99 GC V8 dying & not starting problem

My V8 99 Limited recently started acting up. I would appreciate any suggestions as to what is causing this. We can be driving along and the V8 is running flawless and without any warning, it acts like you turned off the key. Sometimes it starts up as soon as you touch the key and other times it won't start for 10 to 20 minutes... just cranks. Sometimes it acts like it tries to start as you let off the key but doesn't until it is good and ready. Sometimes, instead of dying, it just goes to an idle and acts like it is running on 2 or 3 cylinders and smells like a diesel. Same thing happens after that... sometimes I can turn it off and restart it and runs flawless and other times it just cranks. So far, it has always started after awhile (10 to 20 minutes) I am sure the starter doesn't appreciate all the cranking. Thanks!

My V8 99 Limited recently started acting up. I would appreciate any suggestions as to what is causing this. We can be driving along and the V8 is running flawless and without any warning, it acts like you turned off the key. Sometimes it starts up as soon as you touch the key and other times it won't start for 10 to 20 minutes... just cranks. Sometimes it acts like it tries to start as you let off the key but doesn't until it is good and ready. Sometimes, instead of dying, it just goes to an idle and acts like it is running on 2 or 3 cylinders and smells like a diesel. Same thing happens after that... sometimes I can turn it off and restart it and runs flawless and other times it just cranks. So far, it has always started after awhile (10 to 20 minutes) I am sure the starter doesn't appreciate all the cranking. Thanks!

HI, HAS THE FUEL PUMP BEEN CHANGED RECENTLY. YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE CHECK THE FUEL PRESSURE WITH A GAUGE. HARD TO TROUBLE SHOOT UNLESS YOU TAKE TO SHOP. ALSO YOU COULD HAVE A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR THAT IS GOING BAD. THEY ARE A COMMON PROBLEM ON JEEPS. HOPE THIS HELPS DALE
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Thanks for the reply... any idea where the crank sensor is located on the V8?? It finally quit completely about 10 miles from home. It just cranks and backfires as I let off of the key.