1997 Jeep TJ Mystery Illness...Please Help!

Jul 12, 2006 0 Replies

My 97 Jeep Wrangler is currently dead in my driveway. I've already tried to find the answers with the jeep+willys newsgroup, but no luck. Anyway, here's a brief explanation of the symptoms. Over the last couple of months, the jeep has not always been eager to start in the morning. It would crank but I would have to feather the gas for a couple of minutes to keep it running. After that, everything would seemingly return to normal. Then a couple of weeks ago, I was leaving work. I cranked up and everything seemed good. I started backing out and it stalled. I cranked for a while then opened the hood and started checking fuses, hoses, and electrical connections...nada. After about 20 minutes, it just cranked and I drove home. That was the last time it has run. Here's a quick run down of everything I've done so far to attack this:


-There are no codes stored. I confirmed this by cycling the ignition and by using a code reader. More accurately, there are no codes being transmitted. The code reader just came up fail.



-I checked the crank position sensor



-Cam Position sensor



-the entire throttle body and all attached electronics



-there is gas in it



-the fuel pump runs constantly with the key in the on position. It doesn't do its normal 2-3 second pressurization and stop



-the PCM is good



-the fuel pump relay and ASD relay are good



-all fuses are good



-coil



-distributor cap and rotor



-motor grounds



Right now I'm down to an ignition switch problem (could it think it is running for some reason?) A short in the wiring near the ignition switch A short or failure of the fuel pump (is there something that controls when the fuel rail is pressurized and cuts off the pump?)



I verified all the parts above by swapping them out with my wife's Grand Cherokee one at a time and making sure it would start so I'm pretty confident. Yes a JGC will start with a TJ PCM in place. I am now seriously considering dynamite and a long fuse as a possible solution so am open to any suggestions. What do you guys think?


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