My 96 Cherokee Sport (4.0ho) sat for several weeks.. it was dead so today I tried to jump it and we did get it running, charging 14 volts.. But, now it won't idle at all, if you let off the gas it will just die.. it idles smooth and perfect if you just rest your foot on the pedal..

any ideas? It isn't throwing any codes and i did hold it out until it warmed fully and the fans kicked on, but it still has the same quick death if i let off.

 

iac try cleaning it

 

Is the battery dieing or just stalls?
If it is at about 200 or 300 rpm then stalls then it might be your TPS.Throttle positioning sensor.
Mine did that with no codes thrown for a couple days before it threw a code. ended up being TPS.Runs great now. Mine is a 96 with 4.0 also. $46 at Autozone. Good luck,.

 

i used to have that issue whenever i disconnected my battery and reconnected it

i thought it was some stupid optional anti theft thing and just kept my foot on it and drove it


by the time i stopped again it would idle fine

 

it needs to clean the gunk out and you can help it by using some throttle body cleaner on it. and clean or replace the TPS if that dont work

 

Thanks everyone I will try cleaning it today.. The weird part is that I drove it 500+ miles on a camping trip, got home, and haven't drove it since - it ran great on that trip.. Pretty weird situation..

Thanks again

 

My jeep has done that twice before. Before you do anything else try disconnecting the battery for a minute or two and then reconnect and start. This resets your computer, It may be all you need to do.

 

Thanks, I'll try that while I'm cleaning the tb..

Also, my battery is brand new - about a month old including the sitting time.

 

Cleaning the throttle body worked - it was completely black and the 3m cleaner cut it pretty quick!

 

I just had the exact same thing happen to me. The battery went dead, and after jumping it, the car won't idle. It will stay running if i give it gas. You mentioned cleaning the throttle assembly, how did you do it? Thanks.

 

How did you clean the throttle body?