I have been having alot of problems lately! Last night I tried to start my jeep, and it wouldnt turn over at first. then it turned, but it didnt sound right. it wasnt the normal rumble, it was high pitched. If I took my foot off the gas, or put it into gear, it would die. also, the exost smelled thick with gas! I dont know what to do!

hummm... is ur check engine light on?

yeah, it is. I took it in last week to see what it was, the 02 censor is out. but the guy was going to charge me 500 buck to fix it. I can get that part for 50 bucks. do you think that is the problem. it almost sounds like its flooding. thanks.

no the O2 sensor wouldn't have anything to do with the Jeep not starting. and $500 is way too much to have it changed, it's only like an hour job, thats crazy.

but that could be the problem with the strong gas smell,
what haooenes exactly when it won't start, does it start then die immediately? if yes try this, start the jeep and hold the gas pedal a lil (not to the floor, but so u run around 1500RPM's) for a minute or so, then let off the gas and see if it stays running.

OK, I did that, and when I let my foot off it dies. but I tried to put it into gear, and at first it just dies, but I kept it at about 1500rpms and got it to go. I just wanted to see if my computer would go nuts and tell me anything, but it didnt and after just a couple of seconds the motor sounded fine, but if I took my foot off it would die. then I got it out of first gear, and it sounded great, and I could give it no gas, but it ran at a very low rpm, like 450, and would die after a wile. but if I got it into third of forth gear, it ran normal, 1500-2000 rpms. could it be the throttle? thanks!

possibly try to clean it thoroughly with some carb cleaner, make sure to clean out all the port holes (Idle Air Control Valve, Vacuum hoses).

Dont use carb cleaner on the throttle body. Use throttle body cleaner only. Since yours is a 97, it should be a multi-port fuel injected intake.

You can sometimes get a faster idle by pulling the vacuum hose that goes to the master cylinder. There is an idle solenoid/valve that meters the amount of air alowing in for idling. Some cleaning can correct this.

Of course, dont drive around with the master cylinder hose pulled, it is just a way to bump the idle up without balancing a brick on the pedal while you are diagnosing.

Always reconnect the hose before driving.

I don't think it matters Carb or throttle cleaner, same thing.

You might also want to think about the throttle position sensor.

thanks for all the info. I took it in and they said that it is the O2 censer, 200buck, works fine now. thanks everyone!

doesn't sound like an O2 Sensor problem..... weird!