Starter switch? Issue

[RubberDuck]

I’ve got an electrical gremlin on my hands. Parked the jeep and it was just fine. Went to start it later - voltage drops from 12 to 10 on volt meter but won’t crank. I checked the solenoid and it cranks just fine when 12v is applied to the small terminal so it’s not that. Even ran a fresh wire to the wire coming out of the harness on the column. Could I have a bad key switch? Something else?

 

[Craner8]

I would check the battery. 10 Volts May not be enough to start it. Can you jump start it?

 

[HighSierra CJ]

I’d Check your ground

 

[RubberDuck]

I would check the battery. 10 Volts May not be enough to start it. Can you jump start it?

Battery is fine. It cranks and starts just fine if I give power to solenoid manually. What I'm saying is when I turn the key, the volt gauge drops but nothing happens. I checked the grounds on the battery and they seemed fine. If the ground to the engine was bad the starter wouldn't even crank, no? I should also note there are zero volts when key is turned on the small keyed power post on the solenoid.

 

[Randyzzz]

Battery is fine. It cranks and starts just fine if I give power to solenoid manually. What I'm saying is when I turn the key, the volt gauge drops but nothing happens. I checked the grounds on the battery and they seemed fine. If the ground to the engine was bad the starter wouldn't even crank, no? I should also note there are zero volts when key is turned on the small keyed power post on the solenoid.

Sounds like the ignition switch on the column. They’re not too hard to change.

 

[RubberDuck]

Sounds like the ignition switch on the column. They’re not too hard to change.

I don't want to go hacking up the wiring harness but is there an easy way to test the ground to the starter switch?

 

[Randyzzz]

I’m not by my wiring diagrams, but I you need to use a test light and see if there is power at the terminal on the ignition switch that feeds the solenoid trigger. If there’s power at the switch, but not the solenoid- wiring issue. If there’s no power at the switch- switch issue.

Found one online. You want to check for power at the blue wire with the key in the start position. The red wire is the feed from the battery.

 

[Dave The Sparky]

Sounds like the ignition switch on the column. They’re not too hard to change.

Or it could be down to wear in the rod that moves it i think i had to tweak mine a little when i put my 8 back together.

 

[Randyzzz]

Or it could be down to wear in the rod that moves it i think i had to tweak mine a little when i put my 8 back together.

That's a possibility too...

 

[Spieg]

The switch mounting holes are slotted to allow a little adjustment of the switch position. If the rod is is worn, you can probably move the switch a little to get it working again.

 

[Randyzzz]

The switch mounting holes are slotted to allow a little adjustment of the switch position. If the rod is is worn, you can probably move the switch a little to get it working again.

Or- the screws could be loose and the switch moved not allowing it to hit the start position.

 

[RubberDuck]

Forgot to circle back here with the solution - it indeed was the rod - I had to tweak it a bit, it wasn't pushing the starter switch quite far enough to fully contact. Thanks everyone! Hopefully this helps someone else.