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Need some help with a sputtering problem

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Old May 20, 2011 | 03:49 AM
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Default Need some help with a sputtering problem

Okay so first off please excuse my poor typing skills im on a laptop which had a tiny keyboard and no spell check that i know of.


Well anyways do heres my issue, My 95 cherokee sport is having an odd problem. When i start the truck up she runs fine but when i go to move sometimes she starts to sputter and bog almost like shes gonna stall lights flicker the whole nine. But if i step on the pedel after about 4 second shes fine and goes on her merry way with no other issues. The odd thing is it does not happen ALL the time but once in a while. I have been getting the truck wet latly but nothing over the 31 inch tires. could it be water in my fuel lines????


The other thing i noticed is it mostly happens when i go uphill but it cant be my gas i have had a half a tank in it most of thw time when it happens and the hills are minor not steep at all

Last edited by NFD344; May 20, 2011 at 03:54 AM.
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Old May 20, 2011 | 07:01 AM
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"Lights flickering" smells of this being an electrical problem. Grounds can be the root cause of many electrical gremlins. Refreshing grounds is NEVER a bad idea!

You can't just check or look at these grounds. You must remove, scrape, clean until shiny the cable/wire ends and whatever they bolt to. The one on the back corner of the head, and where it attaches to the firewall. Scrape the paint from the firewall. Best to replace that woven cable with a #4 or #2 gauge cable. You can attach the one end to the intake manifold if you would like.

Next go over to the engine dipstick tube stud. Remove the nut and clean the wire ends and scrape the block until shiny at the stud. Reattach tightly.

If you are so inclined, add at least a #6 cable from the negative terminal of your battery to one of the bolts on your radiator support. Scrape the paint off first.
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Old May 20, 2011 | 01:27 PM
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Ill check im not sure its electrical but it could be i might also try some dry gas in the truck the lights the flicker are just my gauges and my 2 leds in my 12v plug that would normally shut off if i turned the truck off

Last edited by NFD344; May 20, 2011 at 02:02 PM.
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Old May 20, 2011 | 02:59 PM
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x2. check electrical connections and fuse boxes for worn or corroded parts. get it on a code reader to see if there are any codes in theres that have stored, but not tripped the CEL. jeeps do have notoriously faulty wiring, at least in the later models... if its a mechanical issue, then id ask how recently has it been tuned- stuff like the plugs, wires, cap and rotor... there are two units on the throttle body; the IAC valve and the TPS. on the 96 and earlier models there would be a CPS. these 3 units are often the source of a lot of frustration. from there your o2 sensors are a possibility as well... in my experience the downstream (bank 2) sensor seems to be more common the the bank 1. make sure, if they need to be replaced, that you do it with the higher quality 4-wire, pre-heated ones. your gonna drop like 200+, but its worth it!! good luck!
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Old May 20, 2011 | 03:18 PM
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I have n idea the last time it was tuned how would i go about checking those 3 diff things would a code reader do it my check engine light is on
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Old May 20, 2011 | 03:22 PM
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a code reader should reveal a lot. it could just show that you have an evap leak, or something random like that. but more likely, it will show that something is sweeping outside of its range. before you put too much more effort into it, get it on that code reader and then come back and give us the run down! might be its straighforward and you can post on how easy it was to fix!! (ill keep my fingers crossed) good luck!
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Old May 20, 2011 | 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by VTJeep
a code reader should reveal a lot. it could just show that you have an evap leak, or something random like that. but more likely, it will show that something is sweeping outside of its range. before you put too much more effort into it, get it on that code reader and then come back and give us the run down! might be its straighforward and you can post on how easy it was to fix!! (ill keep my fingers crossed) good luck!
Thanks ill do that my only thing now is auto zone wont use there reader on it they said it has to be 97 and up so ill ethier have to get my own or find someone who has one
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Old May 20, 2011 | 05:16 PM
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Here is how to read codes on your 95 without a code reader. It's the "key-on, key-off" technique.

http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoECUcodes.htm

Post your code(s) here for comment.
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Old May 20, 2011 | 05:19 PM
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O wow thats sick kay ill do that gimme a little while haha gotta figure it out
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Old May 20, 2011 | 05:27 PM
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im having some trouble with reading the flashes they start with 3 then pause then 3 and pause then 5 then pause then 3
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Old May 20, 2011 | 05:36 PM
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im getting a 38 code???? that cant be thats not listed
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Old May 20, 2011 | 05:39 PM
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im gonna take a fast video of it see if you guys can give me some more input here
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Old May 20, 2011 | 06:03 PM
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Okay heres the vid its short


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Old May 20, 2011 | 06:18 PM
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Can't watch it. Says "video is private"
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Old May 20, 2011 | 06:25 PM
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opps! hang on ill fix that
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