Dylan Haft

TIA for your help and time. I have. 99 JGC 4.0l Laredo. My old boss sold it to me, the motor was rebuilt 50,000 miles ago. Its been in storage for a year and when my parents went to pick it up, the catalytic converter was gone. I wish I had more knowledge about just everything in general but they told me it started fine after being jumped. (Not concerned about the battery) but it would not stay running. Is that an issue caused by the missing cat and no back pressure? Or is it possible that Im looking at a bigger issue? Winter's right around the corner and I'd like to be rolling in the 4x4 sooner and cheaper. Non expensive advice and ideas would be greatly appreciated. Not because I'm a cheap *******, but the greater part of the last two years I've spent unemployed and am behind in more ways than than the 2-5 vikings this year. Skol

dave1123

Converter theft is rampant because the price of rare metals has risen sharply lately. If this vehicle was insured at the time it was stored, you may be able to file a claim for it (them). You could probably sue the storage facility also unless it was stated in the contract that they are not responsible for theft. Theft of contents is not the same as theft of parts, but it'll take a lawyer to get it done. The thing is it will be expensive to bring a suit to court unless you win!

As far as it not staying running, the computer is probably shutting it down because either the SKIM needs to be reflashed or it's not reading the 02 sensors. It needs to be scanned with a DRB III scan tool specific for Chrysler.

At this point, finding a set of converters in a junkyard may be next to impossible. The jeep will run fine without the downstream converter if it's a CA emissions unit.

2DrXJRegulatorFix

Call up Maximal Performance and talk to them about the high flow cat for the 3000gt. It should be about the same diameter for the xj and they should be willing to work with you to make you one to fit if you give them the length the pipes need to be to fit the cat.

dave1123

You can try resetting the computer by disconnecting BOTH battery cables and shorting them together for a short time to drain the memory in the computer, then reconnecting it. Make sure the battery is fully charged before you crank it because the system doesn't like low voltage. If the starter is pulling most of the amps, the computer gets upset!

If this is a California emissions truck, which if sold in NY it will be, there are 2 small converters on the split exhaust manifolds and one underneath that doesn't have an 02 sensor on it. That's the one that was probably stolen and it really isn't needed for the engine to run. It may set a Check Engine light for cat efficiency, but only after a high speed run.

If it's a Federal Emissions truck, it will have a cat underneath with an 02 sensor on it.

And yes, Jeeps are classed as trucks because they didn't get converters until trucks did in 89.