You are here:

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/1988 jeep cherokee laredo starting issues

Advertisement

Expert: - 7/5/2004


Question
ok i have a 1988 jeep cherokee laredo that now will not start without starter fluid.  we've changed the vacuum hoses, fuel filter (about 3 mths ago, the last one was pretty disgusting.), etc.  my boyfriend refuses to take it to a shop and gets offended when i suggest it, saying "oh so you think i can't do it.  Thanks for having so much faith in me."  help! please! even if its just a suggestion in the area to look!

Answer
Erin,

Well, it seems as though your boyfriend can't do it.  First of all, if your fuel filter is that dirty, either you have mud, or dirt in your tank, or if it's a steel tank, you have rust in it.  Whichever it is, the tank needs to be cleaned, along with all of the fuel lines.  This may entail removing the tank.  At a minimum, I would remove and plug the fuel line from the tank.  Then you can try flushing out the tank with a strong solvent, by filling it, then remove the plug from the fuel line, and blow out the tank with an air hose.  Many times the fuel tank may need to be replaced.

Carl

PS  It's extremely hard on an engine to use starter fluid many times.  Starter fluid is nothing more than ether, and is extremely explosive, and creates higher than normal pressures in a gas engine.  

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.