Topic: Stupid Jeep, part 23

[Mozman68]

Went to take Dougie for a ride. Turned at a light, was accelerating into 2nd gear and the Jeep sputtered and died. Was able to coast into a parking lot where it was having trouble starting.

Waited a few minutes and it started up. Reved and seemed fine.

Started to pull away and it wanted to die again...only seemed to happen when the Jeep was rolling.

I was able to make it home without it happening again, but actually, I was nervous about going too fast as I didn't want to lose all power again and have trouble steering or braking.

I'm thinking crankshaft position sensor...has never been reaplaced.

Thoughts before I spend $100 on one of those??

[sharpxmen]

if your crank would die and the cam sensor would still provide signal you would end up with a code. my guess is coil or gas related, but if it does it again check the spark, can't suggest anything about gas since you don't have a schraeder valve (i think), if you do you can press the valve (carefully) to see if there's pressure in the rail.

[st.chevrolet]

Quite possible it's the crank position sensor, but it could also be the camshaft position sensor. Just had that same problem with my sisters 2000 4.0 (no distributor), it did the same as yours did a few times and finally threw a code. The Snap-On scanner showed Crank Position Sensor/Cam Position Sensor. Replaced the Cam sensor first but it turned out to be the Crank sensor.

[aka-justin]

I had a friend with a Cherokee chase round and round for a cause on his.  He threw all kinds of parts at his.  Ended up being a bad ground to the PCM module.  What I'm tring to say is check the basics (spark, fuel, air) first.  It's best to get it scanned before throwing parts, because a lot of places won't let you return electronics unless your a mechanic.

My 2 cents

[Mozman68]

Ran fine this morning on three separate occasions.....going to tear into the wiring this weekend to finally fix the speedo and wrap up some other loose wires while the weathers nice and have nothing to do all weekend.

[Mozman68]

Weird...happened again quickly while driving to Harbor Freight....was in 3rd...low rpm's....was like the engine, electrical...everything, simply shut off for a second...didn't lose it completely...came right back up so I accelerated and got into 4th.

Wonder if it IS a sensor....or something was knocked lose when I had my manifold replaced/trip to Attica.....

[sharpxmen]

Weird...happened again quickly while driving to Harbor Freight....was in 3rd...low rpm's....was like the engine, electrical...everything, simply shut off for a second...didn't lose it completely...came right back up so I accelerated and got into 4th.

Wonder if it IS a sensor....or something was knocked lose when I had my manifold replaced/trip to Attica.....

did your speedo or tach dropped to zero (or both/neither)?

[Mozman68]

Yep...both....

[Jeffy]

Did you try to recover any Pcodes?

[Mozman68]

Did you try to recover any Pcodes?

not yet....heading to AutoZone when I leave work early today....

[neale_rs]

If everything is shutting down it seems it would be something that affects everything.  Maybe a connector from the battery and alternator to the rest of the electical system, maybe a key relay.

[sharpxmen]

Yep...both....

sounds like the PCM is losing main power or general ground (although that would be unusual since there are multiple ground points)

If everything is shutting down it seems it would be something that affects everything.  Maybe a connector from the battery and alternator to the rest of the electical system, maybe a key relay.

if the battery gets disconnected the alternator would still provide power, same for alternator if the battery has enough voltage

a main fuse or relay or even wire is probably a better guess

[Mozman68]

so...decided to start throwing the Taurus electric fan in tonight...any suggestions on how to connect the passenger side??  I was able to use a standard hole on the top of the shroud and drill a second hole for the bottom to attach to stock locations on the driver side, but the passenger side doesn't really have any attachment points.

Also, what did you do for the coolant reservoir and the power steering reservoir??

I think I may cut the plastic off the old shroud for the coolant reservoir, but that won't work for the power steering.

[chrisfranklin]

so...decided to start throwing the Taurus electric fan in tonight...any suggestions on how to connect the passenger side??  I was able to use a standard hole on the top of the shroud and drill a second hole for the bottom to attach to stock locations on the driver side, but the passenger side doesn't really have any attachment points.

Also, what did you do for the coolant reservoir and the power steering reservoir??

I think I may cut the plastic off the old shroud for the coolant reservoir, but that won't work for the power steering.

But with the electric fan in there, what are you going to do with all the new space you get with the shroud out, Moz? 

Every time you pop the hood, it's going to be, "darn, the engine installer at the Jeep plant must have thought this was a Festiva," then probably, "$crew the kids' college fund, $crew charitable contributions, and $crew vet appointments for the dog until I can get a V8 in there!"   

[Jeffy]

But with the electric fan in there, what are you going to do with all the new space you get with the shroud out, Moz? 

He's gonna store chili there in a big vat that is kept warm by the engine so whenever he feels peckish, he can get out, pop the hood and have a spoon full of delicious chili.