spitting and sputtering
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 55
Likes: 1
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 High Output
spitting and sputtering
Do you think not gapping your spark plugs right would cause the engine to spit and sputter? What about the fuel filter? What else would cuase that when you try to floor it under a load?
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 2
From: Grand Prairie, Texas
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO I6
It's the weekend...everyone is out wheeling =p Plus, sounds like he nailed it, so no need for anyone else to post after you got your answer, right? Not trying to come down on you, just pointing out some possible reasons for lack of response.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L 4wd
my jeep does this too. dunno why. one thing that seemed to alleviate it was unplugged the o2 sensor, and then running it a little while, and plugging it back in, i dunno why but it ran good for a few days after i did that. i dunno what the implications of running it with the o2 plugged in on this old RENIX rig i have, because when i DID run it without the o2 plugged it i noticed no wierdness in preformance due to the sensor being unplugged. almost like the o2 sensor is there just for show in this old car.
also another problem that could go hand and hand with this that i have is that the jeep runs rich. i turn it on sometimes and its revving itself at 2000 rpms. it will drive itself in drive at like 10 mph, and when you do cruise it wont deccelerate hardly. it burns alot of gas too when this happens. AND another wierd thing is when you put it in park of N it revvs itself again, keeping a high idle of like 2000.
someone told me its my fuel pump, but i doubt that. its been doing this for months, and no check engine lights, or fuel pump stop working or anything. someone said maybe the fuel filter, but thats brand new.
see the sputtering i can deal with for a little while, but the high idle/driving itself, thing, is getting annoying. sometimes if i turn the ignition on and off a few times it wont start like that, but sometimes it will start like that three times in a row. its not overheating at all, its just running itself ragged for somereason.
also another problem that could go hand and hand with this that i have is that the jeep runs rich. i turn it on sometimes and its revving itself at 2000 rpms. it will drive itself in drive at like 10 mph, and when you do cruise it wont deccelerate hardly. it burns alot of gas too when this happens. AND another wierd thing is when you put it in park of N it revvs itself again, keeping a high idle of like 2000.
someone told me its my fuel pump, but i doubt that. its been doing this for months, and no check engine lights, or fuel pump stop working or anything. someone said maybe the fuel filter, but thats brand new.
see the sputtering i can deal with for a little while, but the high idle/driving itself, thing, is getting annoying. sometimes if i turn the ignition on and off a few times it wont start like that, but sometimes it will start like that three times in a row. its not overheating at all, its just running itself ragged for somereason.
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 2
From: Grand Prairie, Texas
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO I6
I just went and looked at a 1990 XJ the other day. Talk about high idle, it sat around 4k rpms once it got warmed up. I had to use both feet on the brake to keep it from leaping when I put it in drive. I don't see a fuel pump causing that.
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
Was just having a similar problem, I had rules out plug and wires because they were only a few weeks old, but when checking the voltage through the wires we found one was damaged internally and when replaced my hard hesitating under load disappeared.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
I'm having similar issues, Going to replace the Cap, Rotor, Plugs, cables Fuel Filter, Air Filter and check the codes it's throwing for the check engine light on sunday. I'm thinking it's got to be the fact that I haven't done a tune up in about 60,000 even though it has the double platinum plugs, it's about time, and I don't know if the fuel filter has ever been replaced in it's 170k miles so I'm doing that too. also could be my Tps, really dreading having to change that though.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma, WA
Year: 87
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0 I6
With computer controlled engines there are many factors that can cause there symptoms. With that said eliminate any doubts you may have and then look to fuel management/delivery and ignition.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4 liter
Check for vacuum leaks and fuel pressure.
After you check the plug and regap them ,if your symptoms do not go away check for vacuum leaks . You did not mention when the spitting and sputtering is occurring ,at idle ,at cruise , acceleration, or all the time. You can also use the forum search feature to get more answers than you know what to do with. Good Luck
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
my jeep does this too. dunno why. one thing that seemed to alleviate it was unplugged the o2 sensor, and then running it a little while, and plugging it back in, i dunno why but it ran good for a few days after i did that. i dunno what the implications of running it with the o2 plugged in on this old RENIX rig i have, because when i DID run it without the o2 plugged it i noticed no wierdness in preformance due to the sensor being unplugged. almost like the o2 sensor is there just for show in this old car.
also another problem that could go hand and hand with this that i have is that the jeep runs rich. i turn it on sometimes and its revving itself at 2000 rpms. it will drive itself in drive at like 10 mph, and when you do cruise it wont deccelerate hardly. it burns alot of gas too when this happens. AND another wierd thing is when you put it in park of N it revvs itself again, keeping a high idle of like 2000.
someone told me its my fuel pump, but i doubt that. its been doing this for months, and no check engine lights, or fuel pump stop working or anything. someone said maybe the fuel filter, but thats brand new.
see the sputtering i can deal with for a little while, but the high idle/driving itself, thing, is getting annoying. sometimes if i turn the ignition on and off a few times it wont start like that, but sometimes it will start like that three times in a row. its not overheating at all, its just running itself ragged for somereason.
also another problem that could go hand and hand with this that i have is that the jeep runs rich. i turn it on sometimes and its revving itself at 2000 rpms. it will drive itself in drive at like 10 mph, and when you do cruise it wont deccelerate hardly. it burns alot of gas too when this happens. AND another wierd thing is when you put it in park of N it revvs itself again, keeping a high idle of like 2000.
someone told me its my fuel pump, but i doubt that. its been doing this for months, and no check engine lights, or fuel pump stop working or anything. someone said maybe the fuel filter, but thats brand new.
see the sputtering i can deal with for a little while, but the high idle/driving itself, thing, is getting annoying. sometimes if i turn the ignition on and off a few times it wont start like that, but sometimes it will start like that three times in a row. its not overheating at all, its just running itself ragged for somereason.