jdpitre89

Hey all. My jeep is awesome. I've had it for six years and the problems I am about to discuss have been occurring throughout. Only now they seem to be getting worse. Firstly, upon starting and letting idle, the engine hesitates and stutters. I very noticeable amount of water is spurted from the exhaust (thermostat?). Once I put it in gear to drive the car will operate fine in low rpms. When I try to accelerate, the engine hesitates and almost stalls even with the gas peddle pushed down. This is followed by a few loud clunks and the motor revs up to the rpm that matches where the peddle is. At low speeds, this goes on forever. When I give it gas, the problems happens a few times, then the motor revs up and I'm off. I have a California emissions package, though I live in PA...the sensors do need replaced. Oh and the motor does not misfire when in neutral for some reason...I am thinking of doing an overhaul on the sensors, throttle body positioner, and possibly gas tank/fuel filter.

I have been told to check for certain charges with a voltmeter, check my ground cables and vacuum hoses in my PVC. Also, possible exhaust leak from cracked header causing sensors to act screwy.

My personal prognosis is that the sensors need replaced.

Am I missing something here?

Any and all input will be appreciated.

Thanks

Gatchmo5710

I would start by doing plugs. Cap. Rotor. Sensors. New battery. And check for leaks in exhaust. I have fixed countless problems by just those things.

tiwvr1

I am also in pa. First thing I would do is check fuel pressure. Low fuel pressure can cause all sorts of issues. Also we need to know codes, engine size, milage.....

CNTLOSE

Do a complete tune up...from under the hood to changing the fuel filter. Might even try running some Seafoam in it to clean the internals.

Bustedback

No sense in replacing sensors if they're working, that is just too expensive and a waste. The water coming out of the tailpipe is completely normal, it's the byproduct of a chemical reaction in the catalytic converter. The first place to start would be to check for codes, check the long term fuel strategy, check the fuel pressure, and check the function of the sensors. I would recommend having a shop take a look at it, it will cost less than changing a bunch of sensors and still have it run like crap.

TN12valve

jdpitre89

Thanks everyone. The sensors have been showing bad codes since I have owned it. '99 Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0 Inline 6 176K.

How do I check fuel pressure?

Changed fuel filter a year or two ago...could be time again...that never fixed it though..

Plugs and coil pack done last fall.

Maybe a combo of many of these smaller issues.

jdpitre89

I know that water is normal. If it sits and idles, it will cover a large area in spray.

caged

check for a leaky fuel injector. give them each a twist while running.

jdpitre89

My mechanic looked at it. He said that since it's coding bad sensors, he would start with that and the tbp as well. I am going to try to try cleaing my battery posts as well as my engine grounds...I will ask if my mechanic checked for exhaust leaks.

Did I mention that this problem only happens when the motor is started cold and allowed to sit and idle, it sputters and hesitates. Once in gear at low rpm it sputters a lurches and the motor clunks. If I put it in neutral, it goes away, but once I put it back into gear it comes back until I manage to accelerate up to ~45 mph and then the jeep runs flawlessly.

Bustedback

Not a very good mechanic if he is replacing sensors just because there is a code for a sensor. A code is just a clue of where to start the diagnostic process.

jdpitre89

P 0141, P0161 are the codes. It has 178K on it. Wouldn't be surprised if it was the sensors...

dave1123

How about electrical plugs at the sensors? If you live in snow country where they use salt on the roads you could have corroded connections. OR, salt water mud!

jdpitre89

I live just south of erie, pa. Snow and salt every year. I already have the new sensors. Just gotta get the time to do the work.

When I do have time, I will just replace the sensors, clean the battery posts and engine ground connections.

Can anyone give me a quick rundown on how to replace the fan clutch? I have the new one. It doesn't look like it will come out w/o removing the radiator shroud...

I got some throttle body/air intake aerosol. Do I just pop the air filter compartment off the top of the intake and give er a spray or two?

Thanks Again.

jdpitre89

any advice for replacing fuel injectors (bosch?) and electrical harness? that the next project.