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Engine cuts out while driving

Discussion in 'Wrangler YJ (1986-1995)' started by Jeepjoc, Jul 19, 2017.

  1. Jul 19, 2017 at 9:14 AM
    #1
    Jeepjoc

    Jeepjoc [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Dennis
    Albertville, AL
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    Got the following problem going on with my '95 Wrangler and wondering/hoping someone here might have an answer. The engine is the four banger. While driving along, it will suddenly cut out and as I coast hoping for a restart before I get ran over from the rear, it will catch and backfire and then run fine for a bit longer. May not happen again for a couple of days but thats not always the case.

    Any help is a appreciated. Thanks - Dennis
     
  2. Jul 19, 2017 at 10:28 AM
    #2
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Welcome! Intermittent problems can sometimes be challenging but I'm sure the members here are up to the task. I would start with some basics: inspecting or replacing spark plugs and/or wires, air filters, fuel filters, leaky vacuum lines or bad fuel. Let's start there and keep us updated.
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  3. Jul 19, 2017 at 9:18 PM
    #3
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    Houston
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    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    Have you checked for codes? Sounds like you have a sensor going bad.
     
    aggrex likes this.
  4. Jul 19, 2017 at 9:21 PM
    #4
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

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    Man.......Had an issue similar to that, but in a different vehicle. Turned out to be a vacuum advance tube that was cracked. Lots of things can lead to that issue, but check the basics first. Vacuum lines, wiring, etc. Sudden power loss can also be attributed to an electrical issue. Hit a bump, and the connection breaks intermittently, killing the engine, etc.
     
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  5. Aug 2, 2017 at 8:28 AM
    #5
    joleneee421

    joleneee421 Member

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    I had a similar issue not too long ago, turned out to be a bad crankshaft sensor.
     
    Bob likes this.
  6. Aug 2, 2017 at 10:35 AM
    #6
    Jeepjoc

    Jeepjoc [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Dennis
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    Thankyou for that clue. My question is, if the crankshaft position sensor does fail, wouldn't you get a sudden catastrophic engine failure and no restart? My problem is intermittent.

    Cheers - Dennis
     
  7. Aug 2, 2017 at 12:14 PM
    #7
    joleneee421

    joleneee421 Member

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    Not saying this is the issue for yours, but mine would die out and start back up after a couple minutes. It would then die out closer and closer together until eventually it wouldn't start at all. The part cost me about $85 and took about an hour to switch out.
     
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  8. Aug 2, 2017 at 5:34 PM
    #8
    Jeepjoc

    Jeepjoc [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Dennis
    Albertville, AL
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    Decided to do a tuneup (plugs, wires, rotor, dist cap, fuel filter and air filter) and at the same time I think I'll change the crankshaft position sensor. The dust cover is missing on my car and I'm hoping that someone here might know where to get a replacement.

    Cheers - Dennis
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  9. Aug 4, 2017 at 6:46 PM
    #9
    Jeepjoc

    Jeepjoc [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Dennis
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    Did my tuneup today. It wasn't bad except for changing out the fuel filter. That by itself took longer to do than all the other things. Ran out of daylight today but need to get back to it tomorrow as when I did a test drive, I have a bad fuel leak right at the filter. Car ran great during my test drive. Everything was smooth and idled very nice right around 850 RPM. Did have one short cut out during the test drive so I suspect the crankshaft position sensor and have a new one on order.

    Cheers - Dennis
     
    Bob, chris4x4 and JKBob 25 like this.
  10. Aug 6, 2017 at 1:03 PM
    #10
    Jeepjoc

    Jeepjoc [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Dennis
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    Today I fitted a new crankshaft position sensor, which was a little more challenging than the Youtube videos would lead ya to believe. Anyway, I though that Jeep ran pretty good three months ago when I got it but now it runs soooo much better. Problem seems to be solved.

    Cheers - Dennis
     
    JKBob 25, aggrex and chris4x4 like this.
  11. Aug 6, 2017 at 1:10 PM
    #11
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

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    Great to hear!
     
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  12. Aug 7, 2017 at 3:14 PM
    #12
    Jeepjoc

    Jeepjoc [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Dennis
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    Well, I guess that my problem as described above is still with me. My wife and I took the Wrangler to town today for a couple of errands and on our return trip it suddenly quit running and we had to call for a flatbed. There was one short warning as it cut out but continued to run fine for a short time more before complete failure. As you can see from earlier posts that I changed out plug, HT leads, rotor and cap and air and fuel filter and replaced the crankshaft position sensor. I should also mention that while it was running it was very smooth and never missed a beat. Any ideas???
     
  13. Aug 7, 2017 at 5:41 PM
    #13
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Any chance it's another defective crankshaft position sensor? Failure signs+symptoms sounds similar. Any codes or CEL?
     
  14. Aug 7, 2017 at 5:42 PM
    #14
    cjsdad

    cjsdad Member

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    I had a similar issue with my new-to-me 98 Grand Cherokee. I have the 4.0 but the symptoms were the same. I had an 02 sensor code and replace the sensor. The CEL light went out for maybe 50 miles then returned but the cutting out remained. I swapped the engine, trans, and exhaust and the code went away but it still stalled. I had a donor vehicle that the engine, trans, and exhaust came from so I swapped out the fuel tank and pump. At the same time I found a deteriorated vacuum line at the evap canister and replaced it. The bad line was behind the driver side headlight, never would have noticed it without the engine swap. The stalling has gone away after that. Moral of the story, check the vacuum lines at the charcoal canister and maybe change the fuel pump.
     
  15. Aug 8, 2017 at 7:10 AM
    #15
    Jeepjoc

    Jeepjoc [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Dennis
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    I thought of that as a possibility, as remote as it might be, but the car is at the shop right now and I haven't heard anything from them yet. Might be a couple of days as I'm way down their list. Will let everyone know the outcome. No CEL.
     
  16. Aug 8, 2017 at 2:43 PM
    #16
    Jeepjoc

    Jeepjoc [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Turns out that my problem was a defective ignition coil. Funny thing is that I considered that possibility a couple of times and considered replacing it as a matter of caution but didn't because a bad ignition coil doesn't usually behave this way. Oh well, glad its fixed.

    Cheers - Dennis
     
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  17. Aug 8, 2017 at 6:05 PM
    #17
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    My '94 GC made it back+forth from FL round trip 2500 miles and suddenly died with no warning or lights 7 miles from home. Diagnosis: ignition coil...Glad your problems have been resolved. Ignition coil may have been the original problem but at least a bunch of new parts replaced to keep the YJ young.
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
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