Jeep Cherokee Stalling

Tiny
KARLLANES
  • MEMBER
  • JEEP CHEROKEE
I have a 1998 Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0l inline 6 and automatic transmission. It has 115000 miles on it but is in great mechanical conditon (60k highway miles). Recently it started "stalling". As you run down the road at any speed the engine seems to loose all spark. The gages fall towards their off position (fuel, tach, volt, speed). Then about 1/2 a second later power seems to come back and you get a 60 mph rolling start with a jerk. The check engine light flashes but does not stay on. I don't have a code reader but I believe it is not showing any codes. It will do this at any speed and when stopped it will stall. After some cranking it will start and run fine. It acts like a dead short somewhere. I have replaced the enigne control computer with one from a junk yard and get the same behavior. The radio continues to run the whole time so it appears there is power. I don't want to replace multiple items and find the problem by luck. I'm not sure what could cause this behavior. Since it does this cold or hot and restarts fairly easily I dont suspect the ignition module. This model does not appear to have an external to the tank fuel filter so I have not changed this. I wonder if it could have a failing ignition switch or if the main ground or an alternator ground could be the culprit. The batery is fairly new and connections are good. Any ideas?
Sunday, October 14th, 2007 AT 1:12 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
I think you should get the codes read, they are present even if the light turned off, ther will be freeze frame data that can be retrieved, it will point you in the RIGHT direction, instead of throwing parts at it. Autozone will read the codes free of charge! Then post the findings!
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Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 AT 2:30 PM
Tiny
KARLLANES
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I just had the codes looked at. Just as I feared there are none. The symptoms are as if you turned the key off and then back on. I repeats this 5-6 times in a row then is fine. I would expect a switch failure to be all or nothing.

Replaced ignition switch and no change. Still no Codes. Any history in this model or Jeep in general with poor electrical contacts in any main connections/terminal blocks? There is a huge connector block uner the driver's side dash. I have not inspected these connections. That is my next stop.

ANYONE EVER SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE?
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Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 AT 1:26 PM
Tiny
KARLLANES
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Have gone two months with less severityu of the problem. Now after a rain & snow shower the problem is back. The computer is finally showing codes P0700 and P1694. Transmission Control System Malfunction and Fault In Companion Mode. The check engine light will go out 10-15min after the hesitation/stalling quits. If it is not a transmission control module are there any sensors or connections under/around the transmission where water could be a contributor?
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Saturday, November 24th, 2007 AT 12:54 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
I have heard of it, Jeep has heard of it, the last time I checked they had no answer. You might want to call a jeep service dept and ask.
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Saturday, November 24th, 2007 AT 4:16 PM

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