Delay to start

While driving my girlfriends 2002 Grand Cherokee, sometimes the system
would refuse to start. I'd have to take the key out, hit the 'unlock'
button,
then try again. Once or twice I noticed a 'security' light on the dash as
well, but it's not a big deal.

Yesterday something new happened. I went to start it and nothing. I
was just starting to release the key and try again and it started.

I know, perception is a strange thing, but I swear it was well over a second
from when I turned the key and it finally engaged the starter. Maybe
even two whole seconds.

I'm under the impression that the key just sends a signal to the body
computer
to start, and the motor could actually be started just from commands on
the vehicle bus. But I wonder, what could cause the delay like this?

Do you hear a click and then nothing? If so, it could be the solenoid
contacts have failed. Do a Google search on this to find a wealth of good
info. If no click, then check battery connections, ignition key switch, and
the starter relay circuit. You do not indicate mileage, but from my
experience, most Chrysler starters fail around 60-80K miles.

Good luck. The parts are easy and cheap to replace so don't buy a rebuilt
starter unless you have a lot of $ to spare or can't wait for the parts.

Bob

Mike Y" > wrote in message ...
> While driving my girlfriends 2002 Grand Cherokee, sometimes the system
> would refuse to start. I'd have to take the key out, hit the 'unlock'
> button,
> then try again. Once or twice I noticed a 'security' light on the dash as
> well, but it's not a big deal.
>
> Yesterday something new happened. I went to start it and nothing. I
> was just starting to release the key and try again and it started.
>
> I know, perception is a strange thing, but I swear it was well over a
> second
> from when I turned the key and it finally engaged the starter. Maybe
> even two whole seconds.
>
> I'm under the impression that the key just sends a signal to the body
> computer
> to start, and the motor could actually be started just from commands on
> the vehicle bus. But I wonder, what could cause the delay like this?
>
>

Nope, no click. I don't believe this is a mechanical/electrical issue. At
least, not down at the starter. And it's not really an issue as such. It's
just a anomaly that makes me wonder...

With a lot of the newer cars, the starter seems to be controlled by one of
the computers, and the key just signals the computer to start the process.
It's almost like the computer in the car goes into a suspend and when you
turn the key to start it has to wake up the computer and then begin the
start process.

The other thing I wonder is since the security system sometimes prevents
starting (something else I can't seem to figure out why, but just turning
the
key off, toggling the key fob to unlock the doors, then turning the key on
clears the problem) also makes me wonder. But at least in the security
issue case, there's a dash light that goes on and says 'security'.


"Bob Shuman" > wrote in message
t...
> Do you hear a click and then nothing? If so, it could be the solenoid
> contacts have failed. Do a Google search on this to find a wealth of good
> info. If no click, then check battery connections, ignition key switch,
and
> the starter relay circuit. You do not indicate mileage, but from my
> experience, most Chrysler starters fail around 60-80K miles.
>
> Good luck. The parts are easy and cheap to replace so don't buy a rebuilt
> starter unless you have a lot of $ to spare or can't wait for the parts.
>
> Bob
>
> Mike Y" > wrote in message ...
> > While driving my girlfriends 2002 Grand Cherokee, sometimes the system
> > would refuse to start. I'd have to take the key out, hit the 'unlock'
> > button,
> > then try again. Once or twice I noticed a 'security' light on the dash
as
> > well, but it's not a big deal.
> >
> > Yesterday something new happened. I went to start it and nothing. I
> > was just starting to release the key and try again and it started.
> >
> > I know, perception is a strange thing, but I swear it was well over a
> > second
> > from when I turned the key and it finally engaged the starter. Maybe
> > even two whole seconds.
> >
> > I'm under the impression that the key just sends a signal to the body
> > computer
> > to start, and the motor could actually be started just from commands on
> > the vehicle bus. But I wonder, what could cause the delay like this?
> >
> >
>
>

Mike Y wrote:

> Nope, no click. I don't believe this is a mechanical/electrical issue. At
> least, not down at the starter. And it's not really an issue as such. It's
> just a anomaly that makes me wonder...
>
> With a lot of the newer cars, the starter seems to be controlled by one of
> the computers, and the key just signals the computer to start the process.
> It's almost like the computer in the car goes into a suspend and when you
> turn the key to start it has to wake up the computer and then begin the
> start process.

