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Hello and a Question

Discussion in 'Cherokee' started by Ltw.jeep, Jan 1, 2020.

  1. Jan 1, 2020 at 8:55 AM
    #1
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2019
    Member:
    #3513
    Messages:
    11
    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    Greetings there.

    Just purchased my first Jeep XJ (2000, 4.0 of course). Drove a Grand Cherokee back in 2008 and loved it, and it stuck in my memory ever since.

    Of course, a 20 year+ car doesn't come without it's problems.
    I've got 213k miles on my beast, and am experiencing some issues with headlamp switch (only turns on all lights when the knob is pulled out a little bit, making contact with points?), no heat (though it worked when I bought it six months ago), no rear wiper, no front washer action (so obv. there's some kind of wiring issue). Both pumpkins were empty last time I checked (but that's getting into other shit I'm not ready to handle quite yet, both time and financially-wise).
    I don't see a ground for the headlight switch underneath driver side, and it was swapped from a 5 manual to a 3 automatic.

    I'm self taught - for as much as YouTube and hands on experience with a semi-qualified mechanic (after I learned some things on my own, I realized his services were garbage).

    So, as a prodigal son returns back into the mechanical fold, any advice?

    Also if anyone has a picture of the wiring harness that runs through driver side rear behind the spare, it would be much appreciated. Mine blew and I have it spliced together at the moment.

    Thank you kindly,

    An XJ mechanical ninja.
     
  2. Jan 1, 2020 at 11:05 AM
    #2
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
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    Vehicle:
    Backcountry '16
    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    Welcome @Ltw.jeep ...true story on the trials and tribulations of owning older vehicles. We have nice knowledgeable jeepers here that can help with the XJ. Hang tight as they work on the hangover from last night. Post a pic or two of the XJ and the issues.
     
    Bob likes this.
  3. Jan 1, 2020 at 11:54 AM
    #3
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2019
    Member:
    #3513
    Messages:
    11
    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    There's also a 'low oil' noise or grinding sound when I hit high RPM (basically sounding rough as shit).

    Main issue is that it begins to shake and then stall out when sitting at idle. I've replaced IAC, new MAP is coming.. Jeep error code on the ODO throws as a 2.4... weird readings from the MAP to the IAC. Though everything I've pulled has looked fine so I'm starting to think it's all electrical and bad grounds somewhere. Main strap is dirty but looks fine otherwise, no major corrosion or wear.

    20191205_161338.jpg
    20190730_072505.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2020
    Billy1234 likes this.
  4. Jan 1, 2020 at 12:02 PM
    #4
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2019
    Member:
    #3513
    Messages:
    11
    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    I've got the harness wired up to same color wiring, and as far as I can follow back it's just lights and the wiper, which I'm not too worried about fixing at the moment. Two wires that didn't match got tied together but nothing happened until now when I started replacing things.

    So main electric issues are -
    * no running lamps or drls unless I jiggle the switch into place between full stops.
    * installed the K Suspension headlamp harness with two relays and it didn't do anything at all so I'm back to factory.
    * no console lights, possibly no error lamps due to that but when I run through the key code method it cycles the Odo and shows all lights working
    * driver side speaker is sketchy but i dc'ed it and wrapped the wires.
    * no dome lights.
    * no visible ground for headlamp switch that i can see, at least not in factory spot.
    * no p/t f/t indicator illumination
    * No obd port port activity.

    Wiring seems okay. Jiggling harnesses does not replicate stalling issue and it only happens when it has been running for a hot minute. If it does not die initially, then acceleration is shit until the clutch catches again and the problem is gone until I come to idle again. Front diff grinds (but thank God it's rwd) gas keeps it going so maybe filter? All started when I had a misfire and pulled the plugs.... broke one off and threw in a replacement I had (all Bosch Double Platinum except one Bosch Platinum)

    Have replaced so far
    IAC
    Power steering pump
    TPS
    Camshaft sensor
    6 new plugs (coil looks to be okay and wires look fine)
    MAP got lost in mail, waiting on a new one.
    Basically the entire front end minus sway bar.

    Both differentials are probably fucked but that's an adventure for another day.

    I have NOT
    Tested alternator
    Fuel pressure
    EGR
    Cats (thanks for two of em, Cali)

    Yeah, I picked up a mess.
     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2020
    Billy1234 likes this.
  5. Jan 3, 2020 at 9:08 PM
    #5
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    Replacing the water pump and fan clutch this weekend, and possibly the timing chain. Will see what happens.
     
  6. Jan 3, 2020 at 9:24 PM
    #6
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
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    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    Sounds like a bz weekend. Make sure the replacement WP is 100% match+correct.
     
  7. Jan 4, 2020 at 7:49 AM
    #7
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

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    Welcome to the site!
     
