2000 XJ Engine Dying While Driving
 

My 2000 XJ sport is randomly dying on me while I'm driving. It only has about 78,000 miles and has been running perfect for a while now.

All of a sudden last weekend the engine just dies. No check engine light at all. Sit for a little bit, try it again, it starts but only gets a few feet and dies again. Call AAA, thinking it might be the battery, get a new battery and drive at least 20 more miles that same day. Later on that same day, tried to drive it again. I get about 5 min from my house, engine dies again.

I've heard a few possibilities like crank sensor, oil sending unit, fuel pump, maybe even a dirty fuel injector but wanted to see if anyone else has also experienced something similar or any advice.

Just a shot in the dark but maybe its getting vapor lock? Im not sure if the fuel tank has a vent but i would assume so. Maybe something to consider

Really? Somebody suggested the oil sending unit???? Get some smarter friends! :icon_rolleyes:

A dirty fuel injector is going to cause a miss on that cylinder, not a complete shut down. Fuel pump won't come and go like that, and rarely will it fail suddenly. IF it does, it's not likely going to come back at all. They normally go away gradually, showing up as poor running long before they quit. You'll have hard starting, too.


Test your CPS. Those are classic CPS symptoms. If it's the CPS, do yourself a favor. Bite the bullet, pay the dealer for a genuine Mopar part. The success rate on aftermarket sensors, especially that one, is very poor. Lots of folks have pulled out a lot of hair troubleshooting a problem which couldn't possibility be the CPS because they already replaced it. Then they find out their new CPS was bad out of the box. OR it died in a few days, or weeks.

I think Crank Positioning Sensor too.
Kinda sounds like my experience.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/cut...riving-241745/

Thing is if it is thermal failure causing this the test will indicate a good CPS.
At least it did in my situation.

Is there a way to test for thermal failure? I'm 90% sure that's what is happening with mine but I can't check it unless I run it to the point of thermal failure and then quickly throw a multimeter on it. Given the last time it failed on me was on the Golden Gate Bridge I'm not really trying to do that again.