stalls w/low fuel, left turn

[RBrandon]

Ok, I have a '98 grande cherokee that doesn't like to use the last 3 to 5 gallons of gas in the tank. I have run numerous 'addatives' in the tank originally assuming water was the problem. That never helped.
It started out that it would only sputter when I was down to 2 gallons. It is getting worse: Now from 3 to 5 gallons until empty if I turn left the thing will sputter/stall and sometimes die. It has also done that under the same circumstances on an uphill grade. (not as common) Turning right isn't a problem.
I know the pump sits vertical and one crazy thought is that the fuel pump may not have the pressure it should and thus if the vehicle (hence the pump casing) is rotating with the impeller then for a brief moment I lose enough compression to stall. That seems out there since the pumps supply more fuel to the rail than needed. (correct me if i am wrong there...)
My other thought is that something (internal screen or whatever) is physically loose and blocks the intake when I turn left, but then again, it doesn't do that when I have a full tank. I have a three day weekend and want to drop the tank and fix this mess before I put in my tow package that has been collecting dust for a month or more. Any thoughts or insights are welcome on this matter.
One last question: there isn't an external fuel filter for a '98 jgc is there? I know that sounds dumb, but I looked years ago and couldn't find it and the auto parts store clerk told me it only had the internal filters so I have gone on this assumption all this time.

[RBrandon]

ok. this site is great! I have recieved 2 emails from a post on this topic I placed in response to another (older) post and both people refered me to the gas cap. I will try it and update this post in two days when my fuel level gets low again. I am almost convinced that this will fix it.

[Caribbean ZJ]

The cap gets worn out after a while. Need to change mines too. Change your fuel filter also, if all else fails the pump may be the problem

[RBrandon]

the cap swap didn't work and to my knowledge there isn't an external filter on the 98 jgc as i haven't ever found it and the parts guy (putting a lot of faith here...) said there was only the internal screens on my vehicle. i will tear it all apart this weekend for lack of anything better to do with my time and let you know how it goes.

[dksob81]

yes the Filter is internally on your models. I think I may have posted you on another THREAD, but yor problem might be the O-Ring for the Fuel pump Assembly - Tank mating surface.

[RBrandon]

I have been too busy to drop the tank and check out the fuel pump / gaskets, etc... So now the thing sputters and tries to stall while accelerating if I use more than the first 6 to 7 gallons out of the 23 gallon capacity tank. I picked up a Chilton today and they have some good info on fuel systems so I will go from there. I imagine I will start with the cheap parts such as the hoses conecting the fill port and vent to the tank, then go on to the regulator/filter assy. What a pain. At this rate, in another 2 months I will probably have this problem on a full tank. I wish I knew more about the therory of operations of the fuel delivery system.

[lolove2u]

Originally Posted by RBrandon

I have been too busy to drop the tank and check out the fuel pump / gaskets, etc... So now the thing sputters and tries to stall while accelerating if I use more than the first 6 to 7 gallons out of the 23 gallon capacity tank. I picked up a Chilton today and they have some good info on fuel systems so I will go from there. I imagine I will start with the cheap parts such as the hoses conecting the fill port and vent to the tank, then go on to the regulator/filter assy. What a pain. At this rate, in another 2 months I will probably have this problem on a full tank. I wish I knew more about the therory of operations of the fuel delivery system.

In December I had the same problem. When i went up hills it would sputter and hesitate. I would pull over turn it off wait about 2 min'ss then turn it back on. I even tried the gas cap trick. This worked for awhile then one day I went out to go to work and it would turn over but fail to start. I finally replaced the fuel pump and I have not had any problems. well except for after they replaced the pump they didn't put the gasket on correctly and i filled up the tank. needless to say i had a few gallons of gas on the ground. Luckily i had the guys number that fixed it.... hope this helps..

[Ron68]

See my posting towards the bottom of this page. I had the same problem two weeks ago. You will need to replace your fuel pump strainers and clean out your fuel tank while you are at it.

[RBrandon]

Thanks to all who have posted suggestions pertaining to this problem. This weekend I finally had time to drop the tank and tear into it. I replaced the fuel pump (the whole module with sending unit and all) and the jeep is running great now. The screens on the pump were so crudded up with rust it's amazing that any gas was getting through. Not to mention that when I went to release the pressure on the fuel rail there wasn't any. Granted I don't know how much is stored there but there was litterally nothing to come out when I performed the pressure release. The pump probably had good life left in it, but you have to pull it apart to some extent to get the second screen off and I needed to fix the sending unit problem as well so a whole new module was the answer. Problem solved!