OK I have not idea how to find anyone with like problem. 2001 Cherokee 4.0L. Drove thru lots of rain two days ago and now I find check engine light and voltage gage jumps to 19V while driving around 45-55.+
It often goes off on its own or if I turn jeep off and back on gage registers 14 volts. Where do I begin??? I know after seeing much bad information that voltage regulator is in PCM and not internal to altenator. I plan to check connections first and then have both alternator and battery tested. Anyone that has same problem and found fixt please let me know. Altenator about $129 and PCM $199. Do not want to go thru that add external voltage regulator to PCM for $65 and have wires all over the place as altenator I find is at bottom of engine! What brain at Jeep put it there!!!! Like not seeing #3 plug and loction to manifold was not going to be a fuel boiling problem.

 

It is the worst place in the world. Sprinter does the same thing lol. Question. Can you get the CEL checked easily by you or no? Also, has it happened since. You May just have wet the alternator and drying off May help it. It happened to me during a hurricane and once it was dry, everything went back to normal.

 

Dry the thing out first and refresh all battery cables and grounding points. There's no reason to assume anything is dead yet.

 

This is the metal insert that sits in the top of the dist. Cap. Normally the spark flag wire from starter would be connected. It's clearly broken, but still seats into receptacle. Would this cause a no start?

 

IF there was even spark to the plugs it probably wouldn't be enough to start it. That wire goes to the cap from the ignition coil.

 

I hope to god this is it.. If not the CPS.. But if one of those two things doesn't get my jeep running, Im literally out of ideas. Kinda terrifying honestly- dunno what I'll do..

 

Don't have an extra cap around to try?

 

That's how you get spark dude lol.

 

Hmm.. Maybe, actually.. Pretty sure I tossed old one..
well yeah! but if i don't ask..then idk!

 

Can't beat that response. Time for some noggin pokin.

 

Electrical questions:

Temp Gauge doesnt work (im sure either Cruiser or Salad will know where to pick up from here) still no multi-meter but i found a tester, so i grounded it and touched it to the power in on the gauge mount screw, it lit up, and same story for the connection that comes from the sender, so its working. I tried grounding it manually and it still didn't feel like moving, so do i need a multi-meter to do further diagnostics?

Also im 99% sure i found my ECU this time. Simple question is how do i count/know what pin is what on this? Is there a handy chart i can use or is there some counting rule like right to left, bottom to top?

 

Well, the only thing I can think of is the temp sending unit, but ya prob did that.. As for ECM it will have little numbers printed on the plastic housing you pulled off. Look closleyer.. I might be wrong...


About both.

 

You need a digital multimeter to be working on this stuff.

 

That's sure encouraging.............LOL.

https://www.google.com/search?site=&...inout&tbm=isch

 

Why does it say "**** on prius" in your link cruiser? Lol