1999 Cherokee Classic stalls while on highway!

[heatherikki]

I have a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Classic with the 4.oL engine-inline 6.
It has about 120K mi on it. Never had a problem 'til this December. While driving home on a highway doing approx. 55mph I let off the gas and then when I went to give it more gas it didn't respond. The lights were on but the engine was OFF!

Pulled over turned everything off. Gave it a second and tried to start and she turned over and drove home like nothing ever happened. Thought it was a fluke so continued to drive it on weekends (I don't drive it often-only weekends now). Around the middle of Jan. the same thing happened.

I took it home and parked it and disconnected my alarm because I thought it was related to starter kill switch. Battery died soon after-not sure why-replaced it. Started up like new. I took her to have regular oil change. Drove about 60 miles and then it pulled the same thing.

There is no warning, no sputtering, no diming of lights etc-just cuts out. The last time it happened I was on a very dangerous highway (yeah it was dumb of me-but I thought it was fixed ha!) so I'm not taking her out anymore.

The check engine light has just come on-I turn the car over ever several days. I'm afraid to try to even drive it to the mechanic at this point.

Any ideas? I've read about CPS, fuel pump etc. Has anyone ever heard of this happening? What was the fix?

This is the fuel injected version of the Cherokee-no carb.

Thanks!

[bayouwolf]

It might be your fuel filter assembly. If the wiring harness has a nick in it and it shorts out it would explain your battery going dead. Mine did the same thing on the highway after about 70 miles from a cold start. It ended up being crud in my gas tank that clogged the filter and burned up the sending unit. Lucky for you though you fuel filter assembly is a 2 piece unit.( Shouldnt have to drop the tank completly to replace it.)

[Dale Aeppli]

Originally Posted by heatherikki

I have a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Classic with the 4.oL engine-inline 6.
It has about 120K mi on it. Never had a problem 'til this December. While driving home on a highway doing approx. 55mph I let off the gas and then when I went to give it more gas it didn't respond. The lights were on but the engine was OFF!

Pulled over turned everything off. Gave it a second and tried to start and she turned over and drove home like nothing ever happened. Thought it was a fluke so continued to drive it on weekends (I don't drive it often-only weekends now). Around the middle of Jan. the same thing happened.

I took it home and parked it and disconnected my alarm because I thought it was related to starter kill switch. Battery died soon after-not sure why-replaced it. Started up like new. I took her to have regular oil change. Drove about 60 miles and then it pulled the same thing.

There is no warning, no sputtering, no diming of lights etc-just cuts out. The last time it happened I was on a very dangerous highway (yeah it was dumb of me-but I thought it was fixed ha!) so I'm not taking her out anymore.

The check engine light has just come on-I turn the car over ever several days. I'm afraid to try to even drive it to the mechanic at this point.

Any ideas? I've read about CPS, fuel pump etc. Has anyone ever heard of this happening? What was the fix?

This is the fuel injected version of the Cherokee-no carb.

Thanks!

HI, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR MAY BE GOING BAD. USUALLY WHEN THEY START TO GO IT JUST HAPPENS ,ANYTIME ANYWHERE NO PATTERN. WILL GO COMPLETELY ANYTIME DALE
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[luckydub3]

I too had the same problem Crankshaft Position Sensor was bad.

[heatherikki]

Thanks for the responses-I'm going to try and change the CPS this weekend and see if that solves it. Good thing I asked around here-I was going to just head straight for the fuel pump and it sounds as if it is the CPS coming here might just have saved me a little time and money-Thanks!

[tblack]

Pulled over turned everything off. Gave it a second and tried to start and she turned over and drove home like nothing ever happened. Any ideas? I've read about CPS, fuel pump etc. Has anyone ever heard of this happening? What was the fix?

This is the characteristic of a bad CPU ( Crankcase Position Sensor ) or a loose connection to it. Cheap to fix. If you want to replace it yourself it's bolted to the bottom of the exhaust manifold ( stupid location for it ). Also you may want to check the little connection to it. You can see it plainly if you get down under the Jeep on the driver's side and look up toward the top of the engine by way of the exhaust manifold. Repair shop can replace it in a few minutes.
tb

[heatherikki]

Got a new CPS. Had my fiance change it (in the freezing cold-took 3 hours! --if anyone wants info on how to do it just e-mail me). Drove around and everthing seemed fine then the check engine light came on.

I took it autozone and the trouble code was :PO138
O2 Sensor, Bank 1 Sensor, high voltage. The autozone guy told me I needed a new O2 sensor and that bank 1 meant it was the one before the Cat. Converter. (I don't think this is realted to my Jeep shuting off)

On my way home the car pulled the magic shut off at 60mph on the garden state parkway (NJ)-in the freakin rain.

So now I'm guessing it really is a fuel pump problem. Any other ideas?

Should I just slap in a new fuel pump. I'm gonna have it dragged to a mechanic on Saturday but many times they seem to know less than I can learn from here LOL.

Any ideas/help would be great!