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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/98 Jeep Cherokee Classic - start/stall

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Expert: - 8/29/2004


Question
Carl, I am the "new" owner of a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Classic 4x4 with 87K miles. After stop-and-go city driving in hot weather for about 1/2 hour, when I stop and park my car and leave it for 1/2 hour or so, I have a problem. The car will not start up again until I try for 5-10 times. Then, it will start and go for about 50 feet and stall out. It will be really difficult to start up again. Eventually, it runs okay, just like nothing happened...until the next time!
My mechanic took the gas tank and fuel pump out. There was rust and debris around the fuel pump, which he cleaned out, but the problem is still happening. When it stalls, it doesn't idle roughly, it just dies suddenly. Thanks for listening! Joan

Answer
Joan,

If you had that much rust and debris in the tank, your fuel injectors, and fuel filter may be plugged.  Along this line, you should change out your fuel filter.  I would consider checking with another shop, as many of the newer Jeeps had plastic tanks, and should not have any rust in them.  It is possible that one of your sensors, such as the throttle position sensor may be getting hot, and failing.  Too a lesser degree, I have seen a bad starter motor, battery, or alternator cause similar problems when getting hot.  You might try a good brand of fuel injector cleaner on a couple of tanks of gas, and see if that cleans out the fuel system enough to make a difference.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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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

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