I have a 2WD 1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport with a 4.0. I bought it about 3 months ago from a wholesale lot and about a 6 weeks ago I started having a problem with it either shutting off while I'm driving or, most recently, just not starting. It seems to be totally random except for the fact that it's almost always worse when it really hot.

I've been told it could be the alternator, the battery, the fuel lines or pump or even the starter. Before I dive into replacing these one by one until it's fixed does anyone here have any suggestions?

 

My money would be on a bad CPS.

 

every no start or random shutoff issue I have had has been because of a bad ground or a loose connection. check all grounds. and if anything the old shake test never hurts. if you can get it started start shaking wires around near the battery and ignition system. if it cuts out then you know the issue lies there.

 

Thanks, you're not the first to suggest this so I'll be checking it out asap.

 

I just looked up a couple of videos on YouTube and that could also be a possibility. Looks like I have my work cut out for me this week.

 

Mine shutoff while driving once, and also when i went to start it you just heard a click then no lights. is this how yours is?

 

I'm going to second the CPS. Had this happened on mine last year. Would start fine when cold, but as soon as the engine heated up to a good temp it would shut down while on the road. Not a fun predicament to say the least.

 

No. I have full power to the radio, lights, etc. I just can't get it to turn over. I watched an episode of 4x4TV that I Googled and the guy on there said the XJ has an issue with the battery not giving the starter cylinder enough RPMs for the sensor to catch and turn over. This, to me, would suggest an issue with the CPS (as suggested above), the battery or the alternator.

One of my biggest problems is I don't know a lot about the mechanics of a vehicle. I was hoping o learn when I bought this older Jeep and I guess it's just going to throw me into the deep end. Sink or swim. lol.

 

When yours shutdown did you still have enough power to keep the radio and lights on? Mine does which has perplexed a few of the people I've talked to about it.

 

Ok, so I've been looking into the crankshaft position sensor and the camshaft position sensor and I really think that might be the problem. If anyone has any tips for replacing these (hard or easy) please let me know.

 

If it's like mine, the CPS is a pain, it was on the driver side almost on top of the tranny, couldn't get a ratchet to turn, so I ended up taking half an hour top unbolt it.
And I'll throw in that I head the exact same problem and replacing the CPS did fix it.

 

I have a 98 xj that sometimes won't crank at all. After a few times hitting the key as it's coming back into the run position suddenly the starter will bump over. Also after a cold start and you get going down the road it will start to hesitate and loose power but if I feather the pedal a little it stops and runs great. Any ideas would be most helpful. Already replaced the starter and the switch portion of the ignition, oh and the PRNDL switch.

 

All my electronics would stay on, just the engine cut out. This was my thread about it, there might be some more helpful info there.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/eng...riving-129926/

 

I'd be willing to bet it's the crank sensor without a doubt.

 

This was a big help. Thanks!