Amberness1

I have 1996 Jeep, damn thing starts but won't fully turn over without giving it gas & revving it for a bit. It's mainly during the first start of the day, or if it's been sitting for a few hours. Then some days its at every start up that I have to give it gas. So obviously it's a fuel issue. Just trying to see if there is a specific issue that causes this. I had surgery recently and would like to avoid doing a bunch of testing or climbing underneath my jeep just to check things out. Or how can I know for sure if it's the fuel filter or pump without just changing them. Fuel related parts are probably the only thing I haven't worked on.

MonacaYankee

Sounds like it needs the iac cleaned. Maybe a full tuneup. Fuel pressure can be checked easily with a rented gauge.

Most likely you do not have a fuel issue if it runs normally after starting.

Waynerd

Could also be a weak battery or loose/dirty connections on battery terminals or cables.

Amberness1

Thank you for the tip. I didn't even think about the iac. I'll clean it & rent a fuel pressure gauge as soon as it stops raining.

I thought it was the battery as well at first. I put in a new battery, and new cables. I've also rechecked the connections and tested the battery.

tjwalker

Is the check engine light on or have you seen it on?

Amberness1

No check engine light at all. Everything runs good. No loss of power or acceleration. Runs smooth. Idles great once it stays on.

Complete detail of what happens.......Put it in neutral and it turns on but doesn't turn over without giving it a little gas. If I take my foot off the gas then it dies. If I keep giving it gas it stays running. I have to rev it to around 3500 rpms a couple times. Sometimes that is good enough for it to stay running without continuing to give it gas, other times I have to hold it at around 2500-3500rpms for about a minute or so (never timed it), or let it drop down to 1000rpms then rev again & do that a few times. It either completely dies without giving it gas or drops to normal idle and is fine. Once it stays on, I have no more issues till possibly the next start-up or the next day.

BlueRidgeMark

No. It can't start without turning over. "Turning over" means that the starter motor spins the engine. It turns over the engine. (The expression goes back to the days of hand-cranking a Model T.)

Starting is next.

It sounds like you are trying to say that the engine will not continue to run.

Cleaning the IAC is never a bad idea, but you really need to do a fuel pressure test.

You can borrow the tool from some auto parts stores, or buy one for a lot less than you spent on a battery you didn't need.

You should see about 50 PSI.

Amberness1

Thanks for the tip on the PSI. I said exactly what I meant, it won't turn over without giving it gas. Power comes on but the engine will not turn over without giving it gas and in order for it to continuing running I have to continue to give it gas. As for the battery you say I didn't need, I replaced it because when I checked the voltage it was only 12.2V with the engine off and 12.9V AFTER the alternator kicked on. I'm shocked it still started.

Jeepin'_Aint_EZ

So let me get this straight, you're saying that the starter won't turn over the engine unless you apply the throttle? In other words, if you turn the key to the start position without applying any throttle, nothing happens. That's certainly a strange scenario....

ElMartillo

Trying to help clarify here. So what would happen if you turn the key to start it without touching the accelerator pedal? What do you hear happening? Do you hear the starter making any noise at all?

Amberness1

So when I turn it to the on position, the engine starts to turn on but won't fully turn over without giving it gas. If I don't give it gas it almost turns on but then it dies. It's past the point of the starter kicking on. It's hard to explain, it just needs that last little push from the "accelerator pedal" to completely start up & stay running. The best way I can explain is, the engine is almost there but just needs a little push to finish.

ElMartillo

So the confusion is the terminology here. I believe you’re saying the engine cranks with the starter but won’t run unless you give it a little gas. Got it.

I’d do what was suggested above and start with cleaning the IAC. Also clean the throttle body while you’re there. See if/how it helps. I like to perform one task and check it’s effect so I will know what actually fixes it. I’d then move on to plugs, distributor/rotor/wires. Check the rotor shaft for sideways play. At some point refresh all grounds according to Cruiser54s tips.

BlueRidgeMark

There are no mind readers here. We don't know what you don't tell us. We are very used to kids who post on here who throw parts randomly and then come asking for help having spent sometimes big money for no reason. If you had mentioned the voltage test in the first place, we'd have known you had a real battery problem.



If it doesn't turn over it will never start,let alone run. You are using the term incorrectly, so we really don't know what you mean.


Which is exactly why terminology matters. If you use the wrong terms to describe your problem, you confuse the situation, and waste the time and effort of people who are volunteering to help you.

One more time:

If the starter motor gets juice and spins the engine, that engine has turned over.

If you have a perfectly running engine and disconnect the fuel and remove all the spark plugs, so that there is no possibility of the engine starting, that engine would still turn over.

That is what that term means. It says that the engine parts are being rotated by the starter. It has nothing to do with the engine starting. It has nothing to do with the engine running.


Now, with the correct definition, please clarify what you are saying.

1. Are you saying that the engine will not turn over unless you press on the throttle pedal?
2. Or are you saying it starts but will not run when unless you press on the throttle pedal?
3. Or are you saying that it won't even start unless you press on the throttle pedal?

JeepCares

Hello Amberness1,

We're sorry to hear about this unexpected concern. I understand your desire to get answers. If you're thinking you'd like to take into your Jeep dealer for inspection, don't hesitate to let us know. We'd be glad to help!

Jasmine
Jeep Social Care Specialist