I have a 1997 Grand Cherokee 4.0 6 cylinder lerado 2wd. I just baught it and when I test ran it everything worked fine. Drove a few miles yesterday no problems and no warning lights then I stopped to get gas and when I whent to start it up it turned over no problem but immediately dies and continues to do so. There was no sputtering at any point and pressing gas doesn't help it still losses power and dies seconds after turning over so I've ruled out the fuel filter. It has new spark plugs and wires, new battery and new plugs on distributer. Oh and the hazard lights constantly keep blinking even when I try and turn them off not sure if that's related or just another electrical piece gone bad at the same time but I figured I'd throw that in here just in case. Thanks guys and gals in advance

 

Sounds like the immobilizer (factory security/theft system). On mine I had to ground the wire so it disables it. It should stop blinking if you use your key in the drivers door. The wire you need to ground on 93-95 is the purple wire with a yellow stripe if my memory serves, not sure if it's the same for 96-98. On 93-95 you can do it in the driver door but I did mine under the dash. I just found the harness from the driver door under the dash, cut the one wire and put a eye connector on it and put it under one of the bolts that go in to the body. If you do a search on disable immobilizer zj you will find it for sure.

Max

 

Welcome to CF!

My 97 ZJ 4wd did sort of the same thing although the flashers didn't flash that I'm aware of, but the horn would blow and a little red LED on top of the dash would flash. I still had the keyfob so cancelling it was easy.

Does your horn work? If it doesn't, they may be burnt out by this happening to the previous owner, OR he pulled the fuse.

My WJ sometimes sets it's alarm when the key fob button gets pressed by stuff in my pocket!