Hi gang,
For a while now I have been chasing down a gremlin in the 96 Cherokee sports. Basically what it's been doing is, sometimes, not always, while driving or parked when I use the horn headlights or washer bottle button the jeep will get a surge and it almost feels like and bad buck or miss.... It does the same at idol but whilst driving you can really feel the bucking... If anyone has any idea what the problem could be I would be so very greatful.....

 

I would first clean all engine, batter and chassis grounds, Could maybe be a CPS issue? Does it do it cold?

 

Explain this surge a bit more...thats not very descriptive...

 

Have recently replace cps, tps, o2, fuel pump and filter, also dizzy, rotor,leads and plugs At first was leading towards one of these but as time had gone on tried to narrow it down. Only thing I have discovered that causes it is as said above... A strange one..... was wondering whether could be an earth. Would u know if all theses circuits ei headlight horn and washer are on se earth??

 

Where are you from, again?

 

Grounds can be the root cause of many electrical gremlins. Refreshing grounds is NEVER a bad idea, and the investment of your time in this procedure is always well worth it!

You can't tell much of anything by looking at ground connections!! You must remove, scrape, clean until shiny the cable/wire ends and whatever they bolt to. Be sure to remove all paint from any ground connections.

Start with the one on the back corner of the head, and where it attaches to the firewall, as it deteriorates over time and is an area that makes it susceptible to damage. 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.

 

Basically all I can explain is that on occasion whilst using these accessories driving I get a very obvious bucking almost like I'm loosing power for a few seconds sort of on and off on off... No codes at all... At idol when I hit the accessories just a quick surge not half as vilolent

 

Aussie boy

 

Hay Mate
So this only happens when you operate the accessories?
I have a 96 SE and the factory service manual for the US version.
I'll try and look it up for you but I wanted to be sure what I'm looking for.

 

I can't tell if there's a difference between Left and Right hand drive, there doesn't seem to be.

There's an earth connection in the engine compartment that comes off the harness just before it connects with the OBC. It's on the inner fender. Clean that up and re-tighten it.
There are 2 terminal bolts on the front of the Power Distribution Center (the fuse/relay panel under the hood). One has a heavy wire that runs down to the starter, there's a fusible link strung between them. Clean these terminals up.

Look around inside the Power Distribution box, is it getting wet or did somebody maybe spill a lager in there?

You definitely want to hit the earth on the firewall (with the braided lead) that TJ mentioned too.

These were the only commonalities I could find with the accessories and the running gear.

 

Thanks guys this is great so far ive posted this question in two different webs sites. This one and an Aussie one Everyone is saying earths earths earths and everyone has been great and very prompt to reply... Thanks to all the jeep lovers out there... Any information is great and if anyone has anymore feel free to jump in... I know what I'll be up to this weekend going right threw all the earths to start with...... I really appreciate all the earth position points... Listed If anymore I should maybe no about bomb them on me. thanks again

She's a 96 xj sports..