts required!
If your Jeep Wrangler won't start, don't panic! Don't sell it! After watching this video, you'll be ready to take your Wrangler to a good shop and get it running again!
2005 Jeep Wrangler that will not turn over or start. The dealer couldn’t fix it thousands of dollars later.

[@TheDisgruntledMechanic]

nice diagnoses Will! You actually sounded pretty happy when you found it and it started! That is a great feeling, isn't it?

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank Mike! Best feeling ever. I was waiting for this one to get dropped off lol they had one more shop try their hand at prior and the new owner. So when they through in the towel I knew I had to have it 😆🚗

[@user-tr6rg4fu6h]

​@@robinsonsautoq assesses sqsq was q

[@brentnearhood8874]

Thanks! My Grandfather always said you have to be smarter than the car you are working on!🔧

[@robinsonsauto]

He got that right! At the end of the day it’s just a man made machine. Think through the basics and most times the problem will present itself

[@jamesbruno5896]

Bad grounds on a Jeep no way! 😂 Nice diag Will the stealership needs new techs!

[@robinsonsauto]

Mind blowing right? Thanks for the compliment. I was tempted to slip the name in on this one. But figured I will let the previous owner try sorting it out first

[@elcheapo5302]

Nice work, Will. Well explained too. It's absolutely pathetic that so-called professional shops and dealerships couldn't figure out a simple bad ground on a Chrysler product. My 98 Ram did the same thing last year. Turned the headlights on and the wipers came on and horn honked too. Kinda funny. Same exact thing--the main ground where 8 or 10 wires go to one lug had corroded. Few minutes with a couple eyelets and heat shrink and it was fixed. And I'm just a DIYr watching guys like you, Eric O., Ivan T., and Keith D., Thanks!

[@robinsonsauto]

Still trying to wrap my mind around it as well. I keep thinking well maybe the problem wasn’t as apparent at the time. But the service report confirms they were faced with something very similar to the conditions we worked through. Glad you were able to sort out you issues as well. Never understood why they cram so much in one location. 🎉thanks for placing my name along with some of the greatest

[@mikeaho4143]

A chrysler with a ground problem ? Say it isn't so... I've seen this many times. Chrysler loves to load up the grounds to one location. Great vid Will !!

[@robinsonsauto]

lol 😂 it’s like me carrying in the groceries. I can fit one more bag on that arm hahaha 10 bags later, then I’m at the door trying to figure out how to open it. Pretty similar hahaha

[@anthonysova7117]

Nice fix Would have made a great lesson on how to diagnose VOLTAGE DROP with a cheap Hazard Freud DVOM hard to believe what the stealership diagnosis direction was totally confusing. Cheers and a like

[@robinsonsauto]

I was kicking myself while editing this video because I didn’t capture more details. This one almost got deleted, then I figured well maybe some creative editing can make it somewhat relatable. I’m thankful I did. Next time I’ll be auto give some better demonstrations.

[@wyattoneable]

I enjoyed the wiring diagrams in the video so we could follow along. I just watched an older video from SMA and he found the same thing on a Jeep that wouldn't charge. G105! Great diagnosis and outcome. I have to admit, "Came from another shop" are my favorites.

[@robinsonsauto]

Thanks Wyatt. Yup that uses G105 as well! Crazy right. It doesn’t surprise me a bit that Eric narrowed that Down he’s a great tech. Wish we could get our hands on some of these vehicles first lol sometimes the prior attempts trials turn into the biggest problem

[@billsmith2212]

Great thorough diagnosis and fix . As a DIY , I would test the battery FIRST . Then go to the S terminal on the starter . Then begin to dig in . How can a dealer miss this ? Easy - Eric O from SMA had a GM with a bad ground strap . Dealer " estimate " = $ 500 diagnosis and $ 3900 to fix ! Lucky they went to Eric for a second opinion and fix . A detailed visual inspection is gold . Then test . Check out the Lisle 28800 test light .

