This is Jeep #7 for me and I am usually pretty good about figuring out whats wrong. This time, I am not sure. My 1999 4.0 Cherokee starts like a dream on first start but if I drive around the corner to the store, it wont start back up. If I drive across town, it's fine, starts right back up again.
When cranking it sounds like it isn't getting gas but you can smell that it is. The only way to start it is to pump the gas like a crazy person and then stomp it to the floor. Once you get it started, she runs sweet as always.
I dont know if this may be connected to the problem but my temp gauge stopped working also. I saw somewhere that the coolant temp sensor could cause this?
Any ideas? Preferably before my right leg grows to twice the size of my left!

 

Your 99 has a computer that will store error codes. Auto parts stores will usually read these out for you. Get the error code and google it to find what is going wrong.

 

Unless your 1999 4.0 Cherokee has a normally aspirated carburetor, "pumping" the gas pedal will do nothing other than open and close your butterfly valve. If you smell raw gas when you crank it over, you should be looking for a leak somewhere. Pushing the go pedal to the floor WILL place your TPS in its' wide open position, but I don't think the PCM will send a "more fuel" signal to the injectors while you're cranking the engine. Even if it did, you shouldn't be able to smell the gas, as it's injected directly into the manifold and sucked into the cylinders. I would check for fuel leaking somewhere.. And then check the CPS.. The crankshaft position sensor could cause the symptoms you describe as they can sometimes fail slowly. Also, I wouldn't rule out the fuel pump or ignition coil. Did you have the CEL scanned?

 

Total brainfart on my part. Too many jeeps! For some reason I was thinking we had changed it on #7 but my Son reminded me we had not. It was the TPS.