1996 JGCL XJ - My engine cuts out sometimes at idle, sometimes at 30 mph etc. OBD2 gives me P0351 - Ignition Coil. Replaced the coil, but still cuts out. Fuel pressure on manifold stays at 49-50 psi even after cutting out (thus probably not the fuel pump nor fuel pressure sensor, both of which are in the fuel tank). Sometimes it totally dies, other times I can get it going again by pumping the accelerator. Could this be something like the cam shaft sensor, or is the PCM acting up. Suggestions?

 

Clean up all your grounds, including and especially the one behind the trim panel on the drivers side trunk. Tighten all connections, grounds, battery terminals etc.
That's where I'd start.

 

Thanks Pat. I will check as many as I can find.

 

Pat:
After removing the spare tire, how do you remove the interior panel? Do you have to remove the whole panel, or just the small one near the rear?

 

I stole this pic off another thread, so credit goes to CCKEN -

 

Thanks again Pat. I didn't see the word trunk. I've taken that panel off before, so I can easily do it again and check the grounds. I will also take off, wire brush and clean up the one by the battery and the woven one on the drivers side also.

 

Check out this thread for pictures of typical ground locations, one picture should look awful familiar.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/electrical-gremlin-stalling-when-braking-rolling-windows-down-etc-186622/

 

Pat:
I have no grounds showing in the trunk panel. I have a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0 L. I have a pic but can’t see how to attach it.

My service manual shows a distributor in a position which is rotated 90 degrees clockwise from mine. I need to know where #1 is with respect to the distributor cap mounting screw. Can you guide me? I can email the pics.
Dave Greene davegreene99@comcast.net

 

Erratic cutting out.
Sounds like failing Crank Position Sensor.
Check out Cruiser's maintenance tips.
If your distributor was out of position it wouldn't have been running at all.
My second most likely with erratic cutting out,is failing fuel pump. Need to check the connection wire harness to the pump and check the fuel pressure at the inspection port on the injector manifold.

 

good tip. Might also want to turn it on, run it, and grab and shake the wiring harness that runs across the top of the engine bay. The wires vibrate till they're bare. Causing a multitude of issues.

 

my 97 4.0 experienced a similar issue. it would randomly die and not restart immediately. i could wait 2-3 minutes and then it would restart. it did this about 5 times before it shut off for good. it was the ign coil. i had no codes, though.

given your codes, id start by looking at the ign coil wiring.

 

Thanks all for the suggestions. Fuel pressure is 50 psi while running, and is 50 psi after cutting out and dying. Codes were 12 (battery disconnected lately), 43 (primary ignition), and another code which was Catalytic converter out of spec. OBD2 codes were P0351 (primary and secondary ignition). Installed new coil. Cleared codes and drove until car died again. Checked codes again after duplicating the engine dying and got no codes. Using the ignition switch, I got 12 and 55. Will put a scope on the cam shaft sensor and on the crank shaft sensor while idling in place and while reving the engine. Stay tuned.