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you! That would be a great place to start 100%. Sigh, I believe it sadly I see this all to often as well. Eric O is a great Guy and an awesome technician. I truly enjoy his content. I will check out that test light thanks for the suggestion

[@str8gutta]

I smiled when it started up. Great lesson on grounds. Has anyone ever heard of "electron flow" vs "conventional flow" Joseph Thomson basically says electrons flow from negative to positive. Mind boggling Cool jeep btw, 4cyl and manual RWD transmission. Seems like it will last a long time. Especially with Will as the Technician ☮️

[@robinsonsauto]

😄 was a great feeling! Got excited rewatching it as well lol. Can be a nightmare in the process but rewarding nonetheless. Yes I have studied this theory many times. it really is mind boggling. I find it easiest to think of a circuit as a circle. Regardless of flow, In order for anything to flow it needs to be continuous. Find what’s breaking that continuous loop and you will find the problem.

[@billk5727]

@@robinsonsauto Will, I look at electricity as being smart. It won't leave home without a way back. Better off than some people these days. Great video!!

[@spelunkerd]

I'm a little surprised that the tech who replaced the PCM didn't bother to do drop testing on the power and ground wires feeding the PCM. He probably found ground with a power probe and concluded that was good enough. It's very strange to see him then move on to compression testing, without checking voltage on that signal post while cranking. On the other hand perhaps some of these signs were not present at the time. Maybe moisture was causing an intermittent issue leading to the frustration of a false negative at that starter post. These kind of cases are golden opportunities for new techs to better appreciate why drop testing is so important. Not every shop has a lead tech to show the way.

[@user-te3pn4pb4u]

yes sometimes we are not given the full truth in these situations , mostly the customer never understands what we say to them , its not really their fault cause they are not mechanics. try explaining these problems to them and then get a friend to ask them at a later date, what was diagnosed on their car, you will find out that that customer will never repeat what you told them, its like some thingamajigy fixed it. i have tested this my self. its like a physicists talking to us about equations of the universe, we would be lost as well unless you have studied physics and equations

[@robinsonsauto]

Same, it’s hard to justify some of the context within the report. Seems to follow very similar symptoms in which I was presented with. Not to say I may have received the vehicle when it was ready to give up the ghost. We have all been there. So I’m trying to be understanding knowing how tricky a bad ground can be, And the odd things that come along with it. We may never know. Been put through the ringer myself many times. I just never had the heart to charge someone if i failed to resolve the problem, only to have the car towed away. I would take a loss prior. That’s the part that bothers me the most. Everything else I can dismiss as a learning curve. Thank you for your thoughts and insight.

[@Dalearium]

Well done!! Really enjoyed the video. Really feel sorry for the previous owner. I am sure the dealership will fight tooth and nail not to give any kind of refund. I wish all the best for the previous owner!!

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you! I appreciate the positive feedback. I’m hoping he does as well

[@markhollins2190]

Must had a kid diagnosing it

[@Longtrailside]

Chrysler, Dodge product that has electrical issues, the first thing i do is look at the grounding posts due to this issue. A big givaway is when their are multiple electrical issues. Btw great job Will. Its always a pat on the back when you fix a car that another shop cant, especially a stealership.

[@robinsonsauto]

Thanks for the feedback! Yea I’m with you on that one ☝️ they can be tricky. Maybe I got it after she failed completely. But after reading the report she was demonstrating the same or similar symptoms that we worked through.

[@HUBONEN]

Why the hell they checked all those things when problem is no crank 😂 these stories are sad when customer get that bad service. Thanks for video.

[@robinsonsauto]

Wish I could answer this one. I’m curious as well

[@simonilett998]

Nice one, Will👍 Who would've thought, a Chrysler product with multiple electrical problems caused by bad grounds??😂 You would think the Chrysler dealership techs would be the experts in finding bad grounds...(crickets)....🤣 I guess, it's simply another Jeep, doing Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Chrysler, Plymouth, Fiat, Mercedes, Mopar things.😁

[@robinsonsauto]

You would think right 🤷‍♂️ I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it honestly. Sounds like they we’re experiencing very similar issues during their diagnosis. Going off the report

[@simonilett998]

@@robinsonsauto I suspect the tech was going in circles, and buffered that job report to justify the parts cannon, wasted time and head scratching🤔😁

[@bkupkee]

With all the videos of yours I watch, you never cease to amaze...continued success and congrats on another job well done!!

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you for this positive feedback! Truly appreciated.

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

nice detective work Will ! 👍👍

[@robinsonsauto]

Thanks 👍

[@ooonaughtykitty]

I commend you on your dedication to solving the problem. Bravo!

