Car Tech forum: 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo keep dying upon ignition

KLYMAXX...
We all know how you feel.

If wanting to complain... somewhere on this article posting or the other large article posting... there is a blogg that has a address to a Government web site to complain to for "Auto Hazardous Conditions" (maybe not the correct wording)... I have done it, when it was posted.

The biggest complaint is that it can stall in the middle of a red light when turning or on the expressway in the middle of fast traffic and no option but to stop in the road!!!

Shutting off after a few seconds... sounds like auto shut down relay (ADS) or security lock is malfuctioning, O2 sensors (air to gas mixture), Gas Pump/flow problems or PCM is telling unit to shut down.

Good luck but maybe the best thing to do, if body and interior is in good shape is to sell it for replacement parts ... and recoup lost dollars... engine is good, trans is good, fenders, Headlights, radiator, seating, dash, etc... parts are worth maybe $10,000... hell advertise here!!! and goggle it as Jeep parting out

JUST WANTED TO KEEP THIS THREAD ALIVE FOR OTHERS TO READ... ALONG WITH OTHER MAJOR THREAD!!! BETWEEN THE TWO THREADS, THERE IS ALLOT OF FOUND FIXES AND USEFULL INFO!!!

AN OLD POST BUT IS STILL CURRENT TO PROBLEMS TODAY

1996 Jeep Cherokee... and I have been having intermittent starting problems with it for about a month...

First, it would only start if I pushed the accelerator down.

Then twice it has started but will not idle at all (meaning that it sounds as if either it is starving for gas, air or has back pressure)and I called the garage to come and tow it and check it out. Within a hour from when it wouldn't start for me, they have come to "tow" it and it has started up fine.

I had them take it both times anyway, they checked for codes, it isn't throwing any.

Crank sensor was changed 2 months ago.
Spark is fine.
Fuel pressure is great.
New spark plugs, cap, all the tune up stuff...
Injectors are fine.
Battery is new.????

Until I received a recall in the mail for the catalytic converter inspection and reprogram of the PCM. I suspected the recall was the problem and that it was back pressure from a plugged catalytic converter. (although I have never lost power when driving)

Garage told me that I should go to the dealer and get this all done first. Always wondered if that rattling was more than just my exhaust???

Took it to the closest dealer here in Upper Michigan and their exact words after telling me that the catalytic converter needs replacing was, "the mechanic said to tell you that they are on "galactic back-order"!"(apparently in real time that is 2-3 weeks)

So, I just try to start it by pushing the accelerator and if it doesn't start, I wait 45 minutes and then it does. This is all I can do until the Galactic delivery arrives...

So if you all have 96,97, or 98 Cherokees or Grand Cherokees, with 4.0 engines, or Dodge Dakota trucks with 2.5 engines, you should have gotten a notification letter. You may want to get this recall taken care of before sinking anymore money into them.

If you go to the Jeep website and enter the last eight digits from your VIN number it will tell you if your vehicle is covered by the recall...

http://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/jeep/index.jsp?screenName=recall&country=us&emailUrl=goToEmailForm%28%27R%27%29

Remove the cover screws on the PCM, there should be 2 of them. Grind off aprox. 1/4 inch and reinstall. On the Jeep that I was working on had the same problem. I found that the screws were to long and they were grounding out on the circuit board. Hope this works for you. Good luck.

I have had the same issue and found that when I pulled the vacuum line from the PCV the car ran fine. I replaced the PVC.

come on man. did you actually read this post. absolutley no help what so ever. obviously don t know much about jeeps either.

I have a '96 Grand Cherokee that had a dying problem. It turned out to be the Crankshaft Position Sensor.
It is a timing device that I beleive is mounted back where the engine meets the transmission. After I had struggled to find the problem including replacing the Camshaft Position Sensor, which was fairly easy to do, I finally gave up and went to my mechanic. The biggest charge was the time to diagnose the problem, the fix was rather simple.

The best my mechanic could figure out to do was to disconnect the AC because it kept clicking on too quickly/often that it was shorting out the rest of the system. He simply unplugged the air conditioning connector and it's run fine ever since... I don't know what I'll do when it gets hot again, but for now it works...

we`ll guys and gals, i have replaced all the spark components and the crank sensor and the throttle position sensor and the timing chain and gears,and the cat converter and the 2 oxygen sensors and have a new transmission..and my jeep continues to stall,fortunately i can work on my own stuff,but not having any codes flashing makes it hard to find the problem,i`m going to try the alternator and asd relay.i`ll let ya guys know what i find

no when mine stops running it completely stops running and will not crank again,running out of ideas

I really wanted to post my solution to my Jeep starting problem incase anybody has this issue and has no clue where to start...

I bought my jeep a week ago (used) and it drove perfectly for a week.I was devestated, convinced I had bought the ultimate lemon. The battery died on me, I jumped it, charged it up and drove it around. Seemed fine so I parked it. Tried starting it again and it refused to even turn over this time. I jiggled around the terminal wires and my lights came on inside my car. The terminals looked decent so I figured it was just coincidence. Jumped it for a third time and drove it to Autozone, left it running and they checked the battery and altranator..both fine. Turned it off, tried to restart it and again wouldnt start. Then I decided to try the terminal wire jiggle again and sure enough same thing, this lead the autozone employee to take a closer look and he determined it must be the terminal. He quicly and easily replaced it and the part cost me only THREE DOLLARS. My car has started just fine since. CHECK THE TERMINALS! I had almost seven dudes look at my car and say no way about the terminals being the problem and what do you know.....hopefully this saves someone some time!!!!!!!

I had simular problen and replaced the coil that was two years ago not as of this morning same thing happened again will try the coil again.

i love my jeep, when i first encountered the problem i thought egnition or fuel so i went out bought a coil,plugs,wires,rotor,cap,and even a camshaft positioning sensor.
later on i bought a vacumn and copression testers.
so im about to change the grounds from the battery to the body and the battery to the coil brackek!
also install the temperature sensor that was replaced with a plug before i bought her.
i know the code is about the signal between the crankshaft sensor and the pcm. so im going to test the crankshaft sensor and hope its not the pcm. also the asd relay. im going to figure out this problem and i will post my results.

98 jeep cherokee wont start and will barely turn over now that the temp has dropped below 22 degrees. the battery is only a few monthes old and is brand new. some mornings it will start and some it wont. its like leaving the dome lite on all night and not having the jeep start the next morning.this happens about three times a week im guessing due to the weather but i was hoping someone else out there has delt with this and could help me out.

I had the same problem on a ford. I replaced everything. The problem was the coolant temp sensor was telling the computer that it was -75* and flooding the engine. Replaced the sensor and no more problem.

I had the same problem with my Jeep. After endless trips to the shop, it turned out that all they needed to do was clean the throttle with a bit of degreaser. It was clogged and as a result, the necessary amount of gas wasn't making it's way into the engine. After they cleaned it, it's ran perfectly. I suggest checking it, it may be an easy fix.