'88 Cherokee picky about when to start

Gary

unread,

Mar 11, 2005, 9:14:05 AM3/11/05

to

I've got an '88 Cherokee (Pioneer), with 4.0L and Auto Trans. Lately its
getting very picky about when it wishes to start. On random occassions it
cranks, but sounds like its not getting fuel (even though the fuel rail is
pressurized). It seems to do this when the engine is hot and cold. Won't
start when I go to leave a job site after resting 9 hours during snowfall,
and other times right after filling up at the gas station. Some times it'll
decide to start within minutes of refusing to start, other times it'll wait
hours.

One night it refused to restart after gassing up and the mechanic on duty
couldn't figure anything out, said I could leave it there. After my wife
came to give me a ride we stopped to eat dinner and then were passing the
station where the Jeep was - it started fine, drove it home (and it worked
fine for 2 weeks without incident).

The dealership has replaced the CPS and some resistor in the fuel pump. I
replaced the fuel filter about 16 months ago, how often would that last ? I
just replaced the battery, plugs, wires, cap, and rotor - still getting
worse. I replaced the ignition coil last spring, and it testing out as
working perfectly.

Any ideas ??? before my wife has it towed to the scrap yard.

Andy

unread,

Mar 11, 2005, 11:46:48 AM3/11/05

to

Gary, you might have a problem with getting the correct firing to the plugs.
Sounds like water or humidity is getting into the distributor. It may be
cracked just slightly. I'd look there. Heat can open/close cracks and
cause just what you describe. Good Luck.

Andy
2001 TJ

"Gary" <gjrh...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:FOhYd.13443$3l6....@fe09.lga...

Gary

unread,

Mar 11, 2005, 10:09:00 PM3/11/05

to

Andy,

Would the cold in the morning be a 'closed' condition for the cracks - as
the Jeep always starts in the morning. I had told my wife that the Jeep
just doesnt want to come home because she's always calling it 'junk' ;-)

Gary

"Andy" <trailri...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:YXjYd.55082$Ze3.1187@attbi_s51...

bowgus

unread,

Mar 13, 2005, 8:16:27 AM3/13/05

to

A tip that might get you by until you find the problem. If it cranks but
won't start, try putting the accelerator to the floor (bypasses some of the
controls) and cranking it. This got me out of a potentially bad situation
(-50, out in the boonies, something just wasn't cooperating, started up, for
me was a one time problem ... '96 4.0 litre).

"Gary" <gjrh...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:FOhYd.13443$3l6....@fe09.lga...

Andy

unread,

Mar 13, 2005, 11:16:28 AM3/13/05

to

LOL. Junk? Never! I had an old CJ with this problem. It would always
start in the morning and then sometimes fail after work, 8-9 hours. It
would also fail after short trips. It was a very small crack. However, I
see you changed the cap & rotor.

That being said, sometimes as bowgus said, press the accelerator to the
floor and try to start. This will clear the cylinders.

Andy

"Gary" <gjrh...@optonline.net> wrote in message

news:C9tYd.15140$I5....@fe09.lga...

Cherokee Jack

unread,

Mar 27, 2005, 9:20:24 AM3/27/05

to

I had this problem with my '92 Cherokee right after I bought it (down
south). I ended up going to the junk yard and getting a distributer. I
haven't had a problem in 2 years. (except when it's freezing out and
the starter or something freezes up, only happened twice, live up north
now). Hope this helps.

In article <FOhYd.13443$3l6....@fe09.lga>, Gary