Hello, I'm new to this forum. Me and my girlfriend have been searching for a Cherokee for the past month or two. We finally found one that meet up to our expectations of the jeep. 2000 Cherokee sport 4 door inline 6 4.0 172k. We live in west Michigan where rust is a big problem, this jeeps frame is rust free. We knew apon purchasing it that it needed minor mechianical work, sway bar links, tune up ect. on a second test drive of the jeep before buying it, 2 times I started it, a fuel light came on, and it died. After that ran great. Bought it, drove it home, (2 hour drive away ) it died on my road just close enough to my house I could coast into my driveway, the jeep wouldn't start back up that night, but the next morning started great. Where do I go about diagnosing this first? thanks any help greatly appreciated, I'm new to working on jeeps or anything this new.

 

Start by checking to see if the fuel pump runs for about 1-2 seconds when you turn the key to RUN/ON (before cranking).


If you can't hear the pump run have a helper get under the fuel tank and listen, and place their hand on the fuel tank, while you turn the key.


If the pump can't heard or felt running, have the helper kick the bottom of the tank and try it again.


If it runs, rent a fuel pressure test set for the auto part store and connect it to the test port on the fuel rail (hope you have one). Gauge in place, turn the key to RUN again. The fuel pressure should jump to 49.5 psi +/- .5 psi. You may have to turn the key several times to get the pressure up.


If you can get the engine started, the pressure should hold at the spec pressure.


Get back with your results please.


When you say the fuel light came on and it died, was the fuel quantity needle pointing at 1/8th?