Yes, I notice this on LOTS of modern cars. GMs are the worst, because
not only do they delay engaging the starter, they KEEP it engaged until
the engine starts even if you release the key. Really makes you feel
like you're only giving suggestions to the computer and its actually
running the car. I don't like that.

cealn battery posts and terminals goog as well as top of battery

Mike Y wrote:

> Nope, no click. I don't believe this is a mechanical/electrical issue. At
> least, not down at the starter. And it's not really an issue as such. It's
> just a anomaly that makes me wonder...
>
> With a lot of the newer cars, the starter seems to be controlled by one of
> the computers, and the key just signals the computer to start the process.
> It's almost like the computer in the car goes into a suspend and when you
> turn the key to start it has to wake up the computer and then begin the
> start process.
>
> The other thing I wonder is since the security system sometimes prevents
> starting (something else I can't seem to figure out why, but just turning
> the
> key off, toggling the key fob to unlock the doors, then turning the key on
> clears the problem) also makes me wonder. But at least in the security
> issue case, there's a dash light that goes on and says 'security'.
>
> "Bob Shuman" > wrote in message
> t...
> > Do you hear a click and then nothing? If so, it could be the solenoid
> > contacts have failed. Do a Google search on this to find a wealth of good
> > info. If no click, then check battery connections, ignition key switch,
> and
> > the starter relay circuit. You do not indicate mileage, but from my
> > experience, most Chrysler starters fail around 60-80K miles.
> >
> > Good luck. The parts are easy and cheap to replace so don't buy a rebuilt
> > starter unless you have a lot of $ to spare or can't wait for the parts.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > Mike Y" > wrote in message ...
> > > While driving my girlfriends 2002 Grand Cherokee, sometimes the system
> > > would refuse to start. I'd have to take the key out, hit the 'unlock'
> > > button,
> > > then try again. Once or twice I noticed a 'security' light on the dash
> as
> > > well, but it's not a big deal.
> > >
> > > Yesterday something new happened. I went to start it and nothing. I
> > > was just starting to release the key and try again and it started.
> > >
> > > I know, perception is a strange thing, but I swear it was well over a
> > > second
> > > from when I turned the key and it finally engaged the starter. Maybe
> > > even two whole seconds.
> > >
> > > I'm under the impression that the key just sends a signal to the body
> > > computer
> > > to start, and the motor could actually be started just from commands on
> > > the vehicle bus. But I wonder, what could cause the delay like this?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >

Uh, no.

Well, ok, tell me why? There are no lights dimming or other indications
of current limiting. How would cleaning the battery terminals help?


"philthy" > wrote in message ...
> cealn battery posts and terminals goog as well as top of battery
>
> Mike Y wrote:
>
> > Nope, no click. I don't believe this is a mechanical/electrical issue.
At
> > least, not down at the starter. And it's not really an issue as such.
It's
> > just a anomaly that makes me wonder...
> >
> > With a lot of the newer cars, the starter seems to be controlled by one
of
> > the computers, and the key just signals the computer to start the
process.
> > It's almost like the computer in the car goes into a suspend and when
you
> > turn the key to start it has to wake up the computer and then begin the
> > start process.
> >
> > The other thing I wonder is since the security system sometimes prevents
> > starting (something else I can't seem to figure out why, but just
turning
> > the
> > key off, toggling the key fob to unlock the doors, then turning the key
on
> > clears the problem) also makes me wonder. But at least in the security
> > issue case, there's a dash light that goes on and says 'security'.
> >
> > "Bob Shuman" > wrote in message
> > t...
> > > Do you hear a click and then nothing? If so, it could be the solenoid
> > > contacts have failed. Do a Google search on this to find a wealth of
good
> > > info. If no click, then check battery connections, ignition key
switch,
> > and
> > > the starter relay circuit. You do not indicate mileage, but from my
> > > experience, most Chrysler starters fail around 60-80K miles.
> > >
> > > Good luck. The parts are easy and cheap to replace so don't buy a
rebuilt
> > > starter unless you have a lot of $ to spare or can't wait for the
parts.
> > >
> > > Bob
> > >
> > > Mike Y" > wrote in message
...
> > > > While driving my girlfriends 2002 Grand Cherokee, sometimes the
system
> > > > would refuse to start. I'd have to take the key out, hit the
'unlock'
> > > > button,
> > > > then try again. Once or twice I noticed a 'security' light on the
dash
> > as
> > > > well, but it's not a big deal.
> > > >
> > > > Yesterday something new happened. I went to start it and nothing.
I
> > > > was just starting to release the key and try again and it started.
> > > >
> > > > I know, perception is a strange thing, but I swear it was well over
a
> > > > second
> > > > from when I turned the key and it finally engaged the starter.
Maybe
> > > > even two whole seconds.
> > > >
> > > > I'm under the impression that the key just sends a signal to the
body
> > > > computer
> > > > to start, and the motor could actually be started just from commands
on
> > > > the vehicle bus. But I wonder, what could cause the delay like
this?
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
>

