99 XJ with 4.0 I6, daily driver.
Having issues and can't figure out if fuel pump, bad battery cables, etc.

Yesterday, I left the house (first time that day) and 10 min down the road, I took a sharp curve and shortly after getting back on throttle, the motor just cut out, gauges drop, and lost power steering. Pulled off the road and parked slight uphill. Wouldn't restart. It didn't overheat.
I tried to jump. After few minutes of jumper cables on, it cranked but cut right off even when I tried to give gas. Tried to crank immediately again and it wouldn't crank.
I added 3-4 gallons of gas (knew I was low but light had not come on), no luck.

Left it stranded overnight. Next day, cranked right up. Headed home and 30 seconds after I hit road it started to cut out but didn't and I made it all the way home and parked it. Let it sit for couple hours and then cranked right up again. Drove it around for 5-10 min and as I got back to house, I was rolling (no throttle) and it died again right in front of the house. This time it cranked right up and I parked it in driveway. Left it for couple more hours while I took wife's car to rent fuel pressure gauge.

Fuel pressure test (at fuel rail):
- turn key on, gauge up to 30-35psi
- crank right up no problem, gauge went to 49-50psi and held
- cut it off, held at 48-49psi for at least 5-10 min before I removed it

Drove around another 5-10 min and it died on me and I coasted into a gas station.

Fuel pressure test #2:
- turn key on, gauge up to 20-25psi
- wouldn't crank after multiple attempts

That's where I'm at. Thoughts? Any help is appreciated. I just spent $1600-1800 a few months back with some transmission issues so I don't have an appetite for taking it to the mechanic if I don't have to.


.....Also, recent history:
- Replaced thermostat w/ a 195* about a month ago
- Recharged AC few weeks back and now overheats on me when 95* outside and in traffic for more than 10 min.
- In the last week, tachometer and speedometer will drop to zero on me while driving and come back off and on (but all other gauges work fine).

Ignition switch/connector

Thanks Turbo for the quick reply. Is that a "throwing parts at it" response or are you fairly sure?

Update since before I saw your reply:
Able to crank up and start driving home, cut off twice within half mile (ie problem now more persistent). After it was turned off though, I turned the wheel to try to push further off road and now I cant get steering to unlock, even with key back in ignition.

Does that confirm or change anything?

Replaced the ignition switch (not the ignition cylinder/barrel) and it's still not working. Any other ideas?

Any help appreciated - don't have money for a mechanic right now.

Check the CPS..my .02

And cam sensor.

I'd bet on that one, too.

Thanks guys. It was the CPS.

Checking for codes should of been step 1.

Best of luck, sounds like multiple issues.