Boiled over, wont start
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 172
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From: Sin City
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
itll go duh duh duh duh,and the try to go rrrrrr like its going to start but when I let of the starter it never fully turns over.
Starter and battery are both brand new. Starter sounds like its trying to do its job, its the motor that sounds like its not doing hers.
The guy I got it from had it sitting for 2 years outside his house and rarely ever drove it. EVERYTHING is dry rotted. I was in the process of changing things as I went, but I had to put miles on it to smog and register it. Had the wife cruise it for the day while I was at work. When it over heated she pulled over as soon as she heard the fluid blow and saw the temp gauge spike... however long it takes to change two lanes to the shoulder. Shes pretty car savvy, she wouldnt continue to drive it over heated.
Starter and battery are both brand new. Starter sounds like its trying to do its job, its the motor that sounds like its not doing hers.
The guy I got it from had it sitting for 2 years outside his house and rarely ever drove it. EVERYTHING is dry rotted. I was in the process of changing things as I went, but I had to put miles on it to smog and register it. Had the wife cruise it for the day while I was at work. When it over heated she pulled over as soon as she heard the fluid blow and saw the temp gauge spike... however long it takes to change two lanes to the shoulder. Shes pretty car savvy, she wouldnt continue to drive it over heated.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 1
From: Southern Idaho
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L/242 CID I-6 High Output MFI
Well, I didn't know lol. You know which part the starter solenoid is, right? Attaches to the starter on my jeep. provides all the electric power.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 172
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From: Sin City
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
☠ CF Sheriff ☠

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,197
Likes: 18
From: Aberdeen, MD
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO I-6, 703 Injectors, Brown Dog Super Engine Mounts
by the sound of things, I'd say your distributor/rotor got soaked and is now not firing. It's definitely not the starter or relay.
Let the disassembly begin! See if you have fluid inside the distributor cap.
Let the disassembly begin! See if you have fluid inside the distributor cap.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Sin City
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Seasoned Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: N.Y.
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
Does the same thing my jeep does ( disassembled now for repair ), I found coolant in the cylinders and the head is cracked.
You can see into each cylinder with a flashlight.Check for coolant in any of them.
Symptoms for mine from PO was overheated while driving then rough idle, he parked it I bought it hoping it was just the head gasket,Like I said found out it was the hg and more lol.
I wouldn't try cranking it any more until you confirm that the hg isn't blown.
By the way what year is yours, mileage etc etc
You can see into each cylinder with a flashlight.Check for coolant in any of them.
Symptoms for mine from PO was overheated while driving then rough idle, he parked it I bought it hoping it was just the head gasket,Like I said found out it was the hg and more lol.
I wouldn't try cranking it any more until you confirm that the hg isn't blown.
By the way what year is yours, mileage etc etc
Last edited by Spoonman; Jul 7, 2011 at 11:11 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Sin City
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Does the same thing my jeep does ( disassembled now for repair ), I found coolant in the cylinders and the head is cracked.
You can see into each cylinder with a flashlight.Check for coolant in any of them.
Symptoms for mine from PO was overheated while driving then rough idle, he parked it I bought it hoping it was just the head gasket,Like I said found out it was the hg and more lol.
I wouldn't try cranking it any more until you confirm that the hg isn't blown.
By the way what year is yours, mileage etc etc
You can see into each cylinder with a flashlight.Check for coolant in any of them.
Symptoms for mine from PO was overheated while driving then rough idle, he parked it I bought it hoping it was just the head gasket,Like I said found out it was the hg and more lol.
I wouldn't try cranking it any more until you confirm that the hg isn't blown.
By the way what year is yours, mileage etc etc
☠ CF Sheriff ☠

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,197
Likes: 18
From: Aberdeen, MD
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO I-6, 703 Injectors, Brown Dog Super Engine Mounts
ok so it's doubtful you have a cracked head like spoonman had - that was only a problem in late '99 to 2001 XJs.
Since we've ruled out some things, it's time to get dirty.
First course of action would be to pull the plugs and verify you have a strong blue spark when you crank it over. If not your looking at ignition issues.
If this is ok move to fuel. Verify fuel pressure at the injector rail with a mechanical gauge. Many guides on this so I won't repeat - just search.
If you have both good fuel pressure and good spark, either your timing is off or you have significant compression issues (possible headgasket failure). Do the first two tests and see what you come up with though before we jump to conclusions.
Since we've ruled out some things, it's time to get dirty.
First course of action would be to pull the plugs and verify you have a strong blue spark when you crank it over. If not your looking at ignition issues.
If this is ok move to fuel. Verify fuel pressure at the injector rail with a mechanical gauge. Many guides on this so I won't repeat - just search.
If you have both good fuel pressure and good spark, either your timing is off or you have significant compression issues (possible headgasket failure). Do the first two tests and see what you come up with though before we jump to conclusions.



