Been reading this form for a few years but never posted until now. Yesterday I was driving and my engine and gauges completely cut out. Had to get her towed and now I’m in a bit of a bind.

Vehicle Specs:
- 98 Jeep Cherokee Classic
- Inline 6, 4.0 engine
- Automatic 4x4
- just over 97,000 miles

General Status:
- Engine turns over but doesn’t fire
- Fuel present in the fuel rod
- just replaced the crankshaft position sensor today with not luck
- Using ether has no effect

When key is turned one click before ignition:
- no gauges come alive with the exception of the oil pressure bouncing slightly above the position it sits at when the car is off
- Electronic radiator fans turns on and blows constantly
- lights and radio all function normally


I’ve seen a few older threads that have some similar issues but the only thing I can think of now is to start replacing fuses?

This forum has helped me out a lot in the past and any help on this would be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

Your gauges going out is not your CPS but indicates a bigger (electric) failure
(almost like you lost a battery cable connection there) .

Have you verified you have spark?

It's also helpfully to actually measure your fuelpressure to ensure it's good (fuel coming out the valve does not necessarily mean good fuel pressure)

 

Edit to my post above:
After reading several other threads over the past days on different issues, I came across one thread in which it was suggested to disconnect the CPS to check if the gauges would come back. If they do, its recommended to replace the CPS.
I havent gone through wiring diagrams to be able to explain this but it's worth a try since it's free and non-invasive.

 

You said ether didn't help, which suggests you don't have spark either, but check that to confirm. No gauges and e-fan running make me think electrical too. Checked all the fuses?

 

Fuses are easily an immediate check, as stated checking actual fuel pressure is a good idea. Harbor freight has a good universal pressure check kit in a hard case, very useful for more than just fuel pressure. Verifying spark and clean grounds in your engine bay - also easy and free to do. Battery terminal and even tossing a meter on your alternators output

 

Check ALL your GROUND WIRES.

Under the hood,
Between battery neg terminal and inner fender wall
2 under the coil
1 at the oil dipstick
2 at the PCM
Braided strap at back of engine to firewall

also 2 in back, Behind the spare tire
also clean battery terminals.


I just went through something similar.

 

How about a new cap and rotor new coil and or coil wire?

 

None of that should make the e-fan run with only the ignition on. And not running. Im thinking the shutdown relay might be bad, or the efan relay is stuck on IN ADDITION to his other issue

 

Well the OP hasn't been back since his first post so I'm not sure where we are going here.

 

Hi zyche liberator here, although I,m a newbie to these forums I found that I had the same issue that most xj owners had with their jeeps. no starting and cps issues. I discovered that my cpu had dies shutting everything down so maybe a suggestion to all that having a look at your cpu as possibly something inside may have died