Ok, here's the scenario. I am working on a '98 Series I. This vehicle is not mine, and it doesn't get driven very often. In the past 12 months I have put 2 new batteries in this vehicle, one to replace a very old unit, and then another one under warranty to replace that one. Currently the vehicle is in a no start situation. I pulled the starter thinking it was bad, had it tested, and it tested out as well as you could expect, but was not bad. I have not checked the current battery, hopefully that's not it, and jumping the vehicle doesn't seem to affect whether it starts or not. It will turn over and then click click click. I'm stumped. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for your help. This vehicle is driving me crazy.

 

Sounds like a bad starter, it is binding up after a revolution or two?

 

Have you checked the connections to the battery, the grounds, etc? I had a Jeep with a similar problem. Turned out the insides of the battery terminals were corroded. You couldn't tell by looking at it, either.
Also, when this has come up before, a lot of people find that the starter ground, I believe, is the culprit. Some of those beefy grounds are down on/near the frame, and get exposed to the elements a lot. They get corroded, and you're no longer making a good circuit. So all your components may be good, but the juice just won't flow.

 

If two batteries got flat there is a huge possibility that there is a current draw.

Bad ground X2

 

I'll double check all the grounds and the battery terminals when I look at it Thursday. The starter itself IS NOT the problem. I ordered a new starter, thinking that was it, had the old one bench tested before putting the new one on, and the old one worked just like it was brand new. I had them test it for 20 cycles, and it never once failed or even hesitated. Soon as I get it back on the vehicle though, it will turn and click click click.

 

i'd start with checking your grounds.

 

I had the same problem as UpChuck. Truck would not even start with a jump. Turned out to be a bad connection at the negative battery terminal, and it was not obvious. Second on the ground possibilty too.