My TJ hates me

Ccturley

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Jul 22, 2024
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Location
Indiana
Morning.

2000 Jeep Wrangler Federal emissions MT 136,000 miles. Factory stock.
I have spent several days on and off of this forum and have learned a great deal about the issues that TJ owners suffer.
Here’s mine. Last week I was driving no issues. Stopped by the parts store picked up an oil change and some plugs (have been using O.E. Champions since I bought it in 2000)
Got home changed the oil and plugs, buttoned everything back up cleaned up, hopped in to run an errand and it started then died before I could pull away from the curb. Ok, restarted just fine then I pulled out and got headed on my way then it died a short time later. Cycled the key and it started up but would die shortly after. Rinse and repeated this process limping it home.

No CEL, no codes.

Dug into diagnostics (ASE Master tech retired) retraced my steps with the tune up, unplugged coil rail checked for 5v, at coil good. Checked continuity on driver circuits and ground good. Plugged it back in. Turned it over fired right up and idled for about 10 mins then died. Was acting like it was starving for fuel. Checked pressure at rail as it sat, 50 psi. Started engine again after 5 or so minutes, was able to get a couple wot snaps in before it died, psi ranged from 50 idle down to 47 at wot.

Then, I turned to the forums here found out that the ckp is a super common fail point even without codes. Ordered one from Napa. While I waited for it to arrive I checked all the wiring. Continuity on all the wires to the pin at pcm. No excessive resistance found, what I would consider normal. Plugged sensor back in tried to get it to run long enough to run a scope but it wouldn’t stay running more than a couple seconds at this point. Got the new sensor and installed it. Fired right up and was able to drive it for about a day and around 40 ish miles. Problem resurfaced. This time however I had confirmed codes stored
IGN coil #1 2 and 3 fault
No ckp signal at pcm

Ok, the coil was OE I never changed it. So I ordered a new coil and warrantied the crank sensor. Rechecked the wiring. Everything checked out.

Installed the coil and replacement sensor rechecked the wiring, started it up and a new symptom appeared.

Runs but cuts out intermittently like the key was switched off, the tach bounced up and down randomly jumping from idle to 2500 back to 1700 back to idle while the engine stumbled and then eventually died.

I also observed that my oil pressure gauge pegged to 80 and stayed there 0 fluctuation, and my scan tool would lose communication with the PCM while it was sputtering and the gauges were acting oddly. So back to square one. This time I pulled the harness and exposed all of the wiring. Gotta be a broken wire making intermittent contact or a shorted groung splice or a chaffed wire. Nope harness looks pristine, no rub through, no broken wires every sensor wire check out with continuity at the pcm pin. Pulled all the grounds and cleaned them (they all were pretty clean to begin with) Battery cables are clean and tight. Battery is in good health.
Checked the CPS had a good wave form on signal with scope.

Let it sit over night came out it started and ran like a champ until it got to around 150 degrees then it started acting up again, same symptoms: rough/erratic idle, sputtering, drop outs with recovery, gauges acting weird and this time I had confirmed codes stored again. Ign coil 1 2 3 fault and this time no cam sensor reference. So i replaced the cam sensor. Didn't solve the issue.

Its now doing the smae thing but I again have the loss of coms with my scan tool.

Heres a snapshot of what I've done:
Replaced crank sensor
Coil and plugs
Replaced cam sensor
Run wiring multiple times can not find a fault there
checked for power and ground at PCM pins (back probed) while running no drops on 12V or ground.
Reseated PCM plugs
Checked and cleaned all grounds.
checked alternator ripple is steady.
down stream ) is a little sluggish but still reading (shouldn't cause loss of coms or drop outs)
Checked injector driver signal with my noid lights no issues there.
EDIT:
Forgot to add that I've cleaned the throttle body and the IAC motor.

PCM?????



I've investigated potential causes for from this forum and found there to be no issues present. but the problem persists. at this point it has moved from intermittent to full failure as it has moved into crank no start. no codes are present.

Side notes:
I get that everyone advises going with mopar parts especially for the CKP. however, this is my daily driver and the only vehicle I own. the closest dealership is 28 miles away so thats not an option for me, I have searched for online options for these parts to no avail. I've been an repair tech for 27 years and have used aftermarket parts for this issue from other jeeps during that time and not had issues. I also state that not to be arrogant but to let you guys know i'm not a shade tree and you can talk pro level shop with me about this situation.
I'm pretty solid with drive ability and diagnostics and I'm completely stumped.

Any help is appreciated.
 
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I would look at the cam sensor as well. It does essentially the same thing as the crank sensor, and both have to work. I haven't seen a cam sensor go bad, but I have seen plenty with rough wiring in the plug area. I know you said you looked at wiring, but you didn't specifically mention the cam sensor area.

PS, nice work on checking the waveform. check the cam sensor waveform as well. Though the real magic is in the phase alignment between the two waveforms. #thingsIneverthoughtIdsayonajeepforum
 
I know you said you looked at wiring, but you didn't specifically mention the cam sensor area.
I checked every sensor and its wiring to the pin at the pcm, due diligence and all that after it threw the no cam signal code on the second round scope showed a solid square. So I replaced it anyways.
Though the real magic is in the phase alignment between the two waveforms. #thingsIneverthoughtIdsayonajeepforum

I know, right. So many years in the shop teaching young techs i've said things along those lines a million times. but never in a jeep forum where my ass is kicked and i need help lol
 
I know you said you thoroughly checked the harness, I’m assuming only in the engine bay? If you didn’t already you might want to check the section of harness right behind the instrument cluster. I know its a long shot considering it all started when you changed the plugs but considering the erratic gauges it might be worth a peek, there is a rub spot where the harness comes out of the cluster that has caused others issues.
 
