Running rough after compression test.
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Running rough after compression test.
So, I've been having some problems with my 94 the last few months, lots of random stalling and sputtering and I did a compression test today and I did the whole oil in the cylinders test as well and didn't get any change but now when I start it up it's running aweful.
It sounds like it was mis firing so that was the first thing I checked, then double checked and it's correct. To make it clear, the engine sounds, feels, and smells like a badly running two stroke. Additionally after a few minutes letting it idle there came a horrible sulfur smell coming from the engine.
Could the oil I put in the cylinder be causing this, or do I need to be looking for something else?
It sounds like it was mis firing so that was the first thing I checked, then double checked and it's correct. To make it clear, the engine sounds, feels, and smells like a badly running two stroke. Additionally after a few minutes letting it idle there came a horrible sulfur smell coming from the engine.
Could the oil I put in the cylinder be causing this, or do I need to be looking for something else?
#2
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 90
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Double check all your ignition wires and make sure you hooked them back up properly. Also pull the plugs again and make sure you didn't cross thread or strip anything. That or you may have yanked our broken a wire on the harness when you were doing all the other work.
#3
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: 802
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
check the plugs themselves for any oil or contaminants on them. also that sulfer thing makes me think bad cat. and i think a bad cat can cause a rough running engine, i think...
get it on a code reader. even if theres no CEL, that doesnt mean there isnt something stored in there.
get it on a code reader. even if theres no CEL, that doesnt mean there isnt something stored in there.
#4
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
I double checked all the wires, plugs, etc and haven't found anything so far.
Earlier today the engine was running fine, before the compression test so I'm guessing that it had something to do with the test but I cant figure it out what.
Oh and another thing to add is that the engine is roughest around 1500 rpm, then at around 2k it smooths out a bit but it's still not quite like normal. The noise and vibration seems a lot like misfiring, but i've tripple checked the order of the wires and it's correct.
Earlier today the engine was running fine, before the compression test so I'm guessing that it had something to do with the test but I cant figure it out what.
Oh and another thing to add is that the engine is roughest around 1500 rpm, then at around 2k it smooths out a bit but it's still not quite like normal. The noise and vibration seems a lot like misfiring, but i've tripple checked the order of the wires and it's correct.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ............
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Sounds like you might have broke a spark plug wire (pulled to hard on the wire itself, or...???)
Pull each plug wire off (one at a time) and run the engine. With one of them pulled listen for a difference in sound...do each one until you find which one "doesn't" change. Then that should be the one with a bad wire or spark plug or...
Pull each plug wire off (one at a time) and run the engine. With one of them pulled listen for a difference in sound...do each one until you find which one "doesn't" change. Then that should be the one with a bad wire or spark plug or...
#6
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Thanks JC, I'll check those in the morning.
Also I was wondering, one of the things I've noticed is that it does smell like it's running rich. I'm wondering if some of the oil I had in the cylinders might have gotten onto the O2 sensor and be causing the rich condition causing the rough running.
Also I was wondering, one of the things I've noticed is that it does smell like it's running rich. I'm wondering if some of the oil I had in the cylinders might have gotten onto the O2 sensor and be causing the rich condition causing the rough running.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ............
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by iWare
Thanks JC, I'll check those in the morning.
Also I was wondering, one of the things I've noticed is that it does smell like it's running rich. I'm wondering if some of the oil I had in the cylinders might have gotten onto the O2 sensor and be causing the rich condition causing the rough running.
Also I was wondering, one of the things I've noticed is that it does smell like it's running rich. I'm wondering if some of the oil I had in the cylinders might have gotten onto the O2 sensor and be causing the rich condition causing the rough running.
Trending Topics
#8
CF Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: In the middle of Minnesota!
Posts: 5,805
Received 99 Likes
on
88 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
The oil you introduced would burn off.
If this symptom started immediately after the compression test, you either have a faulty spark plug OR you have a plug wire problem.
You can verify the resistance of plug wires with a simple multimeter if you have one.
Otherwise, it might be time to spring for a new set of quality plug wires.
If this symptom started immediately after the compression test, you either have a faulty spark plug OR you have a plug wire problem.
You can verify the resistance of plug wires with a simple multimeter if you have one.
Otherwise, it might be time to spring for a new set of quality plug wires.
#9
Seasoned Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Suffolk long island
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L I6
something similair happened to me when I replaced cap/rotor, turns out I messed up the order, played with the wires and ran good as new.
#10
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
I checked all the plug wires, all read out around 5 kOhms, one was a little higher at 8. All the spark plugs seem ok, they do need to be replaced soon but none of them seem any worse than when I pulled them before.
#11
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Heres a quick clip i took of the engine running to see if it will help with the diagnosis.
It's hard to hear but under throttle the engine gets rougher and shakes the whole body until around 2k rpm when it starts to smooth out.
It's hard to hear but under throttle the engine gets rougher and shakes the whole body until around 2k rpm when it starts to smooth out.
#12
CF Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Elizabethtown, pa
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 5.2
Open the hood when it gets dark out and run it. Look for spark arcing. If you you need to replace plugs soon, just replace them. Also even a small tear in the insulation of any of the wires will cause this.
Now, on a side note, this could be your previous issue esculating. Wierd things have happened before. Once had a chevy truck come into work for a oil change, did the oil change, truck wouldnt start. The starter was bad. Of course he blamed us, tried to make us pay for it, and then filed a complaint. Just saying,there is the possibilty that something finally broke totally unrelated to the compression test.
Now, on a side note, this could be your previous issue esculating. Wierd things have happened before. Once had a chevy truck come into work for a oil change, did the oil change, truck wouldnt start. The starter was bad. Of course he blamed us, tried to make us pay for it, and then filed a complaint. Just saying,there is the possibilty that something finally broke totally unrelated to the compression test.
#13
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Thats what I've been thinking as well, especially since I'm running out of things that could have been affected during the test.
I'm thinking that the rough running is being caused by a really rich mixture, after running it smells like someone poured fuel all over the engine. The first thing that jumps to mind would be the O2 sensors, Is there any way to test them? Any other possible culprits?
I'm thinking that the rough running is being caused by a really rich mixture, after running it smells like someone poured fuel all over the engine. The first thing that jumps to mind would be the O2 sensors, Is there any way to test them? Any other possible culprits?
#14
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l
Thats what I've been thinking as well, especially since I'm running out of things that could have been affected during the test.
I'm thinking that the rough running is being caused by a really rich mixture, after running it smells like someone poured fuel all over the engine. The first thing that jumps to mind would be the O2 sensors, Is there any way to test them? Any other possible culprits?
I'm thinking that the rough running is being caused by a really rich mixture, after running it smells like someone poured fuel all over the engine. The first thing that jumps to mind would be the O2 sensors, Is there any way to test them? Any other possible culprits?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
riderjay253
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
4
09-16-2015 11:31 AM
australian_expat
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
4
09-02-2015 09:02 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)