Hello need some help here.

I have a 1993 Jeep Cherokee 4.0 6 cylinder

My car started overheating after driving down the highway about a week ago. White smoke poured out of the front of the hood. Stupidly, I added water and kept driving. I did this about three times before inspecting. The car started idling roughly, like a rumble, and also there is a rattling noise coming from under the engine, like something is loose.

I located a gash in the upper radiator hose and replaced it. Also the water pump was leaking water and I replaced that as well. The car no longer leaks water and does not overheat but I still have a rough idle and the rattling noise.

I replaced the spark plugs, wires, and distributer cap about a 1 1/2 years ago but I checked them again.

The spark plugs all seems fine, minor buildup. With the engine running I started unplugging the wires from the cap. Two cylinders that I unplugged had no drop in idle speed. However, when I held the wires close to the cap I could hear a snapping noise on both. On the other cylinders I could see a spark and the snapping seemed much stronger.

I read that it could be the fuel injectors. I felt each one to check for the vibration from the spray but I found it hard to judge.

I read that a blown head gasket could be the culprit but I have no white smoke out of the tailpipe and there were no bubbles coming from the radiator while the engine was on.

Not sure where to go from here.

Can overheating cause the spark plug wires to go bad? or visa verca?
Is there a better way to tell if the fuel injectors are bad?
What the heck could that rattling sound be?

Any input would be helpful, I am trying to do the repairs myself to save money.

Thank you

 

Hello Mearsy, did you solve this?

I had almost equivalent problems, in the midst of working it out now.

I have a 91 Laredo, 160K miles, replaced the radiator about 5K miles ago, replaced the thermostat this week. I don't have bubbles in the overflow vessel but I di see water inside the oil cap and looks like water beading along the head gasket. I'm hoping it's anything but that.

What did yours turn out to be?

Alan