2005 jeep liberty cranks but wont start

Just to kinda see if your battery is way down or alternator ain't chargin' it. Sorta a test, without using a voltmeter (let me know if you have one and know how to use it)

Turn you headlights on, have your buddy watch 'em. You try to crank it up. If they dim to nothingness or go completely out, you may want to check your battery/ charging system.

If they stay bright, check every mechanical connection from the battery to the starter on the Pos side, and also the same on the Neg side. Test as you go, this may let you know which connection was the problem. Leave nothing out, saying, "That looks good", as that's usually the one that will bite you in the butt!

There are a number of issues that can go wrong with starting system and make your 2005 Jeep Liberty car won’t start or hard time to start – This article guides you through some of the facts behind the starting system, and the components that may be to blame, and tells you what action you can take to try to remedy each situation.

No lights on the 2005 Jeep Liberty dashboard

If no lights coming on in the dashboard and no other electrical consumers work, the battery could be completely dead or there is no connection between the battery and the vehicle electrical system. Check if the battery terminals look tight. If the battery is completely dead, jump starting might help.

2005 Jeep Liberty the key won’t turn in the ignition

If the key won’t turn in the ignition, it could be for a couple of reasons: Often this happens when the steering is locked by the ignition lock with the front wheels turned aside or when one of the front wheels is pushed against something. In this case, try turning the steering wheel left and right while gently jiggling the ignition key – this might help to release the steering lock.

2005 Jeep Liberty No Start, No Sound, No Crank when you turn the key in the ignition:

If nothing happens when you turn the ignition key to the “Start” position, it means that the starter motor doesn’t turn over the engine. Most commonly this could be caused by a low/dead battery or there is no connection between the battery and starter.

Check the battery and the terminal cable connections. If they look really corroded, you need to clean the battery posts and cable connectors or replace the cables and try to start the engine. Also check the starter. The solenoid attached to the top of the starter can fail, as well as the components inside. Replace starter solenoid, starter contacts, starter assembly or repair starter circuit as required.

The 2005 Jeep Liberty car makes a clicking noise but won’t start:

If you turn the key to the “Start” position, but the engine won’t crank; all you hear is a single click or repeated clicking coming from the engine compartment. Very often this could be caused by a low battery or poor connection between the battery and starter.

Check the battery and the terminal cable connections. If they look really corroded, you need to clean the battery posts and cable connectors or replace the cables and try to start the engine. Also check the starter. The solenoid attached to the top of the starter can fail, as well as the components inside. Replace starter solenoid, starter contacts, starter assembly or repair starter circuit as required.

The 2005 Jeep Liberty  engine cranks over but won’t start:

There are many possible causes, but we know it is neither a battery nor a starter problem. Just remember: a vehicle will always require air, fuel, and the ignition to operate.

Check the fuel. You may be out of fuel, or the fuel isn’t getting to your engine. If the wrong amount of fuel is being injected into the combustion chamber, or being injected at the wrong time, the engine will not start. Again, this will be a case where the engine cranks over, but will not actually run. This could be caused by a few different parts including the fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel injectors, and fuel lines. Some of those options are a stretch, but do have an effect on the system. Start with the fuel injectors, and make sure they are clean.

If it’s not a fuel problem, the electrical spark isn’t getting through to the spark plugs. Check the spark. Without spark to ignite the fuel mix in the combustion chamber, the engine will not start. It will turn over or “crank over” but will never actually run.  Spark issues are not limited to the plugs. Check the spark plug wires, the distributor or module, and plug gap. These all have a huge effect on the function of the ignition system.

At this time of the year, rarely a week goes by that we don’t get a call from someone saying that their remote car starter stopped working. Nearly every call is the result of one of the situations below and is easily solved.

Remote Starter is in Valet Mode

The back of the Compustar remote control shows you how to get your vehicle out of valet mode. Click the photo for a larger image.

Symptoms: Lock and Unlock buttons work as normal, but pressing Start does not produce any response from the vehicle.

Causes: Someone accidentally pressed the combination of buttons to put the car into valet mode, usually when the remote is in a purse or pocket. Also, many remote car starters will revert to valet mode when the vehicle is disconnected for service.

Any good remote car starter should have some form of valet mode. The remote car starter can be put into this mode to prevent the vehicle from starting remotely while allowing keyless entry and certain other functions to work. You would do this when having service done to your vehicle.

Most of our remote starters go into valet mode by pressing a combination of two buttons on the remote control for 1/2 second. Look on the back of your remote for the proper buttons to press to enter and exit valet mode (Usually Lock+Trunk).

When you press these buttons, the parking lights should flash two times. Press the Start button, and your car should be warm and toasty!

Please note that certain other brands will have a “kill switch” under the dash that will also accomplish this. Many times, customers will accidentally bump this switch during day-to-day driving, causing the remote starter to go into valet mode. This is easily corrected in most cases by simply flipping the switch in the other direction.

Please refer to your owner’s manual for instructions on how to get your particular starter in and out of valet mode.

Hood Pin Has Broken or Failed

This is what a properly installed hood pin looks like. The location of the hood pin can vary from vehicle to vehicle. Note that, in some cases, a tilt switch is used in lieu of a hood pin.

Symptoms: Pressing Start results in several flashes of the parking lights but no start. If equipped, Lock and Unlock still function.

Cause: In most cases, the under-hood pin switch is broken or corroded.

Any remote starter must have a method of preventing the vehicle from starting when the hood is open. Without this, a mechanic could be seriously injured if the vehicle was remotely started while they were working on it. In most cases, this is accomplished by a hood pin switch or a hood tilt switch. Either of these devices will tell the car starter when the hood is open. These devices can fail over time or be broken if a mechanic leans on them accidentally. Replacing the hood switch is a simple matter and can be done at most mobile electronics stores.

Remote Control Loses Programming

Symptoms: Pressing any button on the remote results in no response from vehicle.

Cause: It is rare, but does happen – in most cases, this is caused by a dead battery in the vehicle or the battery having been disconnected when being serviced.

Remote starters usually have some type of non-volatile memory to retain things like programming features and remote control codes. Like any “computer” device, sometimes they lose memory. When this happens, simply call the store that installed it for you. In some cases, they may be able to tell you how to reprogram it over the phone. Other times, you will have to return to the store for a technician to program it. In any case, this is rare with higher-end remote starters.

Remote is in Second-car Mode

Symptoms: Pressing any button on the remote results in no response from vehicle.

Causes: A combination of buttons were accidentally pressed, which put the remote in second-car mode.

Again, this is very rare, but happens from time to time. Many remote car starter remote controls have the ability to start two vehicles. If the remote is accidentally placed into second-car mode, it will not start or operate vehicle #1.

Simply read your owner’s manual or call your installer for directions on how to revert the remote back to car #1.

Summary

There are a lot of myths surrounding remote car starters. Most are simply untrue. If you get a quality remote car starter installed by a professional installer, you will minimize your odds of having problems.

Most of the time, any situations that do come up can be solved by following the advice above.

Some final advice: When you are choosing a remote car starter and installer, do not trust your vehicle to the lowest bidder and be sure to get it installed where you bought it!

We hope that this helps, and we welcome your feedback in the comments section below! 

Please keep in mind that requests for technical support must be accompanied by the full name of person who originally purchased the starter at Mobile Edge or the original invoice number. We do not have the resources to provide technical support for starters not installed at Mobile Edge. Thank you for your understanding.

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