Hey i just bought a CJ-5 its in pretty rough shape but for the price i paid was worth it. I am looking to rebuild it and don't know where to start. i always wanted to understand vehicles and everything but i have no one to teach me so im hopping i can get somewhere to start from you guys! The person i bought it from said the 304 will turn over but not start. So when i got it home i of course tried starting it but nothing. not turning over or anything so now i need to know where to start, just some pointers on where to go from here! B/C i would love to start her up! thanks everyone!!

Have you checked the battery? Have you checked the wires going to the starter? Have you checked the wire coming from the ignition switch for 12 volts when the key is in start?

Welcome to the Jeep side! A good way to start is to buy a Haynes or Chilton's manual that covers the Jeep. Sometimes you can borrow them from the public library. They cover basic trouble shooting and you can read about your Jeep in your spare time.

IF you want to start it, check the oil and water in the engine. Make sure you have a good battery fully charged. Check the battery cable terminals on both ends and clean and tighten as needed. then try starting with the key switch. Depending on what happens next we may be able to help you figure it out. But still, get a manual, you won't regret it. You may, however, come to regret buying the Jeep! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Good luck and have fun with it! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Yeh hehe i got a manuel, and the battery is currently being charged not sure if it will hold any juice tho, yeh i got a haynes manual and i just start jumping into that thanks guys! hehe anymore questions i will ask ya!

If it turns over and does not start look at fuel... If it has been sitting a while the carb might be fubared.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Hey,
Welcome to the Jeep world! I'm a newbie Jeep owner too and these guys have been a lot of help for me so far. I know I've asked some pretty stupid stuff and no one has taken my head off my shoulders (yet). LOL

I have a 1985 CJ7 that is currently not running. With luck and the advice I got here, I am hoping it will start up tomorrow.

Sometimes the figuring out what is wrong with something is the most fun of working on this stuff. Everyone said pretty much the same thing...check the basics. Make sure you have fuel going to the carb and check to make sure you have spark at the plugs. I had neither when I started this morning and now I at least have the spark at the plugs.

Good luck.

Mike

make sure you check all the engine fluids before you get it started.

Yeh it seems as if it has been sitting for awhile i charged the battery and nothing happened. I tapped the gas tank to see how dense it sounded and it sounded completely empty, but thats not important till she turns over, haha! So im ganna try and jump start it in the morning see if the battery is even holding juice or if it is just completely shot, also if it doesn't would could it be an electrical problem not the battery? because i have no idea how to check eletrics lol, i have general knowledge about the mechanics lol but not so much the wires any suggestions on where to begin or how to check the cables? and if that could even be an issue? any help be awesome lol i know these sounds rediclious but i just want to learn ! Thanks guys!

p.s. I checked the fluids and they seemed clean and all filled but person before me must of tried <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />