Luke Locke-El

Hey guys,

I got an '01 Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 motor from an '03 Wrangler in it. Anyway, a couple weeks ago we had a pretty vicious rainstorm here. At roughly 3:00 a.m. I hit a pretty deep puddle at about 50 miles per hour (I never saw it!). I made it home but my lights were cutting in and out and it was riding rough. Now, when I drive it, it feels like its only running on a few cylinders. It stalls when I take corners. I've replaced my plugs and the CPS. I've cleaned a myriad of different electrical connectors.

Please help...

harleyxj

Sounds like you need to replace your alternator.

Luke Locke-El

Wow. Thank you for the quick reply! I only had problems with the lights that night, the lights seem to stay on when it's on now.

harleyxj

No problem man. I had similar problems just last week. I had sunk my jeep a couple weeks ago and surely enough one night while headed home my lights started to dim, the engine sounded like it was cutting out and then the next day it just wouldnt start. The Alt. probably good a good shot of water when you hit that puddle. Im almost certain that its where your problems are coming from.

Luke Locke-El

Huh...I hadn't thought of that. Isn't the way to test that by starting it, turning the lights on, then pulling the negative cable?

harleyxj

Never heard of that to be honest.

Gee oh Dee

If the alternator is suspected take it to a good parts store and get it tested.

However, if the thing hasnt needed to have its battery charged yet, and it still starts, the alt is prolly still working.

I would do some actual diagnostics before just tossing parts at it.

You said you did plugs, did you do test the coils? Maybe a coil got wet and went bad?

Does it throw a CEL? Get it read either way, it may not show up.

Luke Locke-El

Gee Oh Dee:
Thank you. That's a yes on the CEL. I bought one of those cheap code readers but it wouldn't pull any codes. I have not checked the coils. Does it sound like the symptoms of a bad coil?

Luke Locke-El

Hey guys, thanks for the help. I still have problems however. I ended up replacing the coil today. Doing so got rid of the CEL, and it does seem to be running marginally better, but it's still screwed. It was low on gas, so I had hoped maybe putting more gas in it might help, but it didn't. However, with the new coil pack on it, I did have it up to 60 mph, but it still stalled going around corners (prior to this it maxed out around 30-35 mph). It idles fine in park or neutral, but I run into problems when I put it in gear.

Not sure if it is relevant to my situation, but I did check the fuses with a circuit tester (I think that's what its called...the screwdriver-ish thing with light in the handle). The first thing I checked was my fuses and they all visually appeared to be ok. But, when I put the light on it, neither the O2 sensor fuse nor the JB Power fuse lit up. I replaced both with new fuses but still didn't light up.

I'm nearly ready to start investing in gasoline and matches and have a good old-fashioned bonfire. Somebody please help before I go that far.

Thank you again for all your help!

~Luke

Gee oh Dee

Thats a really tough one, bud.

Be patient, tho, its a machince, not impossible to diagnose.

Lemme think. Or maybr someone else will help.

Luke Locke-El

Gee...Thanks man. I won't really set it on fire, but I've been patient for like 3 weeks now.

With my hitting the puddle, my problem has to be electrical, right?

Gee oh Dee

I would think so, but the stalling around corners baffles me. :/

CherokeeChick

some times you have to turn the car on to check the fuses lol. not sure about those specificity but try it!