[@bluejayoutpost9170]

Kudos~my friend-wonder how long since coolant flush-also i use a thin wire with a piece of zinc to the radiator coolant reservoir. Just go under the coolant cap to the bottom of the reservoir. Then outside of reservoir. I twist the small wire arround arubber hose or the like. The zinc neutralizes the electrolysis in the power and ground system..and of course check clean and install the vehicle grounds as well~ thanks for your time well done!

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you! That’s a great question and suggestion. I will recommend

[@kyleshaw184]

HELP! Excellent work, Will!! Gathering all the different problems and using that information to isolate the issue indicates you truly have talent. I wish I were in that same boat. Furthermore, I am NOT a mechanic or auto tech. (My tech experience is with Telecommunications Call Center electronics equipment in the timeframe between dinosaur Teletype equipment and the integration of phones with computers. Only fancy cars had a cell phone, and it was wired to the center console.) Anyway, a couple years ago I became the third owner of a 1999 Jeep Wrangler TJ Sahara. It's all original with 56,000 miles and has always been given relatively gentle use. I know the second owner personally, he knows the original buyer, and it's one of those special finds. Shortly thereafter, it developed an "intermittent radio" issue. I allowed that to go on for a year before deciding to replace it, but the problem persisted. Then last week, the problem advanced very swiftly as the Jeep suddenly had no electrical power at all, none! The Jeep is dead in every other way except the battery. At this point in my little journey, I'm thinking something in the steering column related to the start key switch, or..., the primary ground lug you isolated in this video. If you have any "big picture" insight for me, I would certainly appreciate your input very much! You are a one of a kind technician, Will, and I'm very happy to find you here on KZbin. Thanks in advance!!

[@juancolon8816]

Great Job, and learning. Thank you.

[@bartscave]

Great diagnosis Will! Thanks for sharing it.

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback

[@annierenard5954]

excellent video, as usual, thank you

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you! I appreciate that

[@jimpetty2961]

great work and thanks for your time on this video

[@robinsonsauto]

My pleasure! Thank you

[@justforkiks29]

How did the technician perform a compression test if the engine would not crank? Also how did tech test fuel pressure if ground was bad and fuel pump was not working? Customer should be back and that dealership with this video as proof demanding a refund for misdiagnosis.

[@billsmith2212]

Good catch ! Nothing like a summons for small claims court if they won't settle . 😄 This video and written invoice are proof .

[@mph5896]

That is an embarrassing invoice put out by a dealer. There is no logic on what they were going after. 🤣

[@billsmith2212]

@@mph5896 There IS logic on what they are going after . YOUR WALLET ! After ANY estimate , the ONLY question is : WILL IT FIX THE CAR ? The dealer has the ENTIRE staff and engineers at the manufacturer at their disposal . What is their excuse ? They made it , they fix it . Or get a loaner or buy it back !

[@mph5896]

@@billsmith2212 it went through multiple people and in the end it affected the customer. Tech had little to no clue on what they were doing. They should have asked for help. Service advisor should have also also called foul instead of returning the car back to the customer unfixed. Yeah, they had plenty of resources available to them. They just failed to use them.

[@robinsonsauto]

Wish I could answer this. I hope the previous owner somehow gets some explanations and compensation

[@patrickbattley5106]

You're the Best I have the same problem but know I know what to look for Thanks

[@two_inline_sixes]

Wowie! My stereo makes clicking sounds when I break or use turn signals. I even attached the ground to the stereo cage and it still does it. Guess you'll be seeing my Jeep again sometime! 😀

[@robinsonsauto]

Keep me posted. I’d verify the grounds for sure

[@calvinhobbs1761]

Great Detective (mechanic) work!

[@robinsonsauto]

Thanks!

[@Soothsayer-rs5nb]

Great diag video...thanks

[@richarddiaz8248]

Perfect training session

[@keithbrown7406]

Super diagnostics 👍

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you for the compliment

[@j.hood1191]

Thank you a million times over! I haven't even tried it yet but I'm pretty sure this is my problem.

[@robinsonsauto]

Did it work?

[@petergarofolo9385]

Excellent video 👍 👍 👍

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you 👍

[@neilmcrobbie7010]

Good job Will. Bad grounds really can mess it up.......I would wonder judging by the condition of the grounds junction whether prior to a no start there were backfeeds going on causing odd electrical behavior.. A voltage test on a loaded ground tells a lot.