poor connectio between sufaces of posts and cables see it all the time

Mike Y wrote:

> Uh, no.
>
> Well, ok, tell me why? There are no lights dimming or other indications
> of current limiting. How would cleaning the battery terminals help?
>
> "philthy" > wrote in message ...
> > cealn battery posts and terminals goog as well as top of battery
> >
> > Mike Y wrote:
> >
> > > Nope, no click. I don't believe this is a mechanical/electrical issue.
> At
> > > least, not down at the starter. And it's not really an issue as such.
> It's
> > > just a anomaly that makes me wonder...
> > >
> > > With a lot of the newer cars, the starter seems to be controlled by one
> of
> > > the computers, and the key just signals the computer to start the
> process.
> > > It's almost like the computer in the car goes into a suspend and when
> you
> > > turn the key to start it has to wake up the computer and then begin the
> > > start process.
> > >
> > > The other thing I wonder is since the security system sometimes prevents
> > > starting (something else I can't seem to figure out why, but just
> turning
> > > the
> > > key off, toggling the key fob to unlock the doors, then turning the key
> on
> > > clears the problem) also makes me wonder. But at least in the security
> > > issue case, there's a dash light that goes on and says 'security'.
> > >
> > > "Bob Shuman" > wrote in message
> > > t...
> > > > Do you hear a click and then nothing? If so, it could be the solenoid
> > > > contacts have failed. Do a Google search on this to find a wealth of
> good
> > > > info. If no click, then check battery connections, ignition key
> switch,
> > > and
> > > > the starter relay circuit. You do not indicate mileage, but from my
> > > > experience, most Chrysler starters fail around 60-80K miles.
> > > >
> > > > Good luck. The parts are easy and cheap to replace so don't buy a
> rebuilt
> > > > starter unless you have a lot of $ to spare or can't wait for the
> parts.
> > > >
> > > > Bob
> > > >
> > > > Mike Y" > wrote in message
> ...
> > > > > While driving my girlfriends 2002 Grand Cherokee, sometimes the
> system
> > > > > would refuse to start. I'd have to take the key out, hit the
> 'unlock'
> > > > > button,
> > > > > then try again. Once or twice I noticed a 'security' light on the
> dash
> > > as
> > > > > well, but it's not a big deal.
> > > > >
> > > > > Yesterday something new happened. I went to start it and nothing.
> I
> > > > > was just starting to release the key and try again and it started.
> > > > >
> > > > > I know, perception is a strange thing, but I swear it was well over
> a
> > > > > second
> > > > > from when I turned the key and it finally engaged the starter.
> Maybe
> > > > > even two whole seconds.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm under the impression that the key just sends a signal to the
> body
> > > > > computer
> > > > > to start, and the motor could actually be started just from commands
> on
> > > > > the vehicle bus. But I wonder, what could cause the delay like
> this?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >