Hey all. I've read as many threads as I could find related to this issue, but haven't found anyone with the exact situation I'm in, so here it goes...

Jeep: 1996, 4.0 I6, 155K miles. Manual. Starter is a year old. Distributor is 2 years old. Fuel pump, fuel filter, and computer are 4 years old. Most other electrical parts in good shape.

Monday last week: I was running around town making multiple stops, and it began to get sluggish when starting up. Got it home fine.

Tuesday morning: Starts with difficulty, and only after I crushed the gas. Would not idle unless my foot was on the gas. Died when I took it off. Couldn't get to a parts store last week at all, so I drove my wife's Jeep.

Saturday Tried to jump it. Wouldn't even turn over. I got a click (just one, like something was trying to engage).

Today Put a new battery in (500 amp). Got it to start up for a few seconds, then died. Wouldn't even turn over after that, even after another jump.


Is it the alternator? My old battery was a 550 amp, and I ran it for two years with no problems (until this week), so I don't suspect that the 50 less amps are an issue. This all came on really fast -- just over one evening -- much faster than I would expect if it were a dying alternator.

Any thoughts/shared experience would be really appreciated. Thanks.

 

Could it be the altenator? Perhaps, take it to advanced auto zone to have it tested. To me it sounds like it is either the crankshaft positioning sensor or the idle air control

 

sounds like my CPS adventure .. random .. took awhile but finally went awol / stranded

 

Have you checked you battery cable ends?? Both ends check for being loose or corroded. I put on a set of walmart cheapo ends had nothing but trouble out of them. I used heavy duty bolt on ends still trouble finally got a set of pressed ends and problem solved. Any way acted the same way as you are talking

 

This. If you put a new battery in, and it wouldn't even crank, it can't be the alternator.

 

The replies are much appreciated guys. I'll follow up once the problem's solved.

 

So, I replaced the battery terminal connectors today and this solved the "not even cranking" problem. Now it will just turn over and over, but won't start up. I've changed the fuel pump and fuel filter within the last couple of years, but as far as I know the alternator is the original. Maybe time for a new one?

 

Have you checked to see if it is a fuel problem? An altenator problem wont let it not start unless there is no battery power at all.

 

Do you hear the fuel pump run a few seconds when you turn the key to "ON"?
How about spark- got any? Pull a plug, plug it back into the wire, lay it on metal to ground the shell- watch the gap while cranking.

 

Ace, I'm also in Tampa and have an extra crank sensor that I know is working. I bought a new one, but it didn't fix my stalling issue. Turned out to be the freakin TPS sensor. You can borrow it to check if that's the problem. I won't charge you for it if you don't need it.

 

Much appreciated buddy! And thanks to everyone who has posted advice. I'm really thankful for the Forum.

Problem is solved. She's running like a top this evening after replacing the IAC and the TPS. The only bad thing when you replace multiple parts is you can't be sure which was the culprit... but I suspect it was the IAC. Take a look at that jank. Thanks guys!

 

lol, DAMN! No problem man. Glad you got it figured out!


EDIT: If you don't mind me asking, how much was the IAC and where did you get it from?

 

Glad you got it fixed!

 

I get most of my stuff from rockauto.com. They're cheaper on most parts, but even on the ones they're not, I would rather have it dropped on my doorstep than run all over town trying to find someone who's got the right one.

 

And, to answer your question, the IAC I got was around $22.