Hi,

I own a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4 Door.

170,000 miles.

I'm having the following issue.

The car usually starts fine. In the past i've had issues with the battery where I have to rev the engine to get the car to turn over, but those subsided with a new battery and new connectors back in March.

Here's whats happening now. The car will start fine, and will drive fine. Then, if I stop and get out of the car, every now and again the engine will not start when I turn the key. I'll have to hold the ignition down, get nothing, try again, sometimes up to 7 times over a few minutes before it finally starts with a low rumble and then turns over.

I do occasionally smell gas coming through the vents, which I think is a leak in the fuel line or the fuel injectors, and maybe I need new sparkplugs. Any other thoughts on what could be causing this?

I took it in two weeks ago to a local independent mechanic who could not replicate the issue. He tightened the battery connectors and cleaned the connections, and it started fine for a few days, then this saturday I tried to cold start it after 5 days without driving it and nothing. Finally turned over after 6 tries. So, I took it back today.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

If you can smell gas you could be losing fuel pressure after it sits. You can try spraying some starter fluid into the throttle body while someone tries cranking the engine. If it starts without much issue then you have a fuel issue, if not then it could be a spark issue. I would also check your fuel pressure with a gauge to see if it's at where it needs to be.

 

My problem is similar to this but my 1990xj turns over but sometimes won't start! Hmmm I think maybe the fuel pump ?? Any input? Thanks new guy

 

A general no start issue could be copious things. Dying battery, bad battery cables, bad grounds, fuel issues, etc. I only mention a fuel issue to the OP because he mentioned he could smell gas in the cabin.

 

What you mean with this. Reving the engine you can only do when its running..
Do you mean you have to push the pedal down to get it to start?

I initially thought heatsoak issue, given your year and the fact that it had trouble re-starting when engine warm. THis could still be the case, however its also mentioned it did it when cold.
Try priming the fuelpump 2 or 3 times before attempting to start and see if that speeds the startup up. If so, we'll look further.

 

The very first thing you need to do is make sure that the fuel you are smelling isn't a fuel leak and fix it. If it is an external fuel leak and don't bother fixing it the other problem won't be an issue because it's going to burn before you find the problem. Fuel leaks are one thing you do not want to put off on fixing. Now if it is just not burning the fuel in the combustion chamber that's a different store.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. The battery and connectors are good. Battery is 6 months old, the alternator is new and the cables have been tested.

And yes, Roler in the past - before replacing the battery - i would have to push the pedal to get it to start. That is not the case anymore.

What i'm having right now is just a random (because I dont know whats going on) no start when I turn the key. I'll try again a few times when it happens, and eventually it will turn over slowly. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. Happens far more often after driving the car a bit, but has happened twice cold.

 

Take it to any parts store and have scanned for any codes. They will check it for free. Also check the fuel pressure with a mechanical pressure gauge at the fuel rail. Your year should have 49psi +/- 5psi.

 

This would sound to me like a starter going out and heat soak.

However, you need to identify the fuel problem if you are smelling it all times first.

 

what is heat soak

 

I had an intermittent problem like that with my 1998 XJ Sport Turned out to be the "neutral safety" switch or something like that When it fails, is it like "dead battery" all click no start