97 cherokee problem after mudding

I got the truck about 3 mounths ago and it was running fine, the exaust broke but that was no big thing, but yesterday i went mudding throught some deep puddles about 1.5 to 2ft and it really messed it up :banghead:

The first problem i noticed was the idle dipping, when i got off the trail and on the road my check engine light came on after i noticed that it felt like it was slipping in and out of gear, i brought it to the closest autoparts store to get the code read and in the parking lot it died out on me, but the code was read and it said something about preformance i forget the code number

After an hour of letting it sit it started again and lucky enought for me there was a car was right next to the auto store, i power washed most of it off and it fixed the tranny problem, but on the way home after stopping by a friends the battery light started to come on

The next morning I went to start it and it wouldnt fire up, it felt like it wonted to but wouldnt, i cleaned up the throtle body and all the sensors on there and i cleaned a clog in my vacume system also

now it starts up and shifts fine but my problem is when i accelerate it seems to hessitate and i have no top end power, it even starts to go back to almost idle when i floor it and the battery light is still coming on

I would REALLY APPRICIATE some advice

BTW, I carry my code checker in my off-the-road kit. That way I can get the code and clear it too.

Some things you might look at:


The distributor and the wires. Don't forget to check the inside of the cap.
Check if there is mud or water inside of the alternator.
Check the connections to the electronic modules, especially the ones by the left front fender area.
Check crank position sensor wire connector coming up in back of the engine bellhousing.

Just in case you didn't know, you can check the code without a seperate unit.

1. Turn the ignition key ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON within five seconds...
2. If you have an older Cherokee, the check engine light will flash a two digit number (i.e. flash-flash-pause-flash is code 21). The Jeep will always flash 55 at the end of the sequence.
3. if you have a new gen XJ the odometer will show a code like P0121

I'm sure most of you know this, but just in case...

a little update, i checked the distributor cap fine just a little sign of mud on the bottom but its still producing a good spark, checked all the cables and all the spark plugs, also took my alternator out and got it tested also fine, put my friends wrangler battery in and still had the spuddering and no top end power the only thing left for me to check is the CPS then i gunna have to go to the mechanic

so i was messing around with it today and now i have a top end and my power is back but i still have a problem with spuddering when i give it gas it feels like its getting some but not enough and it will just cut out for a half second and go again but it will do this several times, and as for the battery charging problem, i put my battery back in and the light went back on so i think i will go get that tested but will the cps make that spuddering, also the code that it spit out was 12 and 27

12 just means that the battery was disconnected.

*checking stickied thread*...

27 is: "Fuel injector control circuit. Will need specialist diagnostics."


And I would think that a bad CPS would sputter or die all the time... not just when giving throttle.

Maybe you need new injectors? :2cents:

the problem i found out was 1. going into a 2.5ft mud puddle, 2. Stupid friends who disconnect positive alternator cables, 3. Bad Battrey, 4. Dirty injectors.
The Solution:
power wash
reconnect the cable
bought a new battery 80$
ran a tank with sea foam 6$

hope that helps anyone else out whos in my situation