JeepCherokeeNewb

Hello, I've got an 89 cherokee that is kicking my *** and I need some help in a bad way. I got a good deal on it but I've spent a fair bit trying to get the thing to run well and now it just doesnt seem worth it...
I guess my first problem is starting the thing. For a while it will start good, then some days it won't. It takes about 2-4 cranks to get it going and I usually have to put the pedal to the floor. My voltage never seems to go over 12... I can unhook the negative battery cable and it wont die so Im not sure if its my alternator. Once it starts it will drop down to almost 0 rpms then catch itself and idle around 250 it also surges a lot. Once its been running for a while the rpms will stay around 500 or so but still has the surging problem. I have an automatic trans and adjusted the voltage at the tps to 4.19volts. My injectors are fresh from a total overhaul but my fuel pump does seem to whine a lot. I did just change the fuel filter and gave it a tune up (Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, oil change etc.)
Also just checked the vac line from the valve cover and there appears to be some milky oil in there.
Any and all help would be appreciated, I just dont know what else to do

93XJGreenMonster

More than likely a head gasket. Not such a good deal anymore.

JeepCherokeeNewb

Think all this is caused by a bad head gasket then? Any idea what they're worth and how much of a PITA they are to replace?

I also wanted to add that I did do a compression test and got 120 to 130 on all 6 cylinders.
I didn't do a leak down test but I assumed because the compression was good the head gasket would be ok??

ckysodkorn_xj

http://www.ilovejeeps.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16945

xjcrazy

But my chevy silverado acted like that untill I gave the throttle body a good cleaning. I think your prob is worse though. Gd luck.

JeepCherokeeNewb

bump, anybody? please?

Throttle Jockey

did you just get it? is so do you have any idea how long it set before you got it. just because the compression test should good, you could still have a bad head gasket, just not into the combustion chambers. should still run ok though. im guessing you have done a tune up and filter change already.

ckysodkorn_xj

did u go to the link?

superj

Changing a headgasket is easy, don't get anxious about but you need to verify that is the trouble.

Check under your oil filler cap for greyish oil and check your dipstick for it. Do you have oil oil in your coolant jug? Drain your oil and look for greyish milky odd coolant also.

You have any of these signs then you probably have a blown headgasket. Your other issues do sound like a blown headgasket though

JeepCherokeeNewb

Yes cky and thanks for the link. I don't think I will have any trouble doing the head gasket if I need to.
I looked in the oil filler cap and don't see any greyish/off color oil so I'm not totally convinced there is coolant in my oil. When I did my last oil change I didn't notice any either.

I still don't understand the surging thing... When I pull the vac line off the fuel regulator it has good suck and the engine rpm's increase... does this mean anything?

I picked it up just over a month ago and I think the guy said it sat for a few months before that...

mike albo

have you checked or tryed changeing your IAC?

Throttle Jockey

not really long enough for gas to go bad. when you pull the vac line off the fuel pressure reg, you are making a vac leak and thats what causes the idle to go up.

Throttle Jockey

off the top of my head, try cleaning the crank sensor. maybe it has picked up something out of the flywheel housing and is messing with the signal.

Metmknice

If it idles like crap.. your tps is not to blame. Remove IAC, clean it, reinstall it. If it acts up.. buy a new one.

XJ4MEPLZ

When ever you disconnect the battery for a while your computer has to relearn it's idle.

Make sure you have good connections at the baattery and all your grounds.