Jeep won't start...

Before the last meeting, the Jeep was a bit hesitant to start, but it did kick over and drove with no problems. Started fine in Dover as well. That was the last time I drove it.... :cmon:

Tonight, I was going over a friends to clean up our mt bikes, and it wouldn't start. It was trying at first, but wouldn't turn over. The negative cable on it is corroded, I always seem to have a problem with that. I jumped it, and it ran well after starting it. So I took it anyway.

Once there, I turned it off, and tried to start it again, and nothing, not even a click. Lights were on inside, but not enough to start. Wouldn't jump either, so it got left at my friends house.

Just the battery right? Not like an alternator or something more?

I did clean off the terminal before jumping it the first time. It had "piles" of corrosion on it, about an inch high. It happens all the time but only on that negative cable.

I was thinking it was a good excuse to upgrade to a red top and new cables. Jeeps never break down, they're just waiting for upgrades....

Jeep is a 2000, and the battery is original, so i'm replacing it with a red top. I got some cleaner and brushes to clean the cables up real well, and then I'll get some of that endura stuff too, thanks for the recommendation Donnie.

picked up some of those washers today too, thanks!

Got a new (to me) redtop in last night (thanks Turtle!). The old battery was just that...old, and it had a crack by the negative post as well, so I decided not to see if it could be recharged. Turns out, I think, that the corrosion was the cause of all the problems. It literally about 50% of the bolt and nut on the negative cable away, I couldn't even get pliers on it, it was down to nothing. That cable just twisted off. So, I had to replace the negative cable obviously. Two things came up. The bolt where the cable mounts to the block would turn when I tried to loosed the nut to get the cable off it, but getting a small socket on the end of that (looked like a torx bolt driver) worked.

Second thing was, the original 4 gauge cable mounted to the block, and had a second wire to the firewall. The new cable I got was what listed in the store's computer as a replacement, but I got 2 gauge instead. It hooked to the block fine, but the second wire was much smaller, about 6" long, and ended in a connector. I assume I'm supposed to get the same size wire and connector to hook this one to the firewall right? Is it necessary? Was it some kind of backup ground?

Thanks to Turtle and Quadna for their on the spot assistance!

It ran fine on the way home without it, just wondering if it's something I should plan on hooking back up at some point.

Quote from "Wolverine"

Paul, You jinxed me. I went out today to start the TJ and take it for a run and my yellow top was dead. My kids get in it and play and turn on my lights and then don't turn it off. I think its time for me to lay down the law.

They obviously don't listen. I told them to flatten the tires, not leave the lights on. Straighten them out!