Major problems for a long time
#1
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Year: 2002
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
Major problems for a long time
2002 Grand Cherokee Limited, 4.7L no mods. This jeep died after hitting a bump in the road about 1 year ago, yes 1 year ago. It has been in the shop ever since. Had a rollback take to my regular mechanic and it started when the rollback dumped it. It ran for a couple of days afterwards, and that was it. Now the dash gauges are dead, the engine cranks over but will not start, and OBDII cannot communicate with the ecm.
Next had it towed to the dealership from the previous shop. The dealer said they reflashed the ecm and nothing has changed, still no communication, No dash gauges, still will not run. About 4 days before it was towed to the dealer, the head lights came on, the wipers came on, and the horn started blowing, had to unhook the battery before this would stop. The dealer is stumped and on the phone daily with Chrysler trying to see what to check next. This thing is driving me crazy!!!
Next had it towed to the dealership from the previous shop. The dealer said they reflashed the ecm and nothing has changed, still no communication, No dash gauges, still will not run. About 4 days before it was towed to the dealer, the head lights came on, the wipers came on, and the horn started blowing, had to unhook the battery before this would stop. The dealer is stumped and on the phone daily with Chrysler trying to see what to check next. This thing is driving me crazy!!!
Last edited by trh; 08-01-2016 at 06:51 PM.
#2
Old fart with a wrench
Welcome to CF!
Unfortunately if the dealer is stumped, there's not much I can offer. Maybe it's possessed by demons? It must have taken quite a hit to not function anymore. I'm surprised the airbags didn't pop. There's an inertia switch under the back seat that controls the airbags. I was replacing the rear ABS sensors and my mechanic told me to pull the plug on the switch before doing ANYTHING around it.
Unfortunately if the dealer is stumped, there's not much I can offer. Maybe it's possessed by demons? It must have taken quite a hit to not function anymore. I'm surprised the airbags didn't pop. There's an inertia switch under the back seat that controls the airbags. I was replacing the rear ABS sensors and my mechanic told me to pull the plug on the switch before doing ANYTHING around it.
#4
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Year: 2002
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
it only hit a manhole cover in the road, probably amounts to no more than a 1 1/2 inch indention in the asphalt. Surely as many Grand Cherokees as there is out there something similar has happened before. I;m just trying to avoid a 5 or $600.00 diagnostic bill.
Last edited by trh; 08-02-2016 at 06:58 AM.
#5
Old fart with a wrench
If it's any consolation to you, I hit a REALLY bad railroad crossing at 40 mph, not knowing it was nasty and I thought my front end was toast, but it kept running and after checking the alignment and looking for broken parts, it was fine. I can't see how hitting a sunken manhole cover could have screwed up your jeep so bad, but you said something about the tow guy dumping it off the flatbed. How bad was that hit? I can't see how you got so many problems unless the motor mounts are bad and the engine thrashing around stretched or pinched a wire harness or something. Usually the first things to go when that happens is the radiator hoses or hose necks start leaking, PLUS with today's type mounts, it can't move that much.
Unfortunately, I think the dealer's DRB III scan tool is the only way to find it, but you also said they've been working on it, right?
Unfortunately, I think the dealer's DRB III scan tool is the only way to find it, but you also said they've been working on it, right?
Last edited by dave1123; 08-02-2016 at 02:23 PM.
#6
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Year: 2002
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
If it's any consolation to you, I hit a REALLY bad railroad crossing at 40 mph, not knowing it was nasty and I thought my front end was toast, but it kept running and after checking the alignment and looking for broken parts, it was fine. I can't see how hitting a sunken manhole cover could have screwed up your jeep so bad, but you said something about the tow guy dumping it off the flatbed. How bad was that hit? I can't see how you got so many problems unless the motor mounts are bad and the engine thrashing around stretched or pinched a wire harness or something. Usually the first things to go when that happens is the radiator hoses or hose necks start leaking, PLUS with today's type mounts, it can't move that much.
Unfortunately, I think the dealer's DRB III scan tool is the only way to find it, but you also said they've been working on it, right?
Unfortunately, I think the dealer's DRB III scan tool is the only way to find it, but you also said they've been working on it, right?
Last edited by trh; 08-02-2016 at 03:25 PM.
#7
Old fart with a wrench
Yeah....well....Older GM cars were the last time I understood the wiring. The craziest one was my friends 70 Datsun 240Z. In order to save wiring, they hotwired everything and the control switches formed the grounds! Get in a accident and it goes up in flames or everything turns on.
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#9
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
If the dealer was able to communicate and re-flash the ECM it's internals must be ok. I'm suspecting it's something stupid like a broken wire in an innocuous spot.The fact that it started after getting off the tow truck lends more credence to this, as the jostling of being on loaded, transported, and unloaded may have been enough to temporarily close the broken circuit. Could also be something like a broken solder point in one of the modules.
It's kind of hard to have you start checking stuff without the car, nor do I think the tech(s) at the dealer will take any of your technical suggestions seriously.
Last edited by XJRed96; 08-03-2016 at 06:11 AM.
#11
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Also this would not cause the sporadic electrical glitch that he experienced with the horn and lights etc.
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