Stumbled and died

[97JadeTJ]

97 T.J. 2.5 L automatic… Normally, when I put the key in the ignition and turn it over, immediately, it starts, like a well oiled machine… Yesterday it started as normal, but then within 20 seconds and before putting it in gear, it stumbled and died, then I restarted it and it died again then it just cranked for 20/30 seconds without starting, and then I cranked again, and it started right up and didn’t miss a beat, drove it into town drove it around, stopped at the store, restarted like normal, came back home…. no more problems… No codes… Full tank of gas… Fuel pump is about a year old… Pretty much every sensor has been replaced over the past two years… Anybody have a theory of what happended?

Todd

 

[macleanflood]

Sounds like a fuel pump to me...but I'm completely guessing.

At this point I'd have my fuel gauge hooked to the rail and run someplace I can see it with the hood down.

-Mac

 

[97JadeTJ]

Sounds like a fuel pump to me...but I'm completely guessing.

At this point I'd have my fuel gauge hooked to the rail and run someplace I can see it with the hood down.

-Mac

Yeah, that’s what It sounded like to me, too…

 

[97JadeTJ]

So more to the story… today started fine and went into town… when I left my appointment I got on the highway and started accelerating and it fell on its face… never died but made me notice… I started back up to speed and it did it again so I exited the highway… long story short, at normal speeds it was driving fine, so for shits and giggles I hooked up my code reader and low and behold it has p0351 set but no check engine light is lit… so I checked on the instrument bulbs and the CEL light works… so I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on with the P0351 code but I’m more concerned about why is the CEL light not lighting up… Idea’s?

 

[macleanflood]

Coil pack...so... intermittent short? Check all your wiring heading from the PCM to the coil.

I saw some posts from Jerry suggesting check your crank position sensor.

And check your battery terminals...I don't know how many weeks of my life and gray hairs I have came from something as stupid as a loose or corroded battery terminal.

Clogged cat?

Bad PCM?

-Mac

 

[lBasket]

Coil pack...so... intermittent short? Check all your wiring heading from the PCM to the coil.

I saw some posts from Jerry suggesting check your crank position sensor.

And check your battery terminals...I don't know how many weeks of my life and gray hairs I have came from something as stupid as a loose or corroded battery terminal.

Clogged cat?

Bad PCM?

-Mac

No coil packs on 97s

 

[97JadeTJ]

I don’t know… I’ve checked all the obvious things, battery cables, plug wires, vacuum lines, coil wire… nothing jumps out… Not saying it’s not them, but all sensors are new within the last two years, including cam sensor, crank sensor, O2 sensors, … I just Took it out on the highway and stomped on it as hard as you can stop on a 2.5 L and watched it go all the way to 5000 RPM and didn’t miss a beat let it coast back down and did it again and it didn’t stumble so I guess I’ll just wait till it does it again… Still curious as to why the check engine light didn’t come on though. Check engine light does come on With the power on test like normal…

 

[macleanflood]

No coil packs on 97s

Coil...I replaced mine with an Accel from Holley.

 

[lBasket]

Coil...I replaced mine with an Accel from Holley.

shiiiit duh

 

[macleanflood]

shiiiit duh

You're right...coil, coil pack, coil on plug...all different things. TJs were Chrysler throwing just about every computer language and parts trying to flog the 4.0 past emissions standards.

It seems the code is indicating the PCM is temporarily losing signal to the coil...97 has a distributor and rotor...no logic in the coil... maybe I'm misinterpreting the code...

Maybe get a spark plug tester light inline with one of the plugs...but then you'd think you'd see misfire codes...

-Mac