Fuel and starting problem

[mrguy7]

I have a 1989 Cherokee with a 4.0 liter engine. It seems that lately when my fuel tank is below 1/2 full and I make a turn my engine will die out but when my turn is finished the engine will regain power. I can also here a humming from the rear of the car which is the fuel pump when the tank is also 1/2 full. Now the other day my car would only turn over but not start. I sprayed starter fluid into the air filter and it started and ran fine. This is now reoccuring but the car runs fine once it starts. I've talked to some people who say that your car shouldn't start with starter fluid because it's fuel injected. I'm stumped. Please help

[4x4grey88]

I am only gueesing here but you might have a partially clogged fuel filter. If you can hear the gas pump (humming) that means that it is working.

Changing out the fuel filter takes some doing so, if your not inclined, you might check around at your local repair shop to have it changed out. The fuel filter is in the gas tank itself and needs to be dropped out to replace it.

Using starter fluid is not the best recommendation, but if it works.
Starter fluid is a higher octane fluid with a lower ignition point.

[Edbrooks]

Originally Posted by mrguy7

I have a 1989 Cherokee with a 4.0 liter engine. It seems that lately when my fuel tank is below 1/2 full and I make a turn my engine will die out but when my turn is finished the engine will regain power. I can also here a humming from the rear of the car which is the fuel pump when the tank is also 1/2 full. Now the other day my car would only turn over but not start. I sprayed starter fluid into the air filter and it started and ran fine. This is now reoccuring but the car runs fine once it starts. I've talked to some people who say that your car shouldn't start with starter fluid because it's fuel injected. I'm stumped. Please help

I can picture a couple of odd things here. One, and most likely, is the fuel pump is loose, and is lying at the wrong angle. It is mounted vertically inside the tank and the fuel filter and the gauge sensor are attached to it. Since you say this occurs on a turn, I would think the fuel pump assembly is changing position on the turn. This would also cause your gas gauge to change readings, but the gauge responds much slower so you may not would notice it. The pump, in the meantime, would be pumping air, so your injectors get no fuel.

The other thing I can imagine is the baffles in the tank have broken loose, allowing the gasoline to shift rapidly from one side of the tank to the other in a turn. That would require a new gas tank.

Either way you have to remove the fuel pump. While the manual says 88 and earlier the tank has to be removed, that isn't quite the case. With the 89, supposedly (according to the manual) the tank does not have to be removed. But you do want to run it down pretty low, quarter tank or so.

Then you can remove the fuel pump assembly pretty easily. Do not use steel tools! Use a piece of wood, or a rubber rod to turn the locking ring on the fuel pump. I had a plastic bar, 1/4 inch square, and a rubber mallet, which tapped the locking ring.

And be sure you have disconnected the battery! Be very careful pulling the pump out - do it slowly and gently, as banging it against the tank can damage the gauge. And the filter is just pushed onto the intake, so a sharp bang can cause it to fall off. Then you will be reaching into the gas tank - and the gas - trying to find it. Yeah, been there. I left the old filter lying somewhere in the tank and bought a new one!

The tank is not hard to drop, by the way, but does take some time.

My guess is you will find the pump has come off its mounting and is swinging around.

Ed