Jeep will start but wont run

[xtrattitude4u]

I was testing my girlfriends radio wires because her radio wasn't working.
Now her jeep wont start!
I had to jump start the jeep but it wont stay running now!
If you hold your foot on the gas, it will stay running.
If you take it off, it will instantly die.
Help! what did I do to my GF's jeep?

[wrightz28]

I don't see what the two would have in common?

How and where where you testing them? Was the battery run down? Engine running and maybe out of gas?

[Rmbodie]

my 98 model did this after the battery was run down. I had to struggle to keep it running long enough to drive it at about 35 mph for the computer to teach itself how to idle again. If you were probing fuses or pulling them, you may have accidently disconneted the the computer.

[xtrattitude4u]

Ya it was the battery. And the computer. I disconnected the battery for an extended period of time (like more than 10 seconds) so the computer had to re-learn the idle. I also somehow drained the battery almost completely just by testing it a few times. I put in a spare battery I had lying around and it started right up. I don't think the ECU was getting enough power to re-learn at first.
I drove it around for awhile to charge the battery and all seems well.
I'm sure if I kept my foot on the gas for another minute or so it would have stayed running while being jumped.
Off to get a new battery today!

[wrightz28]

Overall, good catch.

One thing....

Originally Posted by xtrattitude4u

I drove it around for awhile to charge the battery and all seems well.

This is a generalized statement, not scrutinzing you directly, but, the alternator is NOT designed to charge the battery. It's job is maintain the batteries charge. Thus, doing this, and quite potentially installing a low charge battery from a parts store will result in your girfriend calling you up VERY soon to replace her alternator.