Starts but immediately stalls
04-02-2013, 05:38 AM
#1
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Finger Lakes Region NY
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
Starts but immediately stalls
I'm in a time crunch here gents. no meter reader on hand and no transport to get one. 90 4.0 auto starts fine but stalls in 1-2 seconds. i've read CPS, TPS, MAP, fuel pressure, fuel pump.... what should i check first and how do i check it. it's still dark out and i don't have a garage. I'm late for work this morning and in need of the XJ family support.
Yes i searched!
Yes i searched!
04-02-2013, 06:27 AM
#2
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
Ballast resistor is for sure the #1 suspect.
By design the ballast resistor is out of circuit when the key is turned to the full "start" position", so enough fuel is introduced so the engine starts. However, as soon as you let off the key, the ballast resistor is back in circuit and if it is bad, you won't get any more fuel.
It's a cream colored resistor mounted on the fenderwell. You can safely bypass it with a piece of wire as a test. And that is how you should rule it in or out. It is there only to reduce noise on the fuel pump circuit, later model XJs don't even have one.
By design the ballast resistor is out of circuit when the key is turned to the full "start" position", so enough fuel is introduced so the engine starts. However, as soon as you let off the key, the ballast resistor is back in circuit and if it is bad, you won't get any more fuel.
It's a cream colored resistor mounted on the fenderwell. You can safely bypass it with a piece of wire as a test. And that is how you should rule it in or out. It is there only to reduce noise on the fuel pump circuit, later model XJs don't even have one.
Last edited by tjwalker; 04-02-2013 at 06:29 AM.
04-02-2013, 06:50 AM
#3
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,875
Received 1,526 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Ballast resistor is for sure the #1 suspect.
By design the ballast resistor is out of circuit when the key is turned to the full "start" position", so enough fuel is introduced so the engine starts. However, as soon as you let off the key, the ballast resistor is back in circuit and if it is bad, you won't get any more fuel.
It's a cream colored resistor mounted on the fenderwell. You can safely bypass it with a piece of wire as a test. And that is how you should rule it in or out. It is there only to reduce noise on the fuel pump circuit, later model XJs don't even have one.
By design the ballast resistor is out of circuit when the key is turned to the full "start" position", so enough fuel is introduced so the engine starts. However, as soon as you let off the key, the ballast resistor is back in circuit and if it is bad, you won't get any more fuel.
It's a cream colored resistor mounted on the fenderwell. You can safely bypass it with a piece of wire as a test. And that is how you should rule it in or out. It is there only to reduce noise on the fuel pump circuit, later model XJs don't even have one.
04-02-2013, 07:07 AM
#4
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Finger Lakes Region NY
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
Bypassed the resistor and no change. thanks though. other ideas?
Last edited by Agent_Oragnge; 04-02-2013 at 07:45 AM.
04-02-2013, 07:53 AM
#6
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,875
Received 1,526 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
04-02-2013, 08:07 AM
#7
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Finger Lakes Region NY
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
pulled the connection at the throttle body sensor and cleaned the connection. was pretty loose so i put it back together and zipped tied it together so the connection stays nice and tight not allowign gunk to build up inside.
Jeep forever yo!!
Jeep forever yo!!
Trending Topics
04-02-2013, 08:13 AM
#8
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,875
Received 1,526 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Ever do this?
I suggest unplugging EVERY electrical connection in the engine bay you can find, whether engine related or not, and spraying it out with a good electronics cleaner, visually inspecting the terminals making sure they haven’t retracted into the plastic holder, and then plugging it back together. There’s a critical 10-pin connector for the front lighting system located in front of the air cleaner and behind the left headlight assembly. Don’t miss that one
. Also be sure that the connectors to the ballast resistor mounted near the air cleaner housing are clean and tight.
ALL of the relays should be removed, the terminals wire-brushed until shiny, and the receptacles sprayed out with contact cleaner. Then plug them back in. I do this on every Renix Jeep I purchase or work on for someone else.
Revised 07/23/2012
04-02-2013, 08:45 AM
#9
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Finger Lakes Region NY
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
yeah once it warms up a general electrical clean up is definately in order for my 90. excatly what you just said one of the pins retracted into the plastic housing and well... no bueno.
the 3 wire sensor on the front of the throttle body grey balck and green wire. tested the black to grey (made the wife come home from work and we went and bought a volt/ohm meter) as the manual describes and read 4.9 volts with key in the ON position. so i followed those wires back to a connection under the air intake and that was the loose conncetion. I think thats the TPS. correct?
I also cleaned the butterfly plate in the body itsef with carb cleaner and Qtips. both the top and bottom side and all the little nooks n crannies i could get into in the throttle body. seems to be working. Got wto work 3 1/2 hours late. bossman was not impressed! Oh wait I am the boss man, but still don't like being late!
the 3 wire sensor on the front of the throttle body grey balck and green wire. tested the black to grey (made the wife come home from work and we went and bought a volt/ohm meter) as the manual describes and read 4.9 volts with key in the ON position. so i followed those wires back to a connection under the air intake and that was the loose conncetion. I think thats the TPS. correct?
I also cleaned the butterfly plate in the body itsef with carb cleaner and Qtips. both the top and bottom side and all the little nooks n crannies i could get into in the throttle body. seems to be working. Got wto work 3 1/2 hours late. bossman was not impressed! Oh wait I am the boss man, but still don't like being late!
Last edited by Agent_Oragnge; 04-02-2013 at 08:48 AM.
04-02-2013, 05:41 PM
#11
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Finger Lakes Region NY
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
first i bypassed the Ballistor as suggested. note the orange wires splice together with the white electrical tape
then i remove the 3 screws holding the air intake to the throttle body and cleaned all the gunk i could get at with carb cleaner and Qtips and put the 3 screws back in.
on the throttle body itself you see 2 ChingGaderas (dohickies for the layman)the one on the right is the TPSand it has 3 wires grey black and green follow those wires until you get to a connector.
pull the connector appart and check as previous stated by Cruiser that the connections are Not with drawn back into the plastic housing. mine were and they were dirty to boot. Clean them up.
I zipped tied the connection together to ensure they were nice n tight.
That fixed my strting but immediately stalling problem but it could have been a number of things. pics always help so hope yall get some good use from em.
This has been another installment from shade tree mechanis and busted knuckles education
Last edited by Agent_Oragnge; 04-02-2013 at 05:44 PM.
04-02-2013, 06:23 PM
#12
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,875
Received 1,526 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Good job. A testimonial for my preventative measures of connector refreshing. Do you know what chingadera means?
04-02-2013, 06:28 PM
#14
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,875
Received 1,526 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
04-02-2013, 06:30 PM
#15
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Finger Lakes Region NY
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
yeah i lived in PHX AZ for 8 years and 2 years in El Pizzhole TX. for a gringo i speak the speak. Having worked in construction (which is prodiminetly a hispanic trade in the SW) for those 10 years I know it to be "that thing thats just outta my reach that i need the other guy to hand me but i can't think of the name off the top of my head". am i close?