  8. Jan 10, 2020 at 7:24 AM
    #8
    Jeep4Life

    Jeep4Life Well-Known Member

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    Welcome from Florida!
     
  9. Jan 10, 2020 at 7:35 AM
    #9
    Prerunner1982

    Prerunner1982 Well-Known Member

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    This is Deja vu... there has been a couple of other post in the last couple of months with same issue.
    You might take a look at them and see if there is any help there.
     
    Billy1234 likes this.
  10. Jan 10, 2020 at 7:58 AM
    #10
    Prerunner1982

    Prerunner1982 Well-Known Member

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    There should be one black wire that goes to ground for the dome light.
    upload_2020-1-10_9-58-26.jpg
     
  11. Jan 13, 2020 at 5:32 PM
    #11
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
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    Member:
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    Messages:
    11
    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    Gonna take a stab and go for the original replacement that began this cascade - spark plugs and misgapping.
     
  12. Jan 16, 2020 at 8:58 AM
    #12
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    Twas the plugs, gosh golly gee darnit. Had Bosch double platinum, now running Champion double platinum.
     
  13. Jan 17, 2020 at 7:28 AM
    #13
    Prerunner1982

    Prerunner1982 Well-Known Member

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    Champion or NGK Coppers are typically the recommended plug for the old 4.0s. A simple engine, just needs simple plug.
    Glad you figured it out though.
     
  14. Jan 17, 2020 at 12:16 PM
    #14
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
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    Member:
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    Messages:
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    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    Well, the persistent problem remains.
    Stay too long in idle and something doesn't wanna give. Coming to a full stop, it won't accelerate for a good minute and I hear popping or gears trying to grab. Engine won't throttle up even if I floor it. If I can push it long enough it'll pick back up again.
     
  15. Jan 17, 2020 at 12:37 PM
    #15
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
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    Member:
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    Messages:
    11
    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    Is there something that kicks in after idle runs for a couple minutes that would disengage maybe the transfer case
     
  16. Mar 8, 2020 at 11:29 AM
    #16
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    So one trip to the shop later and $500 meant that a mechanic swapped my bank 1 O2 sensor.

    And... I'm still stalling.

    After regapping the plugs it no longer dies at idle but I've got a
    P0135 B1S1 Heater Circuit
    P1491 Rad. fan
    P0443 Evap purge circuit
    P0705 TRS PRNDL malfunction.

    As far as I can see minus the fan and TRS, all those codes are probably conjunctive to the same problem.
    TRS is a pain to get off but not immediately distressing.
    The fan is nothing. I'll replace that later.

    My main issue seems to be something wrong with the exhaust system
     
  17. Mar 10, 2020 at 5:39 PM
    #17
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    Well.

    Passenger side harness MELTED after work today. After starting the car, I smelled melting plastic from the rear and thought I had left a burning cigarette in the back.
    I rip off the paneling and find that the harness leading to the boot where the body meets the rear hatch has completely burned through the harness where the connectors meet. The same thing had happened on the driver side (behind the spare) where the harness had melted. Lost fuel gauge and speed, but illumination remained. Headlights are still on and tail lights and blinkers also work.

    So having disconnected the wiring, I made it home. I started looking through the fuses and found #10 empty. I also found the IOD fuse under the hood blown.
    Referencing to the post above, after removing the blown IOD fuse, my check engine light went completely off (having previously been on, even without the cluster working). I am now reading no codes whatsoever, but am not completely sure I can trust it. I've put a 15amp fuse in spot 10 (supposedly attached to all the above codes in some way), and replaced the IOD fuse.

    Still no gauges.

    I'm also noticing now after changing the O2 sensor B1S1, the crank or harmonic balancer sounds off and like it's shaking.
     
  18. Jun 5, 2020 at 6:08 PM
    #18
    Ltw.jeep

    Ltw.jeep [OP] Member

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Vehicle:
    2000 Black Cherokee 4.0
    Nothing. Yet.
    Bad ground hunting sucks.

    I have no speed, fuel or odo. Previously I was getting bad O2 sensor heater circuit B, and PRNDL sensor off. Both of which fixed themselves after the rear wiring harness shorted itself out and almost started a fire.
     
  19. Jun 6, 2020 at 7:31 AM
    #19
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    thumbnail (1).jpg Bad grounds can make for a bad day!
     
  20. Feb 1, 2021 at 5:49 PM
    #20
    cpttuna

    cpttuna Well-Known Member

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    earl
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    ss exhaust-viper coil
    for plugs I recommend NGK ZFR5N. I believe there is a ground under the dash near the headlight switch. Did you buy the cheap IAC. I believe it's about $75 for a good one.
     
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