Dmende15

I own a 2000 Jeep cherokee xj. When the jeep is cold and I go to start it turns over and fires right up. Then I drive to the store anything and turn it off it idles fine. When I come back out and its up to temperature it cranks for a while then starts up. I hear the fuel pump building pressure when the key is in the on position. I am at a standstill on what this could be any ideas?

9998Cherokees

This may be rare; a foolish answer, or just my luck. But if you have an oil leak, near the back of the valve cover....oil can drip down, lands on the starter, and eventually, it goes (the starter gets shorted out). I've replaced 2 starters (and now 2 valve cover gaskets); 1 in each jeep. I had the same problem as you, with both....soon as I changed out the gasket...no more weird starting issues. And I saw (on my 1st jeep) the pulled starter, that my mechanic had just done (covered in oil), then explained it to me. Made sense, and I haven't had any problems like yours sense. If you think hearing the fuel pump going with key ON (but not running) is an issue; I don't think so, 'cause mine has done the same thing, always; the both of them. That's just the pump doing what it's s'posed to, far as I know.

But, I am no mechanic, and know very little; just been my experience. Others that know more'n me will be along to help, I'm sure.
Best of luck to you; this is a good place to find help; they'll get it sorted out!

armedwithturtles

sounds like vapour lock

tjwalker

Search for "HEAT SOAK".

Quite common with the 00-01 XJ.

dave1123

Bingo! The cast iron exhaust manifolds used on the 00-01 XJ's hold the heat a lot longer when shut off and boil the fuel in the rail. Mopar has a heat shield for that that covers the gaps under the injectors and helps with this.