Continuous problems with my 143K mile TJ

[Irun]

As was said, we can't make promises. However, after market sensors do unexpected things to our vehicle. A buddy of mine had an 02 sensor code, so he replaced all the 02 sensors with a parts store brand. Shortly after, the Jeep started stalling, randomly, and throwing multiple codes. He had the Jeep diagnosed and they told him he needed a new wiring harness. He replaces the harness and guess what? The same thing started happening again. He brought it over and after he told me what happened, I made him order a set of NGK sensors. We installed those and the problem disappeared.

To be clear, I'm not saying the problem is an 02 sensors. What I am saying is to start with what we all know to be true, i.e. these vehicles don't like aftermarket sensors!

 

[AndyG]

But do you think it would be better for me to make sure that there's not a short in my wiring harness before I buy more map sensors? The thing is I'm not exactly sure how to do that and I would have to buy a multimeter but I think it could be the problem because the short could've happened after I clean out the throttle body and all the sensors and put it back on without it drying completely.

You should be able to check the harness pretty easily- Forgive me if this has been posted but what year is yours

 

[leonardo]

You should be able to check the harness pretty easily- Forgive me if this has been posted but what year is yours

It's a 2001. How would I be able to make sure the harness is fine?

 

[macleanflood]

It's a 2001. How would I be able to make sure the harness is fine?

For starters...just unwrap it...get all the tape and loom protection off.

Odds are your going to find damaged wires.

Harbor Freight has plastic loom for replacing the old brittle stuff. You can use their tape or get something good like Super 33 electrical tape.

Damaged wires can be fixed with heat shrink, crimps and liquid electrical tape.

-Mac

 

[AndyG]

It's a 2001. How would I be able to make sure the harness is fine?

You may someone to help you see if it has continuity-

You need to find out if that sensor is firing up

When I get time I’ll try to read back through the thread and see what’s going on I’m actually dealing with something I think pretty similar on one right now-

If you can tell me the NGK part number that yours calls for I have a sensor that I can send you

I was chasing something similar and took one out that didn’t have a problem in an earlier model

 

[AndyG]

Originally when the problems started I had the following codes: P0455, P0123, P0135, P0155, P0121. Basically its some tps code, evap leak, and o2 sensor codes. These codes came after I cleaned my throttle body and my car wouldn't idle, the rpms would be shaky on idle and would smell like it's running rich. I cleared the codes and none of them cape back except a new code came which was P0108. I drove it for a while and the car read no other codes. So I replaced the map sensor. It seemed like my car was running great. I drove it somewhere about 20 minutes away. On the drive home the check engine light came back. My throttle wouldn't respond well below 1k and the car would shake and the car would stall all the time. The codes where P0108 (the original map code) and P1297 "No Change in MAP From Start To Run". At this point I don't know what to do. I'm thinking it could be a bad computer but I need some other opinions. Thank you if you went through the time to read all of this and help me out.

OK go back to the start- It could be possible that you damaged sensors in the throttlebody with the cleaning process

What was it doing that prompted you to clean the throttlebody- Were you having the idle issue prior

This is definitely going to be something freaky to sort out but don’t get disgusted-

I’m guessing you may be young and have not done a lot mechanically but this kind of thing can leave you much more capable to deal with something down the road

 

[leonardo]

You may someone to help you see if it has continuity-

You need to find out if that sensor is firing up

When I get time I’ll try to read back through the thread and see what’s going on I’m actually dealing with something I think pretty similar on one right now-

If you can tell me the NGK part number that yours calls for I have a sensor that I can send you

I was chasing something similar and took one out that didn’t have a problem in an earlier model

Idk what you mean by NGK part number but the part number for the MAP sensor should be 56029405

 

[leonardo]

OK go back to the start- It could be possible that you damaged sensors in the throttlebody with the cleaning process

What was it doing that prompted you to clean the throttlebody- Were you having the idle issue prior

This is definitely going to be something freaky to sort out but don’t get disgusted-

I’m guessing you may be young and have not done a lot mechanically but this kind of thing can leave you much more capable to deal with something down the road

What made me want to clean the throttle body was the fact that the car had trouble idling steadily and would often stall on its own. I figured I would clean out the IAC valve and carb cleaned the rest of the throttle body and sensors. On the connection parts of the throttle body I used maf sensor cleaner which I though would be safe but I'm not sure. I don't have a lot of mechanical experience and this is my first car which is why I wanted a TJ because I knew it would be a great first car to learn how to do stuff myself.

