Well, that was certainly fun!

Got in the passenger seat to head to work this morning. #3 son driving to get some practice time in. "Student Driver" signs firmly in place.

It didn't want to pull out onto the street. Engine revved like very low trans fluid. Backed up the driveway, checked. Hmmm. Bottom of the "Safe" zone, so I added a quart. But... that should not have been low enough for a problem.

Down the driveway (200 ft) and again... but now the gauges are going crazy. Everything going to zero, then back, then zero. Check Gauges light is on, then off.....

Back up the driveway again, gauges dancing. Then I noticed the voltmeter is PEGGED! Yikes!

Got out the meter, confirmed the reading. Shut down quickly and began head scratching....

Went inside, and described sypmtoms. #4 son wondered aloud if....

Yep.

On Friday, #1 and #4 pressure washed the front suspension, planning to replace the tie rods Saturday morning. Waiting on a part that was delivered late Friday. Might as well have the area clean, right?

But then it rained all day Saturday. No garage to work in, so no worky on Jeepy.

Turns out #1 had followed my instructions to cover the alternator with foil before pressure washing.... and had left it there.

It's a wonder I didn't fry the PCM!!!

It ran fine to work and back without the foil in place.

These things are tough!

I think I'll kill #1, though. Again....

But can anyone help me understand what was going on with the transmission? I don't really get that..... unless the solenoids were whacked out and it was trying to start off in 4th? There's no question that the entire electrical system was going crazy.

 

Use plastic bags.....

 

Yeah. Over his head!

 

Tin foil all over his head?

 

Because aliens.

 

 

I had the exact same symptoms awhile back. It in fact WAS the alternator. Sort of. The field signal wires in the main harness had gotten pinched.

Check gauges light, gauges going nuts, trans not engaging. Of course it took me chasing my tail and throwing parts at it for way too long before I figured out the problem.

Best guess is that the screwy signal was messing with the PCM, and causing it to make the trans act up. If I can find it, I'll post up the link to my thread on it, good for a laugh if nothing else, lol.

Though I was gonna end up rolling it off a cliff.

 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/ran...n-help-227433/

 

Good info! Thanks!