My jeep only starts if i prime it with a shot of starting fluid. It cranks and runs fine. This problem has gotten progressively worse, from occasional to every time, cold or hot. Any suggestions?

 

I'm sure you know-

An engine needs 3 things to run-
Spark, air, and fuel (gasoline, or in this case starter fluid.)

1.)
Spark.
Sounds like you have it, but the reason people replace wires, the distributer cap, and spark plugs, is because sometimes they fail. Age, wear, vibration, condensation, corrosion, heat, all can cause problems with your wires or distributor cap and rotor. These are amazingly easy to change, usually a pretty cheap job, and a nice way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
Plugs. Get the recommended Bosche OEM (origional manufacturer) plugs. I wasted alot of cash experimenting with 5 dollar a piece plugs just to have them prematurely foul, hesitate, and generally not work well.
Everyone has an opinion, but mine says go the cheap proven way. You can even pull them, clean them with a wire brush, regap them and put them back in. It might help if you are REALLY broke. Again, plugs cost about as much as a 6 pack of Milwalkees Best.

2.) Air. For the purposes of testing, I usually leave the air inake completely disconnected so that I can spray in starter fluid, and so that I know for testing purposes it truely IS getting enough air. If it runs disconnected, and then I connect it, and it stalls or stops, it's maybe a problem. Doesn't sound like an issue for you, but still, it never hurts to clean out the filter.

3.) Fuel. THIS sounds like it may be a problem for you. If a car/jeep/lawn mower even will run on starter fluid, there's a good chance it's the fuel delivery system that's the problem. If you spray some in, start it up and then it stalls, the next time you spray it in, start it, then hover and be ready to spray in some short bursts (into the air intake) and if you can keep it running in that fashion, it's the fuel delivery. Now here is where things get tricky...
My dad taught me that you always check the easy (and inexpensive) things first. So, does it have gas in it? I once had a car that ran like crap when it had less than half a tank of gas in it. (The fuel pump was weak)
Do you buy your gas from the same place every time? Maybe you got a bunk tank full. Maybe there's water in it. First, I'd think about trying a different gas station, maybe a tank full of midgrade. Maybe some ex-girlfriend put sugar in your stuff. (Unlikely, but it's happened before.)
Have you thought about pouring in "the Elixir of the Jeep Gods?"

*** SeaFoam ***

If your fuel injectors are clogged, this will generally unclog them. There's a whole web site about it's use/application, as well as about 1000 posts on the matter. Personally, I put in about 1/3 of a can every 3 or 4 tank fulls. It has greatly improved my throttle response, my get-up-and-go, as well as MY FUEL ECONOMY. (18 city, 22 HWY)
*** IMPORTANT*** If you are going to SeaFoam it, do it BEFORE you change your plugs. Chances are, it will foul them out. I only do the gas tank treatment. (not pouring it directly in the carb) I'm not that aggressive and chancey with my ride. I've heard horror stories about clogged cat converts.

Fuel filter. If you've got 100,000 miles on your rig, and you just got it, chances are, it has maybe the second or third filter ever put on there. It's cheap. It's easy. It makes you feel like a man (or woman as the case may be). It's a good stress reliever. Change the filter. You'll be a better person for it.
*** WARNING *** DO NOT smoke while doing this. (If I have to tell you this, quit running with scissors also, because you probably do.)
The filter's easy to change, and there are a few good writeups on this site as well as others. Learn to 'search threads.'

Hopefully, it's not the fuel pump, or injectors. Most of the time, it's the easy tune-up type stuff that needs to be done. By troubleshooting this yourself, and putting in a little elbowgrease, along with some help from your new online friends, you can save alot of cash, have some fun, and get a good running ride out of the deal.

As a disclaimer, yes everyone, there are a million other little things that his problem could encompass, most being much more complicated and expensive to check and fix. I'm just suggesting some easy cheap places to start. (the only one missing is checking your fuses...)

Personally, I bet if he...
1.) runs some SeaFoam through it.
2.) changes the fuel filter.
3.) changes the plugs, cap and rotor (without even changing the wires)

his jeep'll work again.
All for about 30$.

Change the plugwires when you can. They're a bit expensive if you're on a budget.

In summary:
Consistant spark, clean, fresh plentiful air, and clean fuel injection makes a happy JEEP and usually saves a few greenbacks at the pump.

Good luck bro, let us know how it worked out.

Billy

 

Bro thanks for the well written reply. lol You should write a tech manual. Ive done the usual tune up(plugs wires cap rotor). Im a beliver in Lucas products so i used there injector cleaner. Were can I get Sea Foam? I installed a NAPA pump about 6 months ago. Think maybe I got a lemon. Going to try cleaniing IAC and TPS. See alot of people tryin' that.