I'm a new Cherokee owner ('95 Sport/2WD/4.0/AT) and have noticed a peculiar 'Check Engine' light that appears sometimes under normal driving conditions and goes away whenever I turn off the engine and restart it. There aren't any other noticeable issues/problems.

FYI, I just completed a tune up (oil, spark plugs, wires, cap & rotor, fuel filter, air filter). Also, the crankshaft position sensor was replaced (due to intermittent stalling) and the ECM was checked at the time of purchase.

Any help is appreciated.

i know not everybody will agree with me on this but do you have a local autozone or similar place that will check it for free?

Thanks, I have not found a place that will check it for free. The problem is weird since the light goes away as soon as the engine is turned off.

Those Diagnostic machines cost Big $$. Most places are going to charge You to hook up to One. That is how they underwrite the expense.

i'm talking about hand held scanners,autozone does it for free it can at least point you where to start looking...if the jeep is off there will be no lights on..if thats what you mean?

uh oh, are we going there again?
Autozone, advance, Napa, Jiffylube will pull you a code for free. but.......
I really suggest you go to a trustworthy shop( there are some out there) and pay the standard 1.0 hour diagnostic fee and have the exact problem diagnosed and /or fixed , Remember, you get a warranty with that diag!.

As mentioned above and before the auto parts place can pull the code but if you have the code and don't know what it meant then are you any better off.
The answer is up to the individual. Some will be able to interpret the code and fix it themselves while others will be as lost as if it were Chinese. So if you can figure out what to do after you have the code then great but if you can't then a reliable mechanic should fix it for you.
My guess Vince is you fall into the second category. Might be wrong and apologize if I am.

See if you can get the code pulled and I will access the info in my Solus scanner, should be able to pinpoint the obvious things to check related to that code

Thanks for the help. I will get the code tomorrow.

Here are what you need if you decide to fix this and I am wrong.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/showthread.php?t=3323

sometimes the check engine light just does that, mine used to for no reason, it would just flash on whenever it felt like it. my dad's wrangler does the same thing and he told me not to worry about it.

can these codes be pulled without a scanner?

Nope. The check engine light is an indicator of an abnormal condition outside the parameters programmed into the PCM. If it's on, there's a problem.

Yep, key trick. ON-OFF 5 times, stopping on the 5th ON, and then watch the CEL.

Hi,

I finally got the codes. I used the key trick. I didn't know what FrankZ meant at first (and I still don't know what he meant by 'CEL'), but I found the thread that listed OBDI codes. I'm getting a code 35 and 21.

BlueXJ, I am capable of doing some of the work if it's not too complicated (I normally do routine maintenance work on my vehicles), I just need some help with the troubleshooting.

Not sure about code 35. I found a thread that listed code 35 as 'Cooling fan relay circuit open or shorted' OR 'idle switch motor fault - check connections'. The thread that BlueXJ posted a link to only says 'Cooling fan relay. Check relay and circuit.' for code 35. Which is it?

Thanks.