 

[AndyG]

What made me want to clean the throttle body was the fact that the car had trouble idling steadily and would often stall on its own. I figured I would clean out the IAC valve and carb cleaned the rest of the throttle body and sensors. On the connection parts of the throttle body I used maf sensor cleaner which I though would be safe but I'm not sure. I don't have a lot of mechanical experience and this is my first car which is why I wanted a TJ because I knew it would be a great first car to learn how to do stuff myself.

That is very cool and you will certainly get to of these things- I would say there’s a pretty good chance that the cleaner may have damaged the sensors and you’re gonna have to start from there and work back-

I’ve got a great mechanic I can talk to and I’ll be glad to do that...I just don’t know when I’ll get to do that soon

And I remember being your age and I didn’t have money to waste on a single part that I didn’t need.

 

[leonardo]

That is very cool and you will certainly get to of these things- I would say there’s a pretty good chance that the cleaner may have damaged the sensors and you’re gonna have to start from there and work back-

I’ve got a great mechanic I can talk to and I’ll be glad to do that...I just don’t know when I’ll get to do that soon

And I remember being your age and I didn’t have money to waste on a single part that I didn’t need.

So what should I do in the mean time and how do I check if the wiring harness is shorted? I'm kind of lost right now not really sure what to do. I'm getting a bunch of mixed answers I don't know if I should make a new thread.

 

[AndyG]

So what should I do in the mean time and how do I check if the wiring harness is shorted? I'm kind of lost right now not really sure what to do. I'm getting a bunch of mixed answers I don't know if I should make a new thread.

Let me rope in @Jamison C and @Jerry Bransford - Jerry knows those models and Jamison is really good with electrical-

In the meantime I would get my hand on the mopar sensor-

You didn’t do anything cleaning the throttlebody that damaged the wiring harness- Most likely the cleaner messed with some of your sensors-

You’re still going to have to track down the idle
issue that started this-


Where I feel for you is do you did buy something that you can work on...but even something like this stumps a professional with good equipment- It is the diagnostic work that they really get paid for- the repair is often easy.

You need to check all your vacuum lines, there are not that many- And get the name brand sensor in-

I stood and watched a mechanic put a aftermarket four-wheel-drive selector switch in my jeep made by a major manufacture that would not work- I went to the dealer and got one and it worked perfectly.

A lot of the sensors are a little more sophisticated than people give them credit for-

 

[AndyG]

Originally when the problems started I had the following codes: P0455, P0123, P0135, P0155, P0121. Basically its some tps code, evap leak, and o2 sensor codes. These codes came after I cleaned my throttle body and my car wouldn't idle, the rpms would be shaky on idle and would smell like it's running rich. I cleared the codes and none of them cape back except a new code came which was P0108. I drove it for a while and the car read no other codes. So I replaced the map sensor. It seemed like my car was running great. I drove it somewhere about 20 minutes away. On the drive home the check engine light came back. My throttle wouldn't respond well below 1k and the car would shake and the car would stall all the time. The codes where P0108 (the original map code) and P1297 "No Change in MAP From Start To Run". At this point I don't know what to do. I'm thinking it could be a bad computer but I need some other opinions. Thank you if you went through the time to read all of this and help me out.

You have got to get a good MAP sensor in there- those things are pretty delicate- and get someone to help you
make sure its getting voltage-

@Wranglerfix - Mark- I know this is before the TJ bad computer era, can you give Leonardo any Ideas.

Buddy, if you were within a state of me I’d be driving to help you -