Just wondering if these are part of they joys of owning and driving a 35 year old XJ, or if these are things to be fixed:

My 1988 Limited has power steering. Should it feel like it has power steering? As in how easy should it be to turn the wheel? I’m comparing it to my previous 2006 TJ, which felt far looser, if that’s the word.

If I don’t warm up the XJ for a minute or 2, it will stall out and turn the engine off when I switch to Drive. I know people say older cars need to warm up first and I understand that, but should the engine stall out if I don’t? I looked up the issue online and it seemed like maybe it was an O2 sensor that needs to be replaced.

Speaking of stalling out, last week I tried warming up the Jeep but the engine wouldn’t even idle without dying. I searched the issue and came to find out it was a black, tar-like residue that had built up in the C101 connector box. I cleaned that and was able to idle the Jeep after that. (My current stalling-out issue is different from this issue.) Just wondering if anyone has any other similar, potential issues I might come across that I’d be better off checking for now, rather than wait until they strike. I have a remarkably stock 1988 4.0 automatic 4x4. It had spent a substantial amount of its recent history sitting, first at a junk yard, and later in the driveway of the guy I bought it from.

Thanks

 

I'm not sure what to say for power steering question. There are too many variables, and no way to minimize those variables through the internet. If I compare the steering effort on my XJ, to my wife's 2017 Explorer they are worlds apart. However, my XJ's power steering is working just fine.

Do you have enough PS fluid? is the fluid clean? is there something else in your steering that could be causing the system to struggle/bind? You will have to take a look at your XJ to answer these questions.

"Older cars need to warm up" would be applicable to carbureted engines, not FI. So your Jeep should not be stalling if everything is working correctly. I also do not think your issue is your O2 sensor. The job of an O2 sensor is to report back to the computer how rich/lean an engine is running. Also, on O2 sensor typically does not do anything anyhow until an engine is warm, as engines of this age run in open loop during warm up, and only switch to closes loop after warm. Once warm, the O2 sensor then reports air/fuel ratio to the ECU.

Since this vehicle has sat for extended periods of time, I would start with the simple things first, and just do a basic "tune up". How old are the spark plugs? Spark plug wires? Distributor? Fuel filter? Are the fuel injectors just gummed up from sitting? Possibly a tank or two of premium, or just adding some injector cleaner to the tank will stop your stalling issue.

I would not just start throwing parts at the Jeep. Do some inspection of the items above, and replace as needed.

These Jeeps typically don't need much more than basic maintenance to run forever. From what you posted, I suspect you need to perform that maintenance and you will see improvements.

 

Go here: https://cruiser54.com/

Do tips 1-5 right off the bat (sounds like you've already done #2). Review the other tips.

Clean the throttle body and Intake Air Control solenoid and port in the TB (tip #11)

Then jump down the the tech manuals at https://cruiser54.com/?page_id=365

Grab the FSM and Renix Fuel Injection manual.

I've had my '88 since 2000.

 

flush the power steering system (might find instructions for bleeding in a manual on cruiser's site), make sure the belt is tight, fluid is fresh.. maybe the pulley isn't pulleying well.. people edit things all the time.. maybe it isn't even on the belt..
my 91 has a really bad leak.. but it makes noise when it runs low, but still turns..

 

Ok thanks everyone, I will definitely start knocking off some of the things on that list. Also thanks onestrongwriter for the power steering tips.

I only started driving the Jeep 2 weeks ago, and pretty short distances at that. Not surprised I have some issues to tackle, I only bought the Jeep because it was very clean of rust, and I’m in the northeast. I like the Jeep, I like how accessible everything is and that there are so many resources for fixing issues that come up. Really appreciate the help jpz and Saudade.