check engine light help!
 

Just bought my first xj. a 97 4.0. Its giving me a code p1399, wait to start. I have no idea what this means. Has anyone dealt with this before? How do I fix this? Any help would be great. Thank you.

Is it a diesel? Are u making sure thats the right definition of that code?

the-b-man,

First, fill out your Jeep data. Go to the black banner at the top of this page and click "User CP", then click "Edit Your Details". Fill out all the data (you know of) pertaining to your XJ.

Now, As a first time Cherokee owner, you should get a Factory Service Manual. There are several sources for these but you could try Ebay.

As to your question; it does sound like you have a 2.5 L Diesel engine. P1399 is Wait To Start Lamp Circuit - An open or shorted condition detcted in the Wait to Start Lamp circuit.

Does your "Wait To Start", Water In Fuel" and Low Coolant Level" warning lamps come on when you turn the ignition key to RUN (before starting the engine?

If these lamps do not illuminate (specifically, the WTS lamp) when you check them before starting the engine you can start by checking fuse #9 in the Junction Block (JB). The JB is located in the front passenger foot well on the right side. There's a small panel covering the fuses, just pop it off with your finger. Below is an image of the '97 JB. Your can see the location of fuse #9. Pull it and see if the element is blown. Fuse #9 powers the Tell Tale Module in your instrument cluster, which contains the Wait To Start lamp.

If the lamps work and the fuse is okay, you may have other problems, such as wiring, in the WTS Lamp circuit. Let us know what you find.

Attachment 354887

Sorry, It is a 4.0 I6. I got the code defintion from a list I found here in the forums. I used an actron code reader. I thought it odd, I know its not diesel. I thank you for the quick response and the wealth of info, much better than a different forum I first tried.

On hondas its a misfire code and GM vehicles its a wheel speed sensor 2 code... Honestly I think its a code set for the diesel cherokees however somehow your computer tapped into it... Only thing I can think of is your computer internally is allowing this... Lol... Weird man...

Check your build dates... Id bet it was "finished" on a monday morning... Or friday afternoon... Lol

It's very weird to get that code on a non-diesel. Maybe you have the 4.0 liter diesel (only 1 built?) But seriously I have seen similar situations a couple of times where you get codes that absolutely do not apply.

Is this a stored code you retrieved? OR is your check engine light on constantly for it?

Just for grins, I would definitely try a different code reader or scan tool on it. Autozone reads codes for free if you want a 2nd opinion on this code.

If it's a stored code, reset the computer and see if it comes back. If it's a constant check engine light, well....I guess you could put a piece of tape over the dash light! :)

The light comes on and stays on no matter what... If this code popped only once the light will not go off until its either erased or after so many miles... But the computer will still have it stored until its erased...

I would try erasing the code just to see if it comes back ya...