Hello! I just picked up my new to me cherokee and I'm having an issue with it. It drove great on the test drive and on the way home but once at home it wants to stall every time I start it. The previous owner had it for the past 10 years and it is in very good shape overall... my luck this would happen.

Anyway to the point, it's a 1999 cherokee classic, 4.0L automatic, 4dr, pl,pw,ac,cruise etc. It will start and run for a few seconds and then dies. If I hold the gas it will remain running until I take my foot off then it sputters, hiccups and stalls out.

I am thinking it is either an alternator or coil. If anyone has any suggestions that could help I am all ears. Thanks!

 

A common problem is the CPS (Crank Shaft position Sensor). try looking up the specs on this of wires and all that and it could be loose or bad.

 

1. Clean the throttle body and IAC valve.

2. Test fuel pressure.

 

The first time it stalled I was driving it and it died. I had it running once when I held the gas but once i take my foot off it sputters and dies. No codes.

 

^^ and in that order

 

what is the condition of the battery?

 

Put it on a code reader if nothing else. What you've described sounds like it could be any number of things, most of which have been mentioned already. I'm gonna throw a vote for the o2 sensors. But, like I said, get a good diagnostics tool and a competent mechanic and see what you can find.

 

After working on it today, I had it start and run for 15-20 seconds. I thought I had fixed the problem and began cleaning up tools when it sputtered and died.

- I replaced the cap and rotor
- cleaned the battery terminals
- fixed a battery ground that was broken (negative battery terminal to inner fender)
- cleaned the throttle body and IAC
- swapped the fuel pump relay with the starter relay
- checked the condition of the spark plugs
- heard the fuel pump turn on with the ignition
- ran a code reader and found no code, unplugged the CPS and ran code reader, again no codes

Any help is much appreciated.

 

Have you inspected fuel tank to confirm no debris is in there and causing blockage? Maybe need to replace TPS or IAC, though you said you cleaned it. The o2's are still a definite possibility. I guess testing fuel pressure would be good.

 

I have a friend coming over on Tuesday to help check the fuel pressure, I have never done it before. The IAC had play in it, I could push it in and out so I will find another one at the wreckers.

I'm going to pickup a bunch of the sensors off a wrecked cherokee and try them out. I know they may also be defective but it's worth a shot as wrecker parts are cheap.

 

So a big update. I replaced the entire negative terminal and ground to fender cable as both were rotten and falling apart. I found an IAC at the wreckers and cleaned it well before installing it. I had the battery fully charge over night and had it tested, it came back in good condition!

I turned the key and it fired up instantly! I was very happy, i let it sit and idle for 5 minutes while I "again" cleaned up the tools. I sat in it and revved a few times and all sounded great. I took it around the block and ALMOST made it back home when it suddenly died.....

I fired it back up, it ran for mere seconds before dying again. I fired it up again and this time would only stay running when I held the gas. I fired it up and briskly floored it to my house where it died again..

So this is where I am at... I thought I had it all well and working but I am thinking this could be a fuel pump? Any thoughts or help is much welcomed!

 

Everyone has said CPS from the get go and I believe they are correct. I ran more tests late last night and the jeep fired up.. seconds later it died. I tested for spark at the coil and there was non. Still no codes..

I assume the CPS sends a negative signal to the ECU and won't let me start it again after it dies. Since a bad CPS won't allow the ECU to send spark to the coil I can only assume the crank sensor (the most common failing part) is defective. My coil has a lot of dirt and rust on it so I will replace it anyway just to rule it out.

I have a CPS on order, I will post back letting everyone know the results after installing these new parts. Thanks again for all the help!

 

It is alive! Thanks to everyone who replied and bestowed their cherokee knowledge! I swapped in a new crank sensor today and she fired up and idled great. I cautiously drove her around the block hoping she wouldn't stall and she didn't. I am still a skeptic but for now it's running, it's driving and it sounds great.

On a side note, I read a lot of reviews stating how difficult the CPS job was. I used 2 9" extensions, 2 6" extension, 2 u-joints and a 11mm deep socket (if i recall correctly). It was out in less time than it took to assemble all the extensions on my ratchet lol putting it back together i had a friend hold the new one in place while i put the screws in by hand from under the jeep and tightened with the ratchet.

Thank you again.

 

a pic torial always help the people with the same questions you had figure it out. great job on getting up n running again!

 

Mine looked much like this but instead one large extension I used two 9" with a u-joint in between. I also used a u-joint with the socket to make it easier to line up the bolt. This helped in the tight space between the transfer case and the floor of the jeep.

Here is a very good link for doing the job.
http://greatlakesxj.activeboard.com/...picID=24211453