I think I found it?
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,381
Likes: 6
From: SoCal
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I've been having this weird misfire/hesitation/stutter thing for the past week. My first thought was that the station I filled up at had water in their tanks since it started as I left the station and it had been raining pretty hard the day before. I ran the tank [almost] completely empty and filled up but I was still having this intermittent problem. Sometimes, it would only start on 5 cylinders and run very rough for a few minutes, other times it would just have a little hiccup as I was cruising along the freeway.
Today, I found this...

I wonder if that could be the cause of my 5 cylinder Jeep? Anyway, I fixed it, I think, but have a question. I stripped the plug wire back and never actually found metal. All I could find was this glass fiber core. Is it possible that there isn't a metal conductor in my spark plug wire? Seemed weird but I re-crimped everything, folding that glass fiber back and it seems to be working fine now.
Today, I found this...

I wonder if that could be the cause of my 5 cylinder Jeep? Anyway, I fixed it, I think, but have a question. I stripped the plug wire back and never actually found metal. All I could find was this glass fiber core. Is it possible that there isn't a metal conductor in my spark plug wire? Seemed weird but I re-crimped everything, folding that glass fiber back and it seems to be working fine now.
Last edited by F1Addict; Apr 7, 2012 at 06:07 PM.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,381
Likes: 6
From: SoCal
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
CF Veteran




Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,840
Likes: 117
From: In the middle of Minnesota!
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
a yea...I think you should spring for new wires. Stay away from the cheap sets; they're junk.
How about the rest of the tuneup hardware? Plugs, cap, rotor, fuel filter, air filter??
How about the rest of the tuneup hardware? Plugs, cap, rotor, fuel filter, air filter??
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 212
Likes: 1
From: Waskom, Texas
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Plug wires don't have actual "wire" in them. The core is usually made of a carbon mixture.
Folding the core back and re-crimping the end over it is a good field fix and will work ok but new wires are in order.
Folding the core back and re-crimping the end over it is a good field fix and will work ok but new wires are in order.
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
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Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,381
Likes: 6
From: SoCal
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I replaced my fuel and air filter about four months ago and was going to replace my plugs and cap and rotor but inspected them only to find they were in perfect condition. I have new plugs and an OEM cap and rotor but I'll hold on to them until they're needed.
I like to go big.
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
As soon as I can afford it I'll be getting a set of Accel 5000s, along with new injectors (from the folks Cruiser directed me to), new brake lines, and new leaf packs.
I replaced my fuel and air filter about four months ago and was going to replace my plugs and cap and rotor but inspected them only to find they were in perfect condition. I have new plugs and an OEM cap and rotor but I'll hold on to them until they're needed.
Five of the six plug wires are in perfect condition, it's just the one (#6) that is having issues. I knew when I pulled it that a new one would be optimal but just can't afford it right now. My temp-fix seems to be working, I drove it a bit this afternoon and there's no sign of the symptoms I was experiencing before.
I like to go big.
I replaced my fuel and air filter about four months ago and was going to replace my plugs and cap and rotor but inspected them only to find they were in perfect condition. I have new plugs and an OEM cap and rotor but I'll hold on to them until they're needed.
Five of the six plug wires are in perfect condition, it's just the one (#6) that is having issues. I knew when I pulled it that a new one would be optimal but just can't afford it right now. My temp-fix seems to be working, I drove it a bit this afternoon and there's no sign of the symptoms I was experiencing before.
I like to go big.
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 3
From: Seal Beach, CA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
Originally Posted by BotakBeng
Get in touch with your local members....i'm sure someone has some spare OEM plug wires lying around.
Search online man! That'll let you find some cheap ones, meanwhile enjoying your temporary fix while it lasts
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Calera AL, near Birmingham
Year: '98
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Take a pad and pencil, go out to the Jeep and write down every little thing broken/missing/damaged etc; go to local pull-a-part JY and start pulling items from the list...they will likely charge you for the bigger stuff and let you walk with the odds & ends...here's my list:
item: parts store $: JY $:
front "door keep" $66@ dlr, $3 @ JY
bumper "speed nut" $7 ea @ dlr; freebo @ JY
door panel retainers $4 pk of four; freebo @ JY
rt tail light $70 @ dlr; $10 @ JY
assorted 10mm fender bolts n/a @ parts store; freebo @ JY
vacuum ball n/a @ parts store; freebo @ JY
ashtray n/a @ parts store; freebo @ JY
front wiring harness $442 @ dlr; $18 @ JY
My local u-pull-it JY is happy to bill for a couple of items and let me walk with a pile of assorted goodies that would cost an arm & a leg @ the dealer, I dont recommend just putting them in yer pocket cuz sometimes they will take a closer look, then you're on their ****-list and they'll find a way to charge you for everything, be honest and thay are very forgiving....I bet you could get one plug wire for a buck...

item: parts store $: JY $:
front "door keep" $66@ dlr, $3 @ JY
bumper "speed nut" $7 ea @ dlr; freebo @ JY
door panel retainers $4 pk of four; freebo @ JY
rt tail light $70 @ dlr; $10 @ JY
assorted 10mm fender bolts n/a @ parts store; freebo @ JY
vacuum ball n/a @ parts store; freebo @ JY
ashtray n/a @ parts store; freebo @ JY
front wiring harness $442 @ dlr; $18 @ JY
My local u-pull-it JY is happy to bill for a couple of items and let me walk with a pile of assorted goodies that would cost an arm & a leg @ the dealer, I dont recommend just putting them in yer pocket cuz sometimes they will take a closer look, then you're on their ****-list and they'll find a way to charge you for everything, be honest and thay are very forgiving....I bet you could get one plug wire for a buck...

Last edited by Squint; Apr 8, 2012 at 12:30 PM. Reason: fun
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,381
Likes: 6
From: SoCal
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
For right now, my biggest concern is the leaky injector for which there are no easy or inexpensive (to me) solutions. She'll make it to next pay day, I'm sure of it, and I'll do the plug wires and injectors and valve cover gasket and PCV (CCV).
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 3
From: Seal Beach, CA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
Originally Posted by F1Addict
For right now, my biggest concern is the leaky injector for which there are no easy or inexpensive (to me) solutions. She'll make it to next pay day, I'm sure of it, and I'll do the plug wires and injectors and valve cover gasket and PCV (CCV).


