Xj randomly accelerating on its own!!
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,004
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington,NC
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Well I was on my way to work this morning and had let off the gas pedal when I did the jeep began to accelerate on its own so I promptly hit the breaks thing maybe cruise control kicked on for some reason but the jeep continued to pick up speed. I ended up slamming on the breaks to get it to stop. I did notice the gas pedal was going down like it would when you increase your speed using cruise control. Any ideas what would cause this? Please help
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,074
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From: Bergen County, New Jersey U.S.A.
Year: 1990 Laredo
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6 Renix
Sounds like your throttle cable is hung up check the linkage on the TB to make sure it is not sticking... Lube it up and then check the cable... Also if your cruise control is engaging did the light ever come on?? Check the vacuum lines for the cruise servo
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,004
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington,NC
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I never see a light come on when I engage my cruise control. Granted I have always had issues with it. Like when I engage it the jeep races to 20mph over what I try to set it at
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,004
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington,NC
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
. I think my O2 is going bad or is bad idk since my check engine light doesnt work. But it is plugged in. Where is the cruise control modular located? Was talking to a friend of mine and he had the same issue when his cruise control went on the fritz so I figured Id just unplug it till I get another one and see if that fixes it. Also thinking about rewiring the whole jeep with bigger better wire to try and fix a few things and possibly add some things. Mainly think the wires under the dash need done as I have a bunch of random/loose wires under there.
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Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,004
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington,NC
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I treat her pretty good the po did not do this tho. If I could afford a higher octane gas I would use it but regular 87 is 3.80 a gallon here and thats the cheapest price in town :/
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 117
From: In the middle of Minnesota!
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 47,923
Likes: 38
From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
Start here...
just seafoam it changel plugs, clean the throttle body then see if you have to change the throttle position sensor. Its a 35 dollar part id change it first but might as well clean the throttle body. My jeep did the same thing and it was the tps.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,074
Likes: 0
From: Bergen County, New Jersey U.S.A.
Year: 1990 Laredo
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6 Renix
Seafoam is a can of death in my opinion...if the pedal is held down it has nothing to do with a sensor... What year is your jeep?
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 6
From: Summerville, Ga
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5 4 cyl.
Check the damn linkage. And the cruise control accuator is over to the right of the battery (or mine is on my 4 banger). If you want to try disco'ing the cruise then just disconnect the linkage at the TB.



