Stalling, Squeeking, Overheating, & A/C

Hey everyone, I own a 1997 4.0L Cherokee Sport with approximately 140,000 miles on it. It runs great, most of the time. Recently, it will stall immediately after starting up unless I keep my foot on the gas. If I keep the RPMs up around 800, it will run fine, but otherwise the RMPs drop down and it stalls. After letting the engine run for about 5 minutes with my foot on the gas, apparently it is warmed up enough and will run on its own. After reading other forums, I see people have similar problems, solved by replacing the CPS. However, my case seems to be different with the fact that after warming up, it runs fine. I considered adjusting the idle, but don't even know how to do that. I also just replaced the battery after that was giving me problems as well. Suggestions?

I don't mean to be asking too much in the same thread, but I also have a few other smaller problems. Whenever I turn the wheel, there is a loud squealing noise from the engine. This happens most after just starting up, and with harder turns. I replaced the serpentine belt about a year or two ago, so I don't think it's that. And the power steering fluid level is fine. Secondly, whenever I'm sitting in traffic on a hot day, the engine almost immediately overheats. When I resume driving it cools down again, but now I'm always worried whenever I see traffic ahead. The fan shroud has been missing since it was broken during a water pump replacement about a year ago. Is the shroud important with cooling? Lastly, the A/C works great, when it works. It is very iffy, deciding to be on sometimes, and not working other times. I'm not sure what triggers it on or off.. electrical problems?

Sorry for presenting so many topics all at once. I just want to get these things straightened out before a long trip I'm about to take. Any help would be GREATLY appreicated. Thank you very much!

Your first problem could still be the CPS... but they could be related.

When you replaced the belt, did you tighten it to the correct tension? What could be happening is that when you first fire up the engine, the belt is slipping on the pulleys, including the alternator (rough idle/dying out), and power steering (hard to turn/squeling). As the pulleys slip, the friction causes the belt to stick, thus the machine begins to work as it should. When the A/C is first turned on, the A/C clutch engages, causing more pressure on the belt, and once again the belt has to catch up.

Short version: Try getting a new belt and tighten the tensioner pulley to the correct pressure.

And yes that shroud is very important. Without the shroud, the air just blows around and over the fan... causing a very spicy situation indeed.

Besides that, belts are cheap. It's worth a shot, eh?

The stalling could also be your Idle Air Controller, it controls how much fuel and air you get a idle. Fairly easy fix and not too expensive, but here is info to troubleshoot the IAC: http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/15/23/bc/0900823d801523bc/repairInfoPages.htm

The squeling could also be the power steering pump. You can try adding some Lucas to the Power steering pump, this will by you some more time to save for the pump, and it could also be your serpentine belt.

For the stalling problem I would recommend a top end injection cleaning which can be done at most repair shops and dealers for relatively cheap (less than 100) which would fix the problem if the intake or throttle body is gunked up. For the squeeking and overheating problem it's probably due to the serp. belt either being worn out and needing replacement or not tight enough/too tight. Alot of people don't have belt tensioning gauges in their tool box so a good rule of thumb for most serp. belts is in a space that is about a foot apart grab the middle of that stretch and move the belt up and down and see if there's more than an inch of movement. If there is then it needs to be tightened up if it doesn't move at all then it needs to be loosened up just a little.

Oh and BTW welcome to Automotive Forums