Hey everyone,

I have been having this problem on and off for a week now.

The problem is that sometimes when I go to start my XJ (99 automatic) I will turn the key and it will just crank and not turn over. I had this looked at by a mechanic and he said there was no fuel in the rail but good pressure from everything else.. He primed the engine and it has started fine since, but the last two nights when I go to start it it will crank and crank then not start. If I try to rev it while turning the key (and I mean rev the HELL out of it) it will start, but I have only done that twice. The mechanic said the fuel pump could be going out, but why the good pressure reading? My battery terminals are very corroded could that have anything to do with this?

Thanks for any help and sorry for the long post
-Bax

 

YES! The battery terminals must be "Shinny clean". Could also be a injector problem. I would run a can of seafoam through your gas tank and see if that will burn off any deposits.

 

But then why would there have been no fuel in the rail when the mechanic checked? That's my only red light that it's going to be the fuel pump..

 

There's an anti-drainback check valve that keeps the fuel lines pressurized. Yours may have failed.
Try this:
Turn key to ON for 5 seconds or so. You'll hear the fuel pump run then shut off.
Turn key to OFF.
Repeat.
Now try starting the engine.

Another possibility is an injector leak. Might make sense if you can clear it by flooring the accelerator. Do you smell gas when it's shut off?

Clean the battery terminals and connectors anyway, resistance there causes all sorts of oddball problems.

 

Yes I do sometimes smell gas when I turn it off. (or after unsuccessfully crank it )I was parked on a steep upward driveway when this first occurred if that helps in anyway.

Trying the key to On for five seconds I can hear the pump start up and turn off. I repeat the process and the jeep has started 3 times since.

 

Also how would an injector leak leave no fuel in the rail?

 

I have the same problem (97 auto) the fuel pump runs fine like i can hear it nd evrythin nd also it would turn off if i was at a stop sometimes idk if it still does that since it hasnt seen pavement since march

 

fuel leaking out will leave fuel rail empty ....simple as that

 

Radi, if the Jeep seems to start more often than not when I turn the key ON, then OFF, then to ON, and then turn it on, would that rule out the injector problem or support it? I am taking this in on Friday and would like to have the most information possible, thank you.

 

I have had injector probelms with my 88 and I would NOT take it in. They are easy to take out, clean, and replace the o-rings. My experiance has taught me that mechnics don't always have the right answer they just have a answer.

 

Jrh does the problem occurring with mine sound similar to the symptoms your XJ had?

 

Missed this thread earlier. I am seeing this same behavior, now that I got a new Optima battery dropped in with clean terminals.

As I put in another thread, I am trying to not replace a bunch of parts hoping to find the problem, but does it make sense to replace the injectors with a cleaned refurb set and a new check valve?

Thanks!

 

Cycling the key like that makes the fuel pump run and re-pressurizes the fuel system. It could be leaking back to the tank through the drainback valve, or into the intake through a leaking injector. Or both.
You might pull each injector and see if you find one or more that appears to be leaking right after shutdown.
I suspect you might have one leaking if you smell gas and it starts faster when you step on the accelerator. All that does is open the throttle and let more air in, which helps clear partial flooding.

 

Okay and what would the leaky injector look like opposed to good one? What exactly am I looking for?

Sorry I am kind of a novice when it comes to the engine aspect of my Jeep.

Could anyone do one or is there a write up on how to change injectors? I think I will just get a new set and if that doesn't work then I will try to tackle the drain back valve.