# '99 Jeep Cherokee cold-start problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** racing-auto-boat\ **Created:** [December 18, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746 "2022-12-18T18:25:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746/21 "2022-12-20T18:38:43Z")
If it does, and the starter doesn’t turn, it’s probably a bad starter motor, or bad starter relay. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746/22 "2022-12-20T18:39:36Z")
The thing is, it started right up with the booster. (I’ve ordered one, BTW.) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746/23 "2022-12-20T18:42:02Z")
That’s interesting. Where did he clamp the connectors? Could be a bad ground cable. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746/24 "2022-12-20T18:48:50Z")
I was inside the Jeep, so I didn’t see. I assume he just clamped them to the posts. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746/25 "2022-12-20T18:49:32Z")
Do you have a voltmeter? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746/26 "2022-12-20T19:18:19Z")
I’m sure there’s a multimeter around here somewhere. So I went out and got most of the snow off. I tried to start it and heard a click. I turned the fan off so I could hear better (not that the fan was loud) and turned the key. It started. I shifted into 4WD(H) and made a couple of circles and then drove down the block and back. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746/27 "2022-12-20T20:09:13Z")
Intermittent problems can be hard to diagnose… ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746/28 "2022-12-20T20:38:29Z")
Have we talked about this vehicle before? Wasn’t/isn’t it exposed to salt air? ISTR talking about bad grounds and corroded connections. Could that still be an issue – like to your solenoid, starter, and/or ground for your NEG side of your battery? If something’s shorting to ground, bad things can happen. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2022, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746/29 "2022-12-22T01:58:30Z")
Well, the Jeep started yesterday; and it started a couple of times today. One thing: I’m sure the new battery is a help, just based on generalities. I did order a lithium battery booster box that will be here next week. Of course, we’re expecting much higher temperatures over the weekend. But my MO is to buy things to solve things, and then I never need the solutions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-jeep-cherokee-cold-start-problem/976746.md?page=1)