Stalling and can't recreate the issue

[HVACGuy]

Ok, so specifics first:
2000 TJ
Auto (32RH)
4.0
143k miles

So my wife drove out to the mall, and parked at a store. She was inside about 10 minutes. The trip there would have been in complete stop and go traffic for about and hour, about 85 degrees outside. She came out and started the Jeep. It sounded bad, sputtering and clacking. When she put it in drive and pulled a little forward, it died. She said it did this two more times and called me. I got there about 45 minutes later. I started it up, it was running fine. I drove it around the lot, and fine. I started it a couple more times, and just fine. Checked all fluids, everything good. No CEL. I drove it all the way back home with zero issues. I put a reader on it looking for temporary stored codes that may not have been marked permanent, and nothing. Does this sound like heat soak to anybody? I haven’t been able to recreate the issue. Two days ago a shop changed the neutral safety switch because it was leaking. It looks fine and plugged in well. Could they have used Chinese junk and it caused an intermittent problem? Any thoughts or experience on this would be much appreciated! I haven’t been able to re create the issue.

 

[Ct_tj]

The neutral safety switch would cause a no crank if there was an issue. What sort of scanner do you have? Does it give live data? If it does I would see if the coolant temp sensor is reading correctly. Other things that come to mind could be a clogged cat.

 

[HVACGuy]

The neutral safety switch would cause a no crank if there was an issue. What sort of scanner do you have? Does it give live data? If it does I would see if the coolant temp sensor is reading correctly. Other things that come to mind could be a clogged cat.

Thanks for the input! I don’t recall if my reader supports live data. My last one did, but I don’t know if the one I currently have does, I’ll have to check.
I’ve dealt with clogged cats before, but never had them only 1 time cause an issue and no other time. I know my model is listed as one on the service bulletin that can suffer heat soak. Basically the exhaust heating up injector #3 and vaporizing the fuel so it can’t inject. I almost thought that was it, but after I drove it back (same distance and conditions,) I turned it off and restarted 10 minutes later and no issues. I’ve had it out in hotter weather this year (high 90’s,) but this is the first time this has happened.

 

[Ct_tj]

Thanks for the input! I don’t recall if my reader supports live data. My last one did, but I don’t know if the one I currently have does, I’ll have to check.
I’ve dealt with clogged cats before, but never had them only 1 time cause an issue and no other time. I know my model is listed as one on the service bulletin that can suffer heat soak. Basically the exhaust heating up injector #3 and vaporizing the fuel so it can’t inject. I almost thought that was it, but after I drove it back (same distance and conditions,) I turned it off and restarted 10 minutes later and no issues. I’ve had it out in hotter weather this year (high 90’s,) but this is the first time this has happened.

I've never seen that issue cause your symptoms. That'll be more of a misfire issue. Even then I feel like most of the ones I come across set a misfire code, with little to no symptoms otherwise. I have however seen clogged cats only cause issue when the vehicle is hot and trying to restart, even though they're were no issues when originally shut down

 

[HVACGuy]

I guess the only thing that gets me with that is that there was no trouble starting, just when the vehicle was put into drive it died. To this day (after several more days of driving,) the issue has not re presented itself. I’m just perplexed at this point.

 

[Goatman]

Perhaps a spot of water in the fuel line at just the right instant. Or the computer was right in the middle of going from cold engine to warm engine. It may never happen again, but it will stick in your head for a long time. Does the wife know how to use the scanner? Have the scanner stay with the Jeep for a while so if anything should happen again she can check it and tell you exactly what went wrong.

 

[HVACGuy]

Perhaps a spot of water in the fuel line at just the right instant. Or the computer was right in the middle of going from cold engine to warm engine. It may never happen again, but it will stick in your head for a long time. Does the wife know how to use the scanner? Have the scanner stay with the Jeep for a while so if anything should happen again she can check it and tell you exactly what went wrong.

You may be right. Fluke thing. I drove it all day today for hours in traffic with AC on full blast, stopped several times for only 10 minutes or so, and it restarted and drove perfectly well. I’m just going to say oh well and wait until it screws up again. I did place the reader in the console as you suggested and showed my wife how to use it after the first time it happened, so I’m with you on that 100%.
It’ll get a better test this weekend as I plan on wheeling this weekend since I’m swapping the rear axle tonight over to a 44. Looking forward to some fun as it’s been street only since the 35’s went on until I could do the swap.