Common Reason Why 87 - 92 Cherokee Won't Start
jeep4x4only
07-29-2004, 03:15 PM
I am looking for someone who has performed an R-12 to R-134a conversion on a 1987 or earlier cherokee. There is no documentation on this procedure issued by Chrylser. Chrysler does not recommend performing a retrofit on any cherokee produced before 1988.
A common reason why cherokee's will not start...
f you have a cherokee with an AW4 Automatic Transmission 87-90 and your cherokee's starter will not turn over please read the following:
Make sure your vehicle is in park or neutral.
Place a jumper wire from the terminal on your starter relay (wire is black w/ white trail) to the negative terminal of your battery.
This will jump your vehicle's park/neutral switch located on the right hand side of your transmission. Your vehicle will start in drive so again make sure it in park or neutral before attempting this procedure.
If your starter turns over, you have a bad or improperly adjusted switch.
Hope this helps someone, now maybe someone can help me by providing any results from an A/C conversion as described above.
A common reason why cherokee's will not start...
f you have a cherokee with an AW4 Automatic Transmission 87-90 and your cherokee's starter will not turn over please read the following:
Make sure your vehicle is in park or neutral.
Place a jumper wire from the terminal on your starter relay (wire is black w/ white trail) to the negative terminal of your battery.
This will jump your vehicle's park/neutral switch located on the right hand side of your transmission. Your vehicle will start in drive so again make sure it in park or neutral before attempting this procedure.
If your starter turns over, you have a bad or improperly adjusted switch.
Hope this helps someone, now maybe someone can help me by providing any results from an A/C conversion as described above.
MagicRat
07-29-2004, 07:53 PM
There are several drop-in non Freon coolant replacements that will work with your R-12 system. Last I heard, Pennzoil made one.
Some people have used a mixture of propane and isobutane in place of R12. It works great, but if it leaks, it will blow you into next week.
You can use R134A in your existing system, but the operating pressures are different and it makes the compressor switch on and off every few seconds.
Also it is a bit less efficient than R 12, so either the evaporator and condensor are bigger or the system will not cool as well.
This is why a true R 134A conversion gives you a new compressor, hardware, evaporator and condensor. Chances are Chrysler has not bothered to engineer one for the V6 and older 4 cyl engines.
Some people have used a mixture of propane and isobutane in place of R12. It works great, but if it leaks, it will blow you into next week.
You can use R134A in your existing system, but the operating pressures are different and it makes the compressor switch on and off every few seconds.
Also it is a bit less efficient than R 12, so either the evaporator and condensor are bigger or the system will not cool as well.
This is why a true R 134A conversion gives you a new compressor, hardware, evaporator and condensor. Chances are Chrysler has not bothered to engineer one for the V6 and older 4 cyl engines.
caddy94
07-30-2004, 08:01 PM
thks your post helped me a great deal ,I am sorry that i cant help you though , thks again
Silver_XJ
08-10-2004, 12:36 PM
I ended up going to my local CarQuest dealer and asking for the retrofit kit (which was in stock). $48.00 I Think, comes with new r134a schrader valves & new orings. and the oil for the system. basically I just changed the schraders & orings (only @ the schraders). added the oil as per spec and charged the system... works excellent!!!!
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026
