Engine dies and then won't start

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RAHANSCOMSR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.0L 6 cylinder, automatic, 29,000 miles, all original parts.

If the car is allowed to sit for 2 or 3 weeks, it then can be used for 2 or 3 days with no problem. However, after this time is up, the engine will just abruptly quit. Sometimes it can be started again after a few minutes, but most of the time it refuses to start until it is almost stone cold. If you can make it past this "barrier" it will run flawlessly when hot.

I believe it is a fuel problem, as it never backfires when this happens at highway speeds, and I believe it would if unburned gas-air mixtures were present in the exhaust system when it refired.

No codes, no lights, nobody can figure it out, but dealers and garages want to just start replacing things.

I would be grateful for any suggestions.
Nov 25, 2007 at 4:02 PM
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RASMATAZ
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 75,988 POSTS
When you turn key to On position do you hear the fuel pump. If so have someone crank engine over while you listen to the injector/s are they clicking-if it is, disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine while cranking it over-do you have spark comeback and tell me what's missing.
Nov 25, 2007 at 4:40 PM
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