Click, but no Start!

Well, first things first. What vehicle? What engine? what transmission? and what year?
Now that's out of the way, several things can cause a no start no crank. The first and easiest, is putting the shifter in "neutral" assuming it's an automatic, and trying to start. if no luck and you have a helper, have them, with the shifter in park, hold the key in the start position and smack the starter with a hammer. if it starts, YAY!! if not, then a deeper investigation must be conducted.
The first click you hear when you turn the key to start is the fuel pump priming, which shoud only last a couple seconds. multiple clicking from the solenoid can be a weak battery.

Also if you get to the point where that click is the starter solenoid, then you need to verify the connection to the battery and ground, very important on Jeeps. Make sure the cables are not corroded on the inside of the insulation.

Gluckmysock said:

Well, first things first. What vehicle? What engine? what transmission? and what year?
Now that's out of the way, several things can cause a no start no crank. The first and easiest, is putting the shifter in "neutral" assuming it's an automatic, and trying to start. if no luck and you have a helper, have them, with the shifter in park, hold the key in the start position and smack the starter with a hammer. if it starts, YAY!! if not, then a deeper investigation must be conducted.
The first click you hear when you turn the key to start is the fuel pump priming, which shoud only last a couple seconds. multiple clicking from the solenoid can be a weak battery.

Click to expand...

2001 Cherokee 4.0L Automatic

The XJ has the same behavior starting from neutral.
I have done the "smacking" thing. It worked the first time like a charm, but did not work after more repeated attempts. This is what leads me to thinking it needs a new starter.
I installed a brand new battery and confirmed that the charging system works appropriately last week before the starter issue popped up.

warriorsuspension said:

Also if you get to the point where that click is the starter solenoid, then you need to verify the connection to the battery and ground, very important on Jeeps. Make sure the cables are not corroded on the inside of the insulation.

Click to expand...

I think I am going to go ahead and run new cables as well... Might as well, right? One of those "while I'm at its..."

"Smacking" causes the contacts in the solenoid to move and make contact causing the starter to spin. If you have a helper, have them hold the key in start and check for voltage at the starter solenoid. It has just 3 connections. 2 large and 1 small.
The small one is the "exciter wire" or the signal wire from the ignition switch,. It may be attached with a crimp on connector or be bolted to the solenoid. When the ignition switch is turned to crank and the neutral safety switch (NSS) is in park (or neutral) and any built in security features give the "OK", this wire sends 12 volts to the starter solenoid, which is mounted on the starter.
Of the 2 large wires, One is the main power wire an comes directly from the battery.
The other one is very short and goes from the solenoid into the starter. this is why it is so important to have a good ground connection from the battery to the block. Replacing these cables is wise and I highly recommend it.