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engine running really rough/no power

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Old Aug 15, 2012 | 10:54 AM
  #1  
dslpwr's Avatar
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From: minnesota
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default engine running really rough/no power

Ok so today i was driving along and came up to a stop sign, the engine bogged down and lost power, ran like it only had 4 or 5 cylinders firing. You could only use a very slight throttle or else it would bog down even further i pulled through the stop sign and it cleared out, got a couple miles or so down the road and it did it again and cleared out after a few hundered yards. It did it off and on for probably 10 miles and then poof its back to running like normal. It did it a month or so ago when it was like 100 degrees out but only for like 30 seconds, today it was 75 and rainy. What could be causing this? no check engine light or stored codes, i checked when i got home with my code reader. anybody ever have this happen to them?
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Old Aug 15, 2012 | 12:55 PM
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From: Westminster, MD
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Check your vacuum lines, my was doing similar to yours and it was the vac line for the map sensor
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Old Aug 16, 2012 | 06:47 AM
  #3  
dslpwr's Avatar
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From: minnesota
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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I checked all the vac lines and they seem ok, what was the problem with yours? A crack in the line or something?
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Old Aug 16, 2012 | 07:32 AM
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From: Colorado
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
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Check the wiring harness between the engine and firewall, definite 1997 problem, not sure if also 1998.

Here's a photo of my wiring harness:

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Old Aug 16, 2012 | 08:48 AM
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From: Westminster, MD
Year: 1988
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Engine: 4.0
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Originally Posted by dslpwr
I checked all the vac lines and they seem ok, what was the problem with yours? A crack in the line or something?
Yeah, the line was snapped and a hair of it was still connected
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Old Aug 16, 2012 | 12:00 PM
  #6  
dslpwr's Avatar
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From: minnesota
Year: 1998
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Engine: 4.0
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What would I be looking for on the wiring harness? I imagine cracked or broken wires but anything specific?
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Old Aug 16, 2012 | 12:22 PM
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From: Colorado
Year: 1997
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Originally Posted by dslpwr
What would I be looking for on the wiring harness? I imagine cracked or broken wires but anything specific?
Engine metal embedded in wire harness, like this.


Also the valve cover stud, that photo was deleted. If the harness is touching the engine anywhere, be suspicious. The engine moves after-all.

Here's the thread: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/new...-32066/index2/
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Old Aug 17, 2012 | 06:34 AM
  #8  
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From: minnesota
Year: 1998
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Ok so I checked the harness, and it was fine no rubs or wear any where. Interesting note though, it started doing this for like 5-10 seconds after start up only after it sits for a longer period of time ( like over night). Its got my kinda stumped, as its intermittant and only done it twice.
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Old Aug 27, 2012 | 01:54 PM
  #9  
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From: Kansas City
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
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Hey Hermit, is the part that's getting pressed on the section in the top center of your close up photo showing that black fuel rail pushing up into the ripped wire loom? I trying to track down a wiring harness issue in my 98... any leads I can take are great.
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Old Aug 27, 2012 | 02:11 PM
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From: Tulsa,Oklahoma
Year: 97
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Engine: 4.0
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have truck running and spray carb cleaner or something over the vacuum lines see if you hear a difference, could be microscopic crack you're missing..

but if I was to bet I'd say its your FUEL FILTER...
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Old Aug 27, 2012 | 04:50 PM
  #11  
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From: Kansas City
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
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Originally Posted by MtnHermit
Engine metal embedded in wire harness, like this.


Also the valve cover stud, that photo was deleted. If the harness is touching the engine anywhere, be suspicious. The engine moves after-all.

Here's the thread: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/new...-32066/index2/
For the record, I just checked this when I got home on my own jeep, and sure enough that fuel rail had been digging into my wiring harness. I was about 10 minutes away from buying a whole new harness... you just saved me a lot of time and money. I've seriously been chasing this issue down for probably 5 months on and off.

I had traced it back to the wiring harness, because when my Jeep would run like crap I'd go wiggle the harness and it'd run better. Didn't seem to be my PCM, and I replaced about every sensor on the 5v circuit due to this grounding issue popping a p0107 check engine code and a p1298 (or something close to that). I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. PM me your paypal address and ill send you 10 bucks for a 6 pack of your favorite beer.
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Old Aug 27, 2012 | 05:06 PM
  #12  
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From: Tulsa,Oklahoma
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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that's what its all about right there... going to check mine now...

ETA: looks like PO had already super wrapped and zipped tied everything out of the way..

Last edited by DieselDaze; Aug 27, 2012 at 05:12 PM.
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Old Sep 24, 2022 | 06:02 PM
  #13  
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From: Fairbanks, Aladka
Year: 2003
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0 l
Default Had this happen to me…

Originally Posted by dslpwr
Ok so today i was driving along and came up to a stop sign, the engine bogged down and lost power, ran like it only had 4 or 5 cylinders firing. You could only use a very slight throttle or else it would bog down even further i pulled through the stop sign and it cleared out, got a couple miles or so down the road and it did it again and cleared out after a few hundered yards. It did it off and on for probably 10 miles and then poof its back to running like normal. It did it a month or so ago when it was like 100 degrees out but only for like 30 seconds, today it was 75 and rainy. What could be causing this? no check engine light or stored codes, i checked when i got home with my code reader. anybody ever have this happen to them?
Had this happen to me driving down the highway today. Thought initially a vacuum line or possibly O2 sensor. No codes but ran real rough and had no power. I managed to limp it home where I shut it off and tried to start it again. SOLVED! ??? Stopped the rough running and was all normal! Computer reset?
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Old Sep 25, 2022 | 08:19 AM
  #14  
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From: SoCal
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
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This thread is over 10 years old. The OP hasn't been around since 2014. Your profile says you have a WJ. The WJ forum is here: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f91/

If you continue to have issues, you should try the WJ forum.

Welcome to CF!
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