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I know you said you thoroughly checked the harness, I’m assuming only in the engine bay? If you didn’t already you might want to check the section of harness right behind the instrument cluster. I know its a long shot considering it all started when you changed the plugs but considering the erratic gauges it might be worth a peek, there is a rub spot where the harness comes out of the cluster that has caused others issues.

No, I haven’t torn into the dash. The issue is only with the tach and the oil pressure. And only happens while it is sputtering. I would head down that path if I had more consistent occurrences outside of this issue of the cluster going haywire.

Diagnostics are 80% skill 20% dumb luck, and they say that when all other possibilities are exhausted whatever remains must be the problem lol.

This is frustrating beyond frustrating because all signs point to crank sensor.
 
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UPDATE:
I went ahead and ordered a Crank Sensor from Rock Auto Part# 56027865AB Mopar# 68407888AA 120.79 (just an FYI for anyone who was looking) Allegedly its a Mopar part. Should have that today.

After I dug around under the hood some more the Napa Crank Sensor appears to have stopped sending a signal to the PCM. I now have a no crank ref signal at PCM code... So we'll see how the Mopar part fares. Hopefully it solves the issue, walking everywhere has become tedious.
 
image.jpg
Just arrived going to throw it in shortly.
 
Ok, installed new mopar crank sensor. Ran perfect to operating temp. And back to existing problem. Runs for a few seconds sputters and quits like the key is turned off.
 
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Ok, installed new mopar crank sensor. Ran perfect to operating temp. And back to existing problem. Runs for a few seconds sputters and quits like the key is turned off.

As a couple others have mentioned, having Mark @Wranglerfix test your PCM might be worth a shot. The only thing that befuddles me is the lack of any check engine codes, but I’ve seen as strange. You’re doing due diligence. You’ll get this sorted.
 
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As a couple others have mentioned, having Mark @Wranglerfix test your PCM might be worth a shot. The only thing that befuddles me is the lack of any check engine codes, but I’ve seen as strange. You’re doing due diligence. You’ll get this sorted.
I have gotten confirmed faults. But it seems like the PCM does a reset and they clear. So far the codes I have gotten are

No cam ref signal x1
Coil driver fault 1 2 3 x2
No crank signal at pcm detected x2 (both times with a napa sensor)

Now for context, the combination of codes are different every time they set as confirmed. I never have any pending codes. the confirmed codes followed the major symptoms that included the hard drops and recoveries with the tach and oil pressure sensor issue.

I am completely stumped at this point. IT should be running like a champ. The only thing I can think to do at this point is to re test the Napa coil rail and/or swap back to the OEm original and see if anything changes with the new crank sensor.
 
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I'm not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination - BUT I *am* a computer guy. My next step would be get the computer checked out by Mark, eliminate that as a factor. {Insert anti-computer rant here} If the computer is OK, its a bad ground. ;)
 
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I know you checked resistance and continuity on your wiring harness...but engine vibration and heat can really bring out the gremlins.

Much as I hope firing the parts cannon and getting a PCM might solve the problem... ultimately I think you need to do is deloom the harness and visually inspect the wires.

I also recall previous posts where a bad clockspring shorted to ground and messed with the 5v supply to the sensors. Wouldn't take much to unplug the clockspring.

-Mac
 
I know you checked resistance and continuity on your wiring harness...but engine vibration and heat can really bring out the gremlins.
While you're 100% correct I had 0 issues for 24 years until last week when I changed the plugs and oil. It's such a random event to all of a sudden unleash this nightmare.... Which is why I went into the harness first thing. I thought well maybe I broke a wire when I was pulling the coil rail.
Much as I hope firing the parts cannon and getting a PCM might solve the problem...
Its never a solid tactic but Ive all but ruled everything else out. When all of your sensors are send all the correct signals to the PCM and you've replace the "known" culprits with Mopar parts what else is there to do?
ultimately I think you need to do is deloom the harness and visually inspect the wires.
This is how I checked the harness. 27 year diagnostic vet =) I run every wire sensor to PCM checking continuity and visually inspecting. (including the splices for 5V and Ground)
I also recall previous posts where a bad clockspring shorted to ground and messed with the 5v supply to the sensors. Wouldn't take much to unplug the clockspring.

-Mac
The 5V is steady at all the sensors and PCM, I would think that if it was a direct short A: moving the steering wheel would affect the signal and B: it wouldn't start and run to operating temp then start with its symptoms as the clockspring wouldn't be affected by heat from the engine.


What makes this such a perplexing diag is that the symptoms do not stay consistent. Just now I was outside checking unrelated things "throwing that hail mary" and it ran and idled at operating temp for nearly 20 minutes problem free. that's the first time its done that since the issue started after I changed the plugs.

The other thing is that this Jeep is somewhat of a pavement princess. Ive owned it since I bought it new in 2000 and Ive kept really good care of it. Ive been off road a few times over the years but I don't abuse it or test its bravado lol Which I think is why I've never had an issue with it until last week.
 
I know you checked resistance and continuity on your wiring harness...but engine vibration and heat can really bring out the gremlins.

Much as I hope firing the parts cannon and getting a PCM might solve the problem... ultimately I think you need to do is deloom the harness and visually inspect the wires.

I also recall previous posts where a bad clockspring shorted to ground and messed with the 5v supply to the sensors. Wouldn't take much to unplug the clockspring.

-Mac

Unplugged the clockspring, no effect either way.
 
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Unplugged the clockspring, no effect either way.

Perfect. Easy rule out from this less qualified shade tree, gravel driveway mechanic!

PCM seems like the best course of action. Mark was talking about all the goo leaking out of caps ruining logic boards and other circuitry. I've seen that first hand on cheap motherboards on computers I've fixed.

-Mac