Difficulty starting, please help!
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Fairfield, CT
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
![Default](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Ive owned my '01 XJ for about 6 months now, and since I bought it I always had a hard time with it starting. Let me preface this by saying, the LONGER I let it sit, the easier it is to start. I'm talking days, not hours though.
Every morning when I start it, normally it will start almost right away, maybe a few cranks. From then on all throughout the day it takes 2 key turns to make it fire. Turn, crank crank crank crank crank, let it go, turn, crank crank crank FIRE. Once it fires up it runs a little rough for a few seconds, then smooths out. Once it has smoothed out, I have good oil pressure and the truck runs awesome. I did however get a po303 "CYL 3 misfire" code the other day.
Anyhow, I've already checked the fuel pressure at the rail to see if it looses pressure, which it does not. Makes sense since it will fire perfectly if I don't touch it for a day or so. I have checked the IAC valve which looks like it had been replaced, and I cleaned that up. I wrapped the fuel rail and injectors in 2000 deg heat wrap because I thought it might be a vapor lock issue. That didn't work. I have also changed the plugs and that didn't do anything. Yesterday I changed the crank position sensor, and it didn't do anything either. It seems to maybe run a bit smoother, but no change in the way it cranks.
At this point I don't know where to go. I hate to bring the truck to the dealer to have them diagnose it, I really don't have the extra cash for that and I hate other people working on my vehicles. I'd really like to fix it, I just need some suggestions as to where to look next.
Every morning when I start it, normally it will start almost right away, maybe a few cranks. From then on all throughout the day it takes 2 key turns to make it fire. Turn, crank crank crank crank crank, let it go, turn, crank crank crank FIRE. Once it fires up it runs a little rough for a few seconds, then smooths out. Once it has smoothed out, I have good oil pressure and the truck runs awesome. I did however get a po303 "CYL 3 misfire" code the other day.
Anyhow, I've already checked the fuel pressure at the rail to see if it looses pressure, which it does not. Makes sense since it will fire perfectly if I don't touch it for a day or so. I have checked the IAC valve which looks like it had been replaced, and I cleaned that up. I wrapped the fuel rail and injectors in 2000 deg heat wrap because I thought it might be a vapor lock issue. That didn't work. I have also changed the plugs and that didn't do anything. Yesterday I changed the crank position sensor, and it didn't do anything either. It seems to maybe run a bit smoother, but no change in the way it cranks.
At this point I don't know where to go. I hate to bring the truck to the dealer to have them diagnose it, I really don't have the extra cash for that and I hate other people working on my vehicles. I'd really like to fix it, I just need some suggestions as to where to look next.
Last edited by Bullitt4113; 09-30-2013 at 11:54 AM.
#3
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes
on
1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
![Default](https://www.cherokeeforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Only code you got was P0303?
Have you ever changed the spark plugs?
Have you ever changed the spark plugs?
#4
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Fairfield, CT
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
#6
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Fairfield, CT
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
frantic29
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
16
09-26-2015 04:30 PM
Ashs1714
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
8
09-04-2015 10:14 PM
north0house
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
1
08-31-2015 09:08 PM
03cheroke
Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here!
2
08-27-2015 06:07 AM
Gtrsrlly
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
5
08-25-2015 11:50 AM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)