Waynerd

So I purchased a 98 xj Friday. Drove it home about 20 ish miles. Purchased knowing it had a skip at idle and smelled of fuel. Skip would go away with slightest rev. About 10 minutes into drive it started to hesitate when first pushing pedal but if I pushed down a lite more it would pop then rev fine. Did this a few minutes then all good. Another 10 or more it did the same. Then fine rest if the way. The pop sounded like it was through the intake. I did notice the second time that the temp creeped slightly past normal before it did it. Got home to notice coolant leak witch I think May be from the builder of it mounting electric fan to the radiator. Oh and the CEL came on after second time. Next morning it wouldn't turn over and had to bypas NSS to get it going. I think that's because of the bad trans mount and sounded like the trans was going to fall out on the drive.

Orlo

So did the seller give you any clues as to what issues the rig had? Did you get full disclosure when you made the offer?

Waynerd

He got it a few months ago as a winter project/ toy. He only drove it around his yard and around the block. Ended up getting an impress and wanting to sell the jeep to fund the impreza mods. It was already built as mostly a woods rig by the guy he got it from and he didn't do much to it or ever try to figure out the skip at idle. He drove it around a ditch in his back hard and broke a brake hose because PO didn't install extended lines with the lift. Then it just sat. He claims he didn't have a problem with NSS or drive it enough to notice any other issues

Waynerd

I'm pretty familiar with xj's this make number 3 in my current collection and I kinda knew what I was getting myself into radiator is no big deal nor the Nss or trans mount but the hesitation driving was a surprise and all of my past and current jeeps have never had this problem. Going to get the codes to start ASAP. Pretty sure it has a small leak in exhaust manifold. Haven't quite had much time to check into it and was hoping for some clues.

Parsnip

Pop at idle and fuel smell...I'm thinking leaky injector for 200, Alex.

But do pull the codes, if this thing has been a beater I'd reckon you might as well throw plugs wires cap and rotor just to be safe (whenever I purchase a new vehicle, I usually do a tune up for my own records of when it was last done)

Waynerd

I'll keep u all updated when I find out more. Have an oil pressure sender to put in. Haven't even had time to do anything with it since Saturday. Rained all day Sunday. Need to get that sender in, change oil and filter and do the plugs cap and wires. Don't have a code reader so idk how long that'll take to pull the codes. Found some threads on NAXJA but no common answers. Did read several times that if it pops through intake on light throttle but goes like hell when floored then it would be a sensor issue. Just don't want to go replacing a bunch of stuff and have it still do the same.

Waynerd

Some quick pics I took

Waynerd

More to come

Waynerd

I know it's taking forever to get going in this thing. Haven't looked any deeper into the skip yet. Changed the oil so far. I need to clean the motor well before I go pulling out plugs and what not. This weekend looks good to do that and borrow a code reader.
I start it everyday and let it warm up to temp. One thing I didn't mention is once it warms up the idle becomes weaker. And I found out there's a short in the oil pressure sender circuit somewhere in the harness. I hope the skip isn't from a short somewhere else.
Will return with more info this weekend. Possibly start a build thread but 1/2 build and 1/2 reconditioning.

Waynerd

Stupid rain last weekend. Now snowing.

Waynerd

This jeep is on hold for now. Picked up another 98 to use for parts. Had an interior fire. Decided to put interior out of a 99 that I've had as a slow project for he last few years into the one I just got.

Waynerd

Ok so I finally got a code reader. Reading p0132 upstream o2 bank one voltage high. Not sure if it's because there's no cat. Read mixed answers about running without cat. Some say it doesn't do anything but make it run rich. Some say it'll really mess it up. Going to check my wiring. Then add a cat and replace o2. Read one thread where someone had the exact symptoms as me and it was an o2. Also my reader has a feature to erase code but it won't work.