Odd series of events. A little help please
 

I have a 96 xj auto with np231 transfer case. just over 100k miles
1. Previous symptom. When I was getting on it hard at about 3000 rpm the engine seemed to lose power and catch up to itself, but still drove fine normally.
2. I washed out the engine bay and drove it home from cleaning it....drove fine.
3. Stopped at my in laws for a few minutes to drop off parts...Jeeps starts fine and then goes to 4000 rpm before shifting on light to medium acceleration. Check engine light pops on.
4. Stop at home to change shirt. 15 minutes later the jeep wont start but cranks fine and I can hear fuel pump pressurize.
5. Go away for 5 hours and jeep starts on 3rd or 4th try but seems to idle low and rebound. Take for a short drive and trans seems that it cant choose what gear it wants to be in. It also seems to be at half power. I checked the trans fluid when I got home and it seems fine.

I haven't had the chance to code it out. Any ideas?

Did you powerwash the engine or just use a low pressure hose.

If you power washed the engine which is never recommend then you probally have water in alot of the connectors i would take a look out all you connectors to make sure they dry and also if you used a power washed then you might have knocked a connector off also.

it was sprayed with a high pressure hose at a distance. any specific connectors I should be looking for?

Not with out looking at the vehicle you will need to check the whole engine bay over for loose connectors and check all connectors for water.

I guess I have plans for tomorrow now


So how do guys go through 3 ft of water and not face issues?

A power washer will put water where no mud hole can reach

I see. should I put some type of sealer in the connections when I put them back together?

dielectric grease inside the connections would be best but kind of expensive. a cheaper alternative is wd-40 because it disperses water.

For me like ( itsaxj) said i took most of my connectors off in the engine bay and applied dielectric grease inside the connectors to prevent water causing a issue.

Well I disconnected and reconnected all connectors I could fine. And I got it to run. I drove to advance auto and checked the code. It pointed to the map sensor. Is their any way to clean or test the map sensor? Just wondering.

No just replace it they aren't expensive.

WD-40 also has water in it . So if you use it , dont use too much or you can short things out. I would use dielectric grease. 1st sensor I would check would be the TPS . Its on your throttle body. TPS may be bad. My 96 did the same thing so I replaced it and all is well.Good luck.