94 Jeep Grand Cherokee starting problems

[TDH]

For the that last few week my jeep has been acting upon starting after it has been driven. Most of the time it starts right up just fine but every once in awhile after I have driven somewhere then try to start it up again it acts like the battery is dead. Sometimes it only does it one time then starts like normal, but the other day it did it three times in a row then on the fourth try it started right up. I just put a brand new battery and replaced the connectors so I know thats not the problem. I think its the starter but my mom seems to think its the alternator. What do guys think it could be?

[Jeremy airjer W]

4.0 or 5.2 liter?

Do you hear a single click when this happens? do all the dash lights work as they normally do when it happens.

I think there is a starter relay on both the 4.0 and the 5.2. I know for sure on the 5.2. If you don't hear a single click when you try to start than I would swap it with another relay in the fuse block and see if that works.

That still doesn't rule out the possibility of an ignition switch but swapping a relay is a lot cheaper than replacing the switch.

If you hear a single click and nothing else than its probably the starter. "turn the key and nothing happens, try it a couple of times and then it starts" is a pretty common complaint with the chrysler products.

If you hear a rapid clicking sound than the battery is dead.

An alternator has nothing to do with starting the vehicle. All it does is charge the battery and keep the vehicle running after it is started.

[TDH]

Its has the 4.0. I'm not sure about the dash lights I guess I never paid attention to that, I will next time it happens. I just took it for a drive and then tried turning it over several times. At first it started right up but then the problem started again. There isn't any clicking noise at all. Then I tried doing the same thing when I got home and started fine every time. It sounds just like it would if the battery was almost dead with just enough juice to turn the engine over but not enough to start the engine. I check the battery and it is fully charged.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Sounds like a starter to me. Especially if you change your own oil or have a rear main leaking. I've been working on a theory about oil soaked starters.

[TDH]

Well I went and ordered a starter relay it should be in tomorrow. Hopefully thats the problem since its a cheap quick fix. If not I will take the starter off and have a look see. Is there a way to tell if its oil soaked just by looking at it? If it is does that mean I need to get a new one or can it be cleaned?

[Jeremy airjer W]

There should be several relays that look or are the same as the starter relay in the fuse block. Swap it with one of those relays. No cost to you at all. If the system that the other relay controls stops working or the starter never acts up again than your on the right track by replacing it.

Oil gets in them then starts attracting dirt add high engine temps condensation and the spinning motion of the starter itself and you have a recipe for a whole lot of nastyness! Now the starter has to overcome the adding resistance of all the goo it has collected.

It just seems like there are way more starters getting replaced that are just soaked than starters that are not.