yesterday morning my jeep pissed me off more than anything.
first time i turned the key, she started. but it wasnt normal. it was puttering and i had to keep my foot on the gas to make it normal. (this happens pretty often so i thought nothing of it.)
but then i took my foot off the gas and on the brake to put it in drive and she DIED. (that isnt normal.) i put it back into park and turned the key again and she wouldnt even try to turn on. nothing happened other than the CHECK ENGINE light came on. (well of course i would check the engine, bro. what else would i check?! my full tank of gas?!) i turned the key a few more times and again, nothin but the check engine light. i sat there for a few minutes and tried again. and she FINALLY started and ran right the rest of the day.
but why the heck did that happen?!

 

Do you have a code reader? Getting the code from the check engine light would be my first move.

edit: I see your jeep is a '94. No reader needed for that.
When your check engine light comes on, do the following procedure to determine what is causing the system to report a problem. With the ignition off, switch the key on, off, on, off, on. (This needs to happen in under 5 seconds) Make sure you don't actually start your Jeep, turn the ignition to the ON position, but do not turn it so far that you start cranking the engine.

The check engine light will start to flash, count these flashes. Each code is a two digit number, for example 23 would be FLASH FLASH <pause> FLASH FLASH FLASH <long pause>

It will never flash more than 9 times, watch for pauses! The end of sequence code is 55.

Cherokee Engine Diagnostic codes
11 No ignition reference signal detected during cranking (bad hall effect) OR timing belt skipped one or more teeth; or intermittent loss of either camshaft or crankshaft position sensor
12 Memory Standby power lost (Batt or computer recently disconnected)
13 No change in MAP from start to run
14 MAP sensor circuit open or shorted; voltage too low
15 No speed/distance sensor signal
16 Loss of battery voltage detected with engine running
17 Engine stays cold too long (bad thermostat)
21 Oxygen sensor signal out of range, possibly shorted
22 Coolant sensor signal out of range (or disconnected to set timing)
23 Intake air temperature signal out of range
24 Throttle position circuit out of range
25 Automatic Idle Speed (AIS) motor driver circuit shorted or target idle not reached, vacuum leak found
26 Peak injector circuit voltage has not been reached
27 Logic module fuel circuit internal problem or TBI injector does not respond properly to control signal
31 Evaporator Purge solenoid circuit open or shorted or Evaporator solenoid circuit
32 EGR system failure or Power loss lamp open or shorted
33 Air conditioning clutch relay circuit open or shorted ( Also will show up for rigs without AC)
34 Speed control vacuum or vent solenoid circuits open or shorted
35 Cooling fan relay circuit open or shorted
36 Wastegate control circuit open or shorted
37 Shift indicator light failure, 5-speed (blown bulb) OR Park/neutral switch failure OR Torque converter unlock circuit open or shorted, A-413 4-speed auto
41 Alternator field control circuit open or shorted
42 Automatic shutdown relay circuit open or shorted
42 Fuel pump relay control circuit
42 Fuel level unit - no change over miles OR Z1 voltage missing when auto shut-down circuit energized
43 Peak primary coil current not achieved with max dwell time OR Cylinder misfire
43 Problem in power module to logic module interface
44 No FJ2 voltage present at logic board OR Logic module self-diagnostics indicate problem OR Battery temperature out of range
45 Turbo boost limit exceeded (engine was shut down by logic module)
46 Battery voltage too high during charging or charging system voltage too low
47 Battery voltage too low and alternator output too low
51 Oxygen sensor stuck at lean position OR Internal logic module fault ('84 turbo only)
52 Oxygen sensor stuck at rich position OR Internal logic module fault ('84 turbo only)
53 Logic module internal problem
54 No sync pickup signal during engine rotation (turbo only) OR Internal logic module fault ('84 turbo only)
55 55 End of codes
61 "Baro" sensor open or shorted
62 EMR mileage cannot be stored in EEPROM
62 PCM failure SRI mile not stored
63 Controller cannot write to EEPROM
64 Catalytic converter efficiency failure
65 Power steering switch failure

 

94 wont have codes available from most scanners. 94 is still OBD-I and can be ready by doing the 'key on key off' trick. Search for OBD-I code reading.

Either way, get the codes.

 

i dont have a code reader..

 

Oh jesus.

Read my post please.

Really there is NO scanner available to you. The chances of finding one are slim to zero.

Search for the right way to get codes from your truck.

 

Madi its a series of key actions with the ignition lol .. I forget the exact steps but you turn the key to on then off then on then off and then it will show codes on the dash or something like that (same process on my charger). if you mean no power was getting distibuted then your ignition switch could be toast.

 

i wasnt getting any power at all. all that happened when i turned the key was the brake light and check engine light came on. nothing else.

 

Mine does this too only after I fill it up too much of gas. U say u have a full tank of gas? Did u just fill it?

 

I would lean towards toasted ignition switch or loose ground.

 

You should not be able to fill it up too much. You have a bigger issue that filling up too full.

 

Maybe the neutral safety switch is dirty. Next time, try jiggling the shifter while you're starting the jeep.

 

Last time it was over filled it shut off when I hit the gas. But after I ran it lower it stopped shutting off. From that dat on I never over fill it.

 

Agreed!

 

Filling your tank full should never hurt the truck.

Your truck is in need if work.

 

Start simple.

Did you check your battery connections to see if they are loose, or dirty. Also, next time your jeep dies, don't pump the gas (if you did), it will flood your system, and you'll have to wait. Hold accelerator to floor on second try.

I would also count the CEL flashes and post how many you count.