96JeepCherokeeSport

I have a two wheel drive '96 Jeep Cherokee Sport. Recently I had the front pump replaced in the tranny and since then, the engine will die when I stop at lights and stop signs. It will start right back up but will just shut off again at the next light. No check engine light comes on and I know the light works. Now the battery is dead after putting the second new battery in 18 months. I get 14 volts from the back of the alternator and 13.2 to the battery when it is running. But as soon as I shut it off, it acts like the battery is dead. I have 12 volts at the battery when it is shut off. When I open the door, it drops to 7 volts and when I turn the key on, it drops to 2. Any suggestions on why this might be happening?

Kyle

Go to your local autoparts store and get your battery tested. My guess is your battery isnt holding a charge which means its time for a new one.

drakan1908

Check the ground strap that sometimes runs from the bellhousing bolts to the frame. If trans was out they might not have hooked it back up.I've heard that grounds on Jeep vehicles is very important and loose grounds can cause a lot of problems. Just a thought.

BlueXJ

As suggested the grounds are very important and may be part of your problem. The ground cables going from your battery to the chassis also can cause the things you mentioned too.
Just curious, why did you have the tranny pump replaced? What symptoms were you getting that led to the decision to replce the pump?

96JeepCherokeeSport

The pump had to be replaced because the flexplate bolts came loose while I was driving and the nose of the torque converter broke off. I replaced everything and when the tranny went into overdrive, tranny fluid started spraying all over. Took it to the tranny shop and they said the front pump was messed up and needed to be replaced. They replaced it and its fine now, except the problems I have now.

96JeepCherokeeSport

Went and bought a new battery and everything seems ok but still doesnt explain why the batteries are going bad so soon. I know the ground strap is attached from the motor to the firewall. The negative cable is attached to the block. I checked to see if there was a ground strap anywhere that should be hooked to the tranny and didn't find one. Should there be one? If so, where?

BlueXJ

No ground between the tranny and the chassis from the factory. You can ground everything you want the more the merrier. Grounds are the XJs downfall. Many problems can be solved by a proper ground. I have about four or five extra grounds that the factory never intended. I may add more as I go along.