Dead TJ w/ possessed instruments...

[E5EDDIE]

Hey M/Jrs, been a while, it's not you, It's me, and I hate to come by only when there's a problem but...the ol' girl started acting bizzare. Turn the ignition key, nothing happens, no noise, not started, not lights, nada. Turn the key, dash indicator lights come up, wont start, instruments start pinging off their stops, all off 'em, flip over and back, and there was a ticking like the turn signal doohickey makes, only softer under left side of the dash. Turn key to off again, instruments keep pinging all the way over and back about once every second w, the key out. Pulled battery cables, reconnected, tried key, Jeep started like normal. Same thing happened a second [email protected] the house, so she's sitting, don't have any shop money, the f'n motorcycle got all that for a brake rebuild. I think the f'n Jeep is Jealous. OK collective brain, what in the hell is going on? Any of y'all have this happen to you ( '04 TJ Rubi)? Thanks everyone-Ed

[HillBillE]

The guage thing (bouncing) happens on my '99 XJ when the battery gets to low.

Could be you had a bad/corroded connection at the battery, made it act up.

When you pulled the cables, then reconnected, you got a good connection.

Now you have a full 12V and it starts and runs.

[hobbyshopass]

Def the battery will cause this problem, even if you get a jump it will continue until enough power in the battery.

[SavageSun4x4]

Most of the time when folks have a issue and I read it I have to extract info and try to apply it to various scenarios I have challenged in the past. BUT you description hit a NAIL directly on the head for me. Dash lights flickering on and off, maybe start, maybe not acts like its possessed.






I grab my Blue Top Optima and run to AutoZone for a systems check.



The guy hooks up the leads, pushes a button and looks up and me and sez, "I think your battery has taken a dump on you...bad-shorted cell."

[HillBillE]

The guy hooks up the leads, pushes a button and looks up and me and sez, "I think your battery has taken a dump on you...bad-shorted cell."

I have a battery charger that will tell me that, it's pretty cool.

It has settings for 'Wet' 'AGM' and 'Gel' batteries, can check the alternator, tell you voltage, and desulfate a battery.

Lucky for me, all the codes are on the back, becuase I could never remember all of them!

I love it for topping off my yellow top and othe deep cycle batts, as it's automatic, and has 2, 10 and 25 amp settings, as well as a 75 amp start mode.

Saves me that 20 mile drive to Advance Auto!

[E5EDDIE]

Thanks brothers, The batterys leads are kinda scuzzy, I'll give it a go, n check for bad battery. Thx again! -ed