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you. I can see that happening as well. I may have gotten it at a good time. When things just fell in place. I have been put through the ringer at time due to bad grounds as well. It’s a great test

[@ceejaypilot4226]

THANK YOU !!! I've been going in circles with the same issue (6cyl automatic transmission). This gives me hope for auto mechanics and trust that there are good ones out there.

[@4502john]

This guy is good.

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you 😊

[@jasonkeith674]

Nice work. 👏👏

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you!

[@vocalone23]

Incredible work 💪🏾

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you 🙌

[@marksd5650]

Great diagnosis Will. Incredible how some people just fire the parts cannon because they have no clue how to assess the problem. Don’t know if you’ve ever seen Eric O diagnose a problem, but you have the same talent. Best Regards

[@oldschool0072]

Nice diagnosis

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you!

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

Wow! That was a find! Bad grounds! Ouch and Yeah at the same time!

[@ob1Katoby1]

Do you have info for the high load test light?

[@robinsonsauto]

I can put together a video on the build. That’s a Robinsons auto special 😁

[@billsmith2212]

See the Lisle 28800 . 800 ma . I believe some of the small headlight bulbs are 4 amps .

[@martinarrieta248]

Grasias

[@robinsonsauto]

Your welcome my friend

[@timbeckett6970]

That’s what separates a technician from a parts changer.

[@robinsonsauto]

thank you for the compliment

[@scuba422123]

wow i had just been through the same thing! chrysler grounds.....

[@robinsonsauto]

Glad you got it resolved!

[@JOHNPHUFNAGEL]

This is exactly why I don't like dealers, customer is paying at least 100 dollars an hour and expecting a professional to fix their vehicle and all there getting is someone putting parts on and hoping for the best. There is nothing complicated about this job that an apprentice that has BASIC knowledge of electrical couldn't have fixed. If I was the customer I would not pay until they accurately diagnosed the problem. I do this work every day and if I don't get it right the first time, they don't pay. Thats how it should be.

[@robinsonsauto]

Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. I agree this was very disappointing

[@dandesjardins2552]

Man its raining but as soon as it clears alittle i have the same problem with my 05 tj

[@robinsonsauto]

good luck man I hope you get it resolved

[@johnlee2745]

Could be the ASD relay

[@charlesmecum5009]

What town r u in

[@joeandgod1]

Where did you get that test light that draws a lot of amps, I've been looking for one. I rather use that than a headlight bulb. Please let me know.

[@robinsonsauto]

It’s a Robinson’s Auto special lol one that I made. I will share more in a future video for you

[@joeandgod1]

@@robinsonsauto Ok. You need to start selling them 😄.

[@user-db8yv9no9v]

A friend of mine just had this problem it was the starter

[@mph5896]

Flagship 1 pcm added to add to more problems? 😅

[@robinsonsauto]

Man it was so rewarding finding the bad ground. Then all that excitement got shadowed by correcting all the failed attempts. That PCM will serve a better purpose in the trash can lol 😅

[@chrisi1909]

Flagship1 ECU ? :-)

[@robinsonsauto]

Very good possibility! That reman ECU would serve a better purpose in the recycling yard lol 😅

[@richarddiaz8248]

Sad techs have to move on as flat rate time and needs to make money to pay bills

[@ryguy57106]

I wish you could tell us, those guys need to be held responsible for there incompetence

[@mikes4408]

More than a shame it's a crime!~ OMG very scary !

[@robinsonsauto]

I agree 100%

[@marcokahny709]

Caution whenever you jump a starter like that make absolutely sure the vehicle is not in gear I saw someone get their knees crushed between two bumpers not cool

[@robinsonsauto]

100% thank you for highlighting this as well.

[@marcokahny709]

@@robinsonsauto your welcome

[@williammason7092]

Should have got it to you first or to Eric O

[@robinsonsauto]

Thank you for the compliment! Hoping one day to do a collaboration video With Eric

[@williammason7092]

@@robinsonsauto I learn a lot from you younger guys rebuilding carburetor and stuff was my years still working to keep busy

[@keithcerce8445]

Compression test 😂

[@danieljohnson8437]

Cannot Understand Normal Thinking