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.

91 XJ stuttered twice, then shut off. Brakes stiffened, power steering quit. ECM?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-28-2013, 11:20 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
91cherokeeSC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6
Default 91 XJ stuttered twice, then shut off. Brakes stiffened, power steering quit. ECM?

My girlfriend's parents had a Grand Cherokee that had the same issue. They couldn't afford to fix it, so they had to junk it. I've tried junkyards, but I could only find two XJ's, both of which are missing the ECM.

They had their Grand hooked up, and it apparently pointed to the ECM. When her dad showed up to help me, he asked what it did right before it shut off. After I told him, he pointed to the ECM and explained that their Jeep did the same thing, and the ECM was the problem.

I don't want to have to pay out of pocket, again, to have it towed to a shop to get it hooked up to diagnose the issue. And I know how to get the ECM off myself, so towing it to a shop for them to test it and then charge me for something I can buy and do myself seems a little stupid in my opinion.

Does this sound like an ECM problem?
Old 12-28-2013, 11:57 AM
  #2  
Newbie
 
jeep96cherokee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Default

The power steering and brakes are powered by the engine itself so they will stiffen when the engine shuts off. Its possible the ECM could have gone but I wouldnt buy a expensive computer without trying other less expensive parts. Maybe the crankshaft sensor, that can cause it not to run when they go bad. Work your way up, you dont want to waste that kind of money on a computer if it isnt the problem. In the past, the magnetic pickup in the distributer caused my 96 to not run, maybe look into that too.

Last edited by jeep96cherokee; 12-28-2013 at 02:30 PM.
Old 12-28-2013, 04:58 PM
  #3  
CF Veteran
 
freegdr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Broward County Fl.
Posts: 47,923
Likes: 0
Received 22 Likes on 22 Posts
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
Default

What codes did it show when you checked them...
Old 12-31-2013, 06:32 PM
  #4  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
91cherokeeSC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6
Default

I'll check into that. It starts sometimes, and I can go the length of my driveway (probably 50-70 yards) and it shuts off. And then I have to push it to the side, and wait a few hours, and then back up down the driveway to where it was. Does that sound similar to what the crankshaft sensor going out would be?

I've also been recommended to get a new coil where the distributor cap is at. My neighbor is a diesel mechanic, so he said to get the coil, and he'll put it in, and hopefully that will be a solution.
Old 12-31-2013, 06:34 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
91cherokeeSC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6
Default

Originally Posted by freegdr
What codes did it show when you checked them...
My neighbor has the computer thing for that, but it only works for '96-'10. Plus my check engine light isn't coming on. And I can't afford to have it towed to a shop.
Old 12-31-2013, 08:15 PM
  #6  
::CF Moderator::
 
cruiser54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,872
Received 1,526 Likes on 1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Find a way to test the CPS when it quits on you, using a simple meter. ECU/PCM is the LAST place to look.
Old 12-31-2013, 09:27 PM
  #7  
Newbie
 
jeep96cherokee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Default

Distributer cap could also be the culprit, most of the time when the crankshaft sensor goes bad, it won't run at all.
Old 01-01-2014, 04:16 AM
  #8  
CF Veteran
 
freegdr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Broward County Fl.
Posts: 47,923
Likes: 0
Received 22 Likes on 22 Posts
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
Default

Originally Posted by 91cherokeeSC
My neighbor has the computer thing for that, but it only works for '96-'10. Plus my check engine light isn't coming on. And I can't afford to have it towed to a shop.
Don't need computer for early years ,just because light aint on don't mean theres not soft codes . If theres no code present that eliminates all ecm controlled systems pretty much then you can concentrate on other ares.....
http://jeep-xj.info/HowtoECUcodes.htm
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
erupert66
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
11
06-07-2021 01:45 AM
Remington
Introductions
6
09-01-2015 01:23 PM
lpresnell
Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here!
9
08-26-2015 02:34 PM
SwankyXJ
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
11
08-22-2015 09:16 PM

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


Quick Reply: 91 XJ stuttered twice, then shut off. Brakes stiffened, power steering quit. ECM?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:09 AM.