Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

88 xj no power to anything but starter and radio

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-11-2014, 08:29 PM
  #1  
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
 
884x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Justin, TEXAS
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default 88 xj no power to anything but starter and radio

so ive had an issue lately with my cherokee running rough when cold and running rich all the time.
but today it got severely worse, on my way home from work i noticed the volt meter was slightly less than usual. like 11volts. so i decided to do an experiment and turned both my e fans on, my blower motor, and my headlights. it dropped severly almost into the red. i turned off the accesories but it was too late. it started bucking and trying to die. it then did what i think was a backfire through the intake and blew the map tube off the side of the throttle body. i put it back on and started it. it ran okay but rough. it stalled a few times on the rest of the way home and noticed anytime there was an intermitten load on the battery the rpms would raise a few hunded then drop back down. when the jeep was off and i had the hazards on the rpms would shoot to 5000 then jump back down when the flash stopped. so its was jump jump jump along with the flashers. when the jeep was off the coolant temp sender was shooting past the red unless the key was turned. now the jeep wont start and i have no fuel, spark, headlights, dashlghts, anything but acceserys that are not ran through the ecu. so i have my e fans, my starter and my radio. im gonna go out on a limb and guess my ecu took a dump on me?
heres what ive done to the jeep latley.
new starter, new tps adjusted properly, cleaned throtte body and iac, cleaned intake manifold, new 4.0, cleaned grounds, c101 elimination, new cps, new iat, done cruisers ground test and it tested good last time i did it(yesterday)746 injecors, fuel pressure test tested great.
idk what to do here guys, help me out!!
(i know you have some info for me cruiser, lol!)
Old 12-11-2014, 10:12 PM
  #2  
CF Veteran
 
Turbo X_J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ☼ Blackhole Sun
Posts: 8,567
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes on 16 Posts
Year: My Jeep is a GMC
Default

Wiring
Alternator
Battery
Old 12-11-2014, 10:49 PM
  #3  
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
 
884x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Justin, TEXAS
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Turbo X_J
Wiring
Alternator
Battery
Battery cables are new, 2 ga. Cable
Alternator has maybe 500 miles on it. Battery has 500 miles on it and it's a optima yellow top.
The jeep cranks fin I just don't have fuel, spark or any accessories that run through the computer.
I'm gonna try to pick up an ecu Tomorow I think. I've really gotta get her running guys! I've got an important toy drive/wheeling event to go to at my local ohv park this Saturday
Old 12-12-2014, 07:57 AM
  #4  
Member
 
lualchro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Costa Rica
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Also check the fuse box, in my 89XJ the fuse box was a nightmare, causing all kinds of issues, and actually I end up removing the OEM and installing a new one, this cured 99% of my electrical problems, the other problem I did have was the ignition switch.

Discard those ones out, check voltage is getting in and out as it should
Old 12-12-2014, 10:50 AM
  #5  
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
 
884x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Justin, TEXAS
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

So I just found out when I try to turn my e fans on(wired to my own fuse block off the battery) the relays just click. The switches are wired to the fuse block though so that might make sense if there the power switch to the relay is through the ecu where I plugged it into the fuse block. I pulled the ecu and it looks good

Name:  ForumRunner_20141212_104802.png
Views: 173
Size:  467.4 KB



Name:  ForumRunner_20141212_104811.png
Views: 180
Size:  426.9 KB
Old 12-12-2014, 03:28 PM
  #6  
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
 
884x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Justin, TEXAS
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Alright, so I decided because I have a renix jeep, I should really clean my grounds. I found black paint behind the dipstick mount where the engine remanufacture's painted. The ring terminals on the grounds were gross too.
I wire wheeled the block, the dipstick mounting bracket, all the ground terminals and even wire wheeled the bolt that holds them all on. I then costed them with copper flake greese(anti seize) and bolted them back up. I then found the rear ground strap completely loose...(problem found?) Just for good measure I wire wheeled the ring terminals and the mounting areas. Gave it a good snug on there and crossed my fingers.
She started right up!
Now I can go to the event tomorrow and all is good.
Idling a little higher on a cold start but still low. It does seem to shift better...lol
Old 12-12-2014, 03:54 PM
  #7  
Seasoned Member
 
Stabsthedrama's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Lehigh Valley PA
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 renix
Default

Good to hear.

I would suggest running an extra ground strap eventually (one of the beefy ones you can find at an auto store, not another braided pos) on the right side attached to a rear fuel rail bolt. The dipstick side I replaced with a bigger one to the firewall. Easy, cheap insurance for the under engineered grounding.

You can kinda see them on mine in this pic

I just left the old strap on the back of the engine and didn't even bother cleaning it.

Last edited by Stabsthedrama; 12-12-2014 at 03:56 PM.
Old 12-12-2014, 04:00 PM
  #8  
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
 
884x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Justin, TEXAS
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Stabsthedrama
Good to hear.

I would suggest running an extra ground strap eventually (one of the beefy ones you can find at an auto store, not another braided pos) on the right side attached to a rear fuel rail bolt. The dipstick side I replaced with a bigger one to the firewall. Easy, cheap insurance for the under engineered grounding.

You can kinda see them on mine in this pic

I just left the old strap on the back of the engine and didn't even bother cleaning it.
Diddnt think about putting another there! I was gonna put one made of 4ga. Cable from the dipstick grounds to the unibody rail. When I'm doing that I'll put another on the fuel rail bolts.
Thanks man
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
studmuffin
Modified XJ Cherokee Tech
16
10-15-2018 04:56 PM
Azzy
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
0
09-08-2015 10:49 PM
SouthSeaPirate
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
0
09-07-2015 11:29 PM
Jared Hall
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
2
09-07-2015 08:56 AM
GaryL
Cherokee Chat
0
09-06-2015 09:09 AM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


Quick Reply: 88 xj no power to anything but starter and radio



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:30 PM.