ok ive been looking for a cherokee an finally found one i like a 2001 sport editon everything was good drove it home sunday no problems other then a small miss around 60 mph. Well i parked it in then went to put it in the garage when i got home an the cel came on so i was like ok ill check out everything an all fluids ect was fine. well i changed the spark plugs but not the coil boots yet an i can hear a small miss in the exaust but if i give it throttle to about 2500 rpm the CEL is steady flashes about 4 times then goes steady again im kinda concerned an im trying to find someone with a scan tool but not luck yet. any help would be greatly appreicated guys thanks.
chris

 

GO to local big box parts store, if its fairly close, they will scan it for free write down the code verbatim. The flashing indicates a condition that can damage the catalytic converter.

 

ok just cam back from the garage went thru the haynes book it flashed 12 times looked it up it said it was disconnect from pcm how could i fix that so it doesnt happen again thanks

 

flashing CEL is a Type A misfire. in otherwords, not good. Meaning raw fuel is being dumped down into the cat and the cat is burning it off. If you keep driving it with that light flashing the catalyst's will melt and highly restrict your exhaust or stop it completely. My guess is the misfire is ignition related. If it wasnt doing it before you changed the plugs make sure the plug caps are on all the way. It is hard to tell on the 2001's because of the coil packs being right over top of the plugs

 

For a 2001, the ONLY way you can pull the codes is with either a code reader or a scan tool. Trying the odometer trick only results in a cluster "self-test" which may LOOK like it's reading codes, but it isn't

You need to post the exact code numbers here for comment. Some big box parts stores will read the codes for you for free. Take advantage of this service and write those numbers down.

 

Flashing CEL: bad!!!
Your issue: sounds exactly like when the coil pack in the ford escape went. We get onto interstate and bam! Hesitating followed by blinking CEL. We limped it about 3 miles to dealership and (fortunately) it was the more accessible one so it only took a couple hours to fix. But it was expensive, and now were just hoping the other pack holds :/
Idk what the set up on the 01's is but if you've got the dist'less ignition I think that means coil packs? I'd like to know for sure if that's the case, though..

 

Make sure your boots and springs on the coil pack are put on right, you said right after you change plugs it started so start there.

 

im gonna pull the coils off again today but the cel went off so im hopeing its all good but its idleing as smooth as can be right now i might try getting new boots an springs but honestly they looked better then the plugs i took out of it.

 

i made a heat sheild for the injectors the wraped #3 injector an fan a fuel treatment thru it an a injector cleaner an gutted the cat an it seems like everythings fine now thanks for the help guys.

 

you're going to get a CEL and a P0420 code now.

 

ok i figured it out lights off an running just like it came off the assembly line it shoulda been the first thing i did but didnt :/ i took it too my buddys garage an the scan code was p030 i think wich was cyclinder #1 misfire i went home pulled the plug an i forgot to gap it an it was a .05 gapped it to .40 an its perfect no miss no nothing.but i thank all you guys for the help an insight