I have a 1990 cherokee, nothing special other than big tires. I started having a no start problem about a month ago. if it was run til normal temp and then shut off and sit, it wouldn't start. I would pop the hood and let it air out and it would start up after about 20 minutes. I replaced plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, and the coil and still had the problem. I had a few people suggest my CPS and hadn't changed it yet. Well in the last week, I've gotten terrible gas mileage, its not wanting to accelerate quickly and it kicks into OD hard. Today, it actually shut off on me while driving and I had to let it cool then it started back up. When I made my way home it shifted hard after about 35 mph and it was jumping almost like a backfire but at an idle it was fine. I was thinking TPS but I'm not sure. I'm mechanically inclined for a "girl" but I'm getting to be outta mmy league. Any suggestions?

 

Sounds to me like a clogged fuel filter, or bad fuel pump. I'd start with the filter. Or...... maybe it's out of gas?lol

 

Follow the wiring harness around! More often than not, it'll come loose somewhere and rub up against something, specifically something hot like an exhaust manifold, and melt the wire, causing a short, resulting in what your describing. Off the wall, totally, but totally probable.

Good luck!

 

I wish it was just out of gas, lol. It would make my life easier. The only thing with it being a clogged filter is woudnt it do it whenever I'm accelerating? It doesn't do it til about 45 mph. And the fuel pump runs fine. When this the no start issue first started I got under and checked it. I blew my serpentine belt about 2 weeks ago and the engine overheated and I didn't know if the heat may have fried something or if its even possible, like I said, I know a good bit about cars but this is out of my league...

 

I've seen filters make a different's

 

Not the same I know but may help. Years back I had a 94 VW Passat and it would intermittently just shut off for no reason, wait a few minutes and fire back up no issues. After over a month in 3 different shops I took it to a VW specialist. In 5min they had the problem diagnosed as a faulty relay for the ECU. It would heat up and the soldering would separate and when it would cool off it would work just fine. Just a thought, check your relays

 

I'm doing the cps tomorrow so I'll check the relays and get a fuel filter and see what happens before I start messing with the tps. Thanks for the suggestions and if any more, I'd appreciate them!

 

What you have said reminds me of very frustrating times I have had. My problem ended up being the pick up coil in the distributor. Don't replace the pick-up coil its self buy a new dist. it will save you time and money, other wise the pick-up coil will have to be pressed in and out by a machine shop or mechanic. I got a new dist. for less than 100.

 

Ok. Here's the update. Did the cps this morning and haven't had any misfires or start issues since. It actually is running better than when I bought it. So hopefully this fixes the problems. Now on to other maintenance! Thanks for all the help!

 

sweet

 

Nick

I am down to brass tacks-- I have checked everything from filters to turbo and to no avail. Its my first Cherokee so could you give me an idea
where the relay for ECU is located and what exactly to look for. It might be relevant to problem.

Thanks