The past few days my check gauges light has come on, and the battery gauge falls to 9. Today my car wouldn't start. After someone jumped me off the check gauges light came back on, along with battery gauge falling to 9, then I attempted to pull off and after a few seconds it's like the gas pedal just stopped working. As I coasted through a stop light everything started to dim on the car, and the airbag light came on. Before I could make it completely through the light, a loud popping noise (almost like a backfire sound) started coming from the engine, just before it died. I'm clueless when it comes to automotive/mechanical stuff. Does anyone know what this could be?

 

Check your rotor (inside the distibutor) or the alternator.

I have a 96 that had the same kind of symptoms and after sitting on the side of the road for what seemed like days (not really) the rotor had broke. The rotors in the distibutors are crap, at least the way they are made.

Let us know what you find.

 

Well, the check guages sounds like it responding to the low battery voltage. It should only go that low if your alternator is bad and your battery is toast. Although I would have expected the battery light to come on...
You will have to get it running again to diagnose the other issues. Sounds like fun

With a good battery connected, and the engine running, the battery voltage (measuring with a meter to the battery terminals...the guage in the jeep should be ignored for this test) should be around 14.4V. If it is at 12.6V or less with the engine running, the alternator is not doing its thang.

 

I bought a new battery back in October, and it has been running around 12.6V for a long time now. I just assumed it was normal. I have had some issues with the turn signals for over a year now too, maybe the wiring? During hot temperature they would work fine, but in cold they would only work occasionally, but recently they just went out all together. Could that have any relation to what is happening with the rest of it? I'm female, and seriously dumbfounded when it comes to automotive stuff. I know how to check the oil and add coolant, but that's about it. lol.

 

Please dont take any of this post as condescending, just wanna help

ok well 14.4 is a good base line but not an absolute, 13-14 is better. If you just bought your battery and is new that doesnt mean it cant go bad. If you have a multimeter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimeter with the car off measure between the terminals and you should get a reading 12+ volts, however because you have more than likely tried to turn it over it may be less than that now.

As far as checking the distibutor http://www.1aauto.com/1A/Distributor...FcIUKgod3hzg8w you should see this under the hood with wires going to the motor. There are 2 screws that hold this cap to the distibutor. Unscrew those and carefully lift it straight up making sure not to disconnect any of the wires. If need be the center wire can be unpluged. Under that you should see a rotor http://www.am-autoparts.com/Jeep/Che...FQoDQAoduHEx5w
Make sure it looks like that. It is the cheapest solution so far about $3.

 

Hey I'm at a loss here, so I appreciate any help I can get. It was late last night when I made that last post and I got the temperatures mixed up, sorry. When it was cold the turn signals worked fine, and hot they were kinda iffy. If it's the rotor would that fix the turn signal problem as well?

 

No, or at least not that I know of. This was more of a lets start at the bottom and see where it takes us.

Chrysler has an inherit issue with electrical. Your blinker issue could be a product of why your jeep isnt running or it could be a completely seperate problem. I would say the most important thing to do is to get it running again and then go from there.

 

Ok, it turned out to be the alternator. Got that replaced, now waiting for the battery to recharge.

 

Great! Glad everything worked out for you!

 

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