Sputtering and will not go over 30 MPH

Tiny
RICHSAMANO
  • MEMBER
  • 1990 JEEP WRANGLER
  • 4.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 144,000 MILES
Just recently bought the vehicle listed above that was garaged and hardly driven. It ran great at idle and on the road for about 70 miles pre-purchase. I completed the purchase and flat-towed home. The vehicle ran great the first day, then I needed fuel (empty). I topped off the tank at Costco and drove rest of day for another 2.5 hours in the city just fine. Next morning, I warmed up the vehicle and it idled great. Driving it sputtered a lot and barely went over 30 MPH. I stopped and purchased Seafoam Motor Treatment and a new fuel filter. Added Seafoam and installed new filter. Vehicle still sputters. The previous owner stated he never filled the gas tank up past 1/4 tank so fuel would not go bad. I don't know if fueling and the sputtering are related. That was the only significant event before sputtering started. Suggestions?
Saturday, February 20th, 2021 AT 7:37 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
Hi,

This could be a number of different things. Certainly, it could be related to the fuel system. However, it could be ignition related, a plugged catalytic converter, and so on. So here is what I need you to do. We need to see if there are diagnostic trouble codes. You don't need a scan tool to retrieve them. Follow this link which explains how it's done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/retrieve-trouble-codes-for-chrysler-dodge-plymouth-odb1-1995-and-earlier-car-mini-van-and-light-trucks

Try this and let me know what codes are found.

Take care and God Bless,

Joe
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 5:12 PM
Tiny
RICHSAMANO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you Joe, I tried your fix and discovered I do not see a check engine light when I turn the key. I am checking fuses and then I will inspect the 31 year old dash cluster lights. I will revisit the sputtering issue once I can fix the dash cluster lights.
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Wednesday, February 24th, 2021 AT 10:25 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
Hi,

That's fine. Let me know when you get back to it. I'll be here.

Take care,
Joe
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:51 PM
Tiny
RICHSAMANO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I found out today the Jeep does not have a check engine light. Are you sure cycling the key on and off will work for this vehicle? When I cycled the key, nothing lit up. I was only guessing the my Jeep lights were "out" since I did not see anything lighting up. Please advise.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 6:16 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
Hi,

Let's try this a different way. See if this link will get you through getting codes. In 1990, Jeep was owned by Chrysler. That's why I sent you the last link. I did find a link specific to Jeep. See if it works.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/jeep-diagnostic-trouble-codes-for-car-built-on-or-before-1995-odb1

Let me know.
Joe
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 8:08 PM

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