i have a 97 cherokee that will only start using starting fluid or carb cleaner. as soon as it starts using the carb cleaner or starting fliuid it will run fine. i believe i have gotten something wet that is not supposed to be wet. it all started when i power washed the motor to do some work on it and then was very cold overnight. it has been not starting on its own for 3 days now. any ideas ? i do have fuel pressure on the rail at the schrader valve.
thanks

 

Sounds like pumps not primeing motor ...

 

so maybe i got the fuel pump relay wet, but i do hear the fuel pump go on when i turn the key on. and even turning the key on and off 3 or 4 times to try and build pressure does nothing to help. spray fluid and it starts right up and stays running and once warmed up it will continue to start after shutting down WITHOUT the need for starting fluid... kinda stumped

 

Check your distributor. The cam sensor inside provides signal for the fuel injectors. Dry it out and clean it. Also inspect the connector for the cam sensor. And as strange as it sounds the Crank Sensor is still suspect.

 

Okay here is the problem "your engine is addicted to starting fluid"! What happens when you use starting fluid is it royally messes up your injectors. So bad the US Navy removed all "cold weather staring aids". The fix for this is to replace your injectors. So I would go for the upgrade!

 

What?

 

Ya I was told never to use starting fluid on fuel injected systems

 

You should never have to use starting fluid in the first place, but it will not hurt the fuel injectors. If this was a direct injected engine, then I could see where damage to the fuel injectors might be a factor. You should not use startinng fluid on diesel engines with intake heating grids or glow plugs. As far as an engine becoming dependant on starting fluid? That is just stupid. I've never seen an engine sitting behind a 7-11 freebasing ether and panhandling.

 

on fuel injectors the firing presure screws up the injector. Plus Starting fluid is like crack for engines.

 

Let it sit for two or three days it will start again. 4.0 electronic systems don't like water you probably soaked the dizzy, cps, tps and ecm it will have to dry out

 

I still don't understand your theory.

 

This isn't a direct injection motor, the injectors don't see cylinder pressure.
The engine cannot become "addicted" to anything, lol. The PCM does not learn that sort of thing. Even if it did it still starts up off of pre-loaded tables, not learned curves.
Starting fluid is very low octane and causes a huge knock when it fires, for that reason continued use isn't a good thing.

As others have said, unplug every connector and sensor you can find, dry them out, check inside the distributor, etc etc. You got water somewhere, find it and dry it out.

 

I've heard if old tractors getting addicted to either bat that's more of a diesel thing. I don't believe it is harmfull for injectors. It doesn't spike combustion pressures that high plus the intake valves are closed keeping injectors away from the bang. If it needs ether to start see if fuel is bleeding back when u turn the rig off also it could be a tired engine rings or valve seats or both. And the combustion of ether is makin it pop off.

 

On average, when someone messes up their XJ by washing their motor, how many days does it take for it to start working fine again?

 

Three?