How is this not a thing?

So the starter died on my 28 year old jeep. The starter was actually pulled from a 32 year old jeep when I first got this one. While driving 2 weeks ago, I noticed the burning smell, and when I got where I was going, I shut down the engine to wait for a friend. When I tried to start it, it was totally dead.

I ordered a new (not rebuilt) starter and installed it 2 weeks ago. After driving about a mile with the new starter, the same burning smell appeared, and on pulling over and shutting down, the body of the starter motor was hotter than the engine itself. And it would not restart.

So after two burned out starters in a week on this 28 year old vehicle, I got another new starter, then bypassed the starting circuitry completely by installing a relay and on the dashboard, a pushbutton. I ran a wire from the relay to the pushbutton, and wiring directly from the battery, through the relay, to the starter solenoid.

It works perfectly now, and I don't have to worry about the "spooky" original wiring keeping the starter engaged and burning it out again. I just have an extra starting step. I turn the key to the run position, then hit the pushbutton until the engine starts, and release it.

One of my neighbors who had come by and seen part of the process told me that the "normal" thing to do in this situation is to take the vehicle to an automotive electrician for troubleshooting and repair, and that it was "weird" to do what I did.



The jeep is 28 years old. It isn't a showpiece. It's a workhorse. Not starting with a simple key turn isn't necessarily a bad thing. (Think anti-theft feature.)

I spent less than $10 on this repair, and less than an hour of my time installing the relay and pushbutton. I didn't have to drop the jeep off anywhere and wait days for troubleshooting and repair, and I didn't have to spend hundreds (or even thousands?) of dollars.

Why would someone not do this if they understand basic wiring?

People usually think on resale value... if your car does not start like a normal car, maybe you will have to sell it for less?

This is the only thing i can think off.

After the failed attempts, and checking places like Jeep forums, I would have done the same thing with my 96 XJ. There is no resale value to me. I will mod it and make it my own and enjoy it, not save it for someone else. Looks like you've done the same thing. I only buy old vehicles and keep them forever, weld and rebuild what I can, until the next buyer is the scrapyard.

Jumpinbare said:

While driving 2 weeks ago, I noticed the burning smell, and when I got where I was going, I shut down the engine to wait for a friend. When I tried to start it, it was totally dead.

Click to expand...

Many years ago I had exactly the same problem with an old Ford Fairlane. It was a hot day so I stopped at a shop to buy a nice cold can of coke, and and when I got back in the car it tried to start but didn't quite get there. I figured it was just too hot for old wiring and decided to have my drink while I waited for a bit for it to cool down. While I was sitting in the driver's seat enjoying my drink I noticed smoke coming from under the bonnet.

I lifted the bonnet to have a look and there was a massive short in the solenoid. Half the solenoid had completely melted away, disintegrated, spatters of molten metal dripping on to the road.

I had a professional sparky look at it for me and the problem turned out to be the return lead that runs between the negative battery terminal and the body of the car. Old age and metal fatigue, it was no longer carrying the current like it was supposed to. A simple 8 inch length of wire.

Jumpinbare said:

So the starter died on my 28 year old jeep. The starter was actually pulled from a 32 year old jeep when I first got this one. While driving 2 weeks ago, I noticed the burning smell, and when I got where I was going, I shut down the engine to wait for a friend. When I tried to start it, it was totally dead.

I ordered a new (not rebuilt) starter and installed it 2 weeks ago. After driving about a mile with the new starter, the same burning smell appeared, and on pulling over and shutting down, the body of the starter motor was hotter than the engine itself. And it would not restart.

So after two burned out starters in a week on this 28 year old vehicle, I got another new starter, then bypassed the starting circuitry completely by installing a relay and on the dashboard, a pushbutton. I ran a wire from the relay to the pushbutton, and wiring directly from the battery, through the relay, to the starter solenoid.

It works perfectly now, and I don't have to worry about the "spooky" original wiring keeping the starter engaged and burning it out again. I just have an extra starting step. I turn the key to the run position, then hit the pushbutton until the engine starts, and release it.

One of my neighbors who had come by and seen part of the process told me that the "normal" thing to do in this situation is to take the vehicle to an automotive electrician for troubleshooting and repair, and that it was "weird" to do what I did.

View attachment 141945

The jeep is 28 years old. It isn't a showpiece. It's a workhorse. Not starting with a simple key turn isn't necessarily a bad thing. (Think anti-theft feature.)

I spent less than $10 on this repair, and less than an hour of my time installing the relay and pushbutton. I didn't have to drop the jeep off anywhere and wait days for troubleshooting and repair, and I didn't have to spend hundreds (or even thousands?) of dollars.

Why would someone not do this if they understand basic wiring?

Click to expand...

I understand perfectly. My first car was a Fiat 850 Sport Spider. Whenever there was a wiring problem, the previous owner had simply cut the wire out. I pretty much rewired the whole thing with whatever wire I had at hand. I guarantee it looked nothing like the official wiring diagram. After two years, it was brutally murdered in a sneak attack (rear ended at 45 mph) by an LTD in front of my own driveway. Really fun car to drive.

Jumpinbare said:

So the starter died on my 28 year old jeep. The starter was actually pulled from a 32 year old jeep when I first got this one. While driving 2 weeks ago, I noticed the burning smell, and when I got where I was going, I shut down the engine to wait for a friend. When I tried to start it, it was totally dead.

I ordered a new (not rebuilt) starter and installed it 2 weeks ago. After driving about a mile with the new starter, the same burning smell appeared, and on pulling over and shutting down, the body of the starter motor was hotter than the engine itself. And it would not restart.

So after two burned out starters in a week on this 28 year old vehicle, I got another new starter, then bypassed the starting circuitry completely by installing a relay and on the dashboard, a pushbutton. I ran a wire from the relay to the pushbutton, and wiring directly from the battery, through the relay, to the starter solenoid.

It works perfectly now, and I don't have to worry about the "spooky" original wiring keeping the starter engaged and burning it out again. I just have an extra starting step. I turn the key to the run position, then hit the pushbutton until the engine starts, and release it.

One of my neighbors who had come by and seen part of the process told me that the "normal" thing to do in this situation is to take the vehicle to an automotive electrician for troubleshooting and repair, and that it was "weird" to do what I did.

View attachment 141945

The jeep is 28 years old. It isn't a showpiece. It's a workhorse. Not starting with a simple key turn isn't necessarily a bad thing. (Think anti-theft feature.)

I spent less than $10 on this repair, and less than an hour of my time installing the relay and pushbutton. I didn't have to drop the jeep off anywhere and wait days for troubleshooting and repair, and I didn't have to spend hundreds (or even thousands?) of dollars.

Why would someone not do this if they understand basic wiring?

Click to expand...

What you did is certainly what I would have done given the circumstances, especially if you have some working knowledge of automotive mechanics.

Many years ago, I purchased a 1989 Mustang, gutted the thing, rebuilt the engine, transmission, driveline, suspension, brakes, welded in a cage, reprogrammed the computer, rewired, and then raced the darn thing for about 6 years in the SCCA American Iron Series. I learned to do all of this by myself. Yes, self taught. I passed all my inspections prior to each event. I didn't have mechanical breakdowns. I tell people this and they think I was absolutely nuts. The thought of learning "on-the-fly" how to do things, and then NOT screwing it up, is something beyond most people's comprehension. I am not most people, this much I know.

I didn't know I was autistic at the time, but clearly my level of focus and commitment to the project, I might attribute to that. My wife might call it "stubbornness". I might call it "perseverance". Whatever. I learned ALOT, and I think that, in and of itself, is was drove me forward.

So, what you did was awesome! More power to you.