HELP Jeep wont stay running

[ErikaS]

My 1989 Jeep Cherokee is a 4L auto. I was running fine until yesterday when my husband decided to try and get the passanger window to go up. (it has always been stuck 1/2 way down) anyway. He was looking at the wiring under the glove box in the dash. He said there were a bunch of wires that were bare, so he taped them so they were no longer exposed. Well now the Jeep will turn over but it wont keep going... stalls out like there is no fuel getting to it??? Could the ECM have shorted or what? Also need to know how to check the fuel pum relays or fuses, not sure where they are?? Can someone help me? I have 4 kids and live 16 miles from town.. I really need my car going again!!!
Thanks,
Erika

[JDusen4211]

that sucks... there are three things to check when the engine won't run... fuel, fire and compression.

FUEL: to see if the fuel pump is working, disconect one of the fuel lines and turn the key to the run position, not all the way to the start postion. if fuel comes out, then u have fuel, if not, then do this. get as close as you can to the gas tank and have someone turn the key to the run position and listen for the fuel pump to come on. if it doesn't then it could be 2 things: bad fuel pump or electrical problem. i would go with the electrical problem given your symptoms. check the fueses in the fues panel to see if any are blown. as far as relays go, i don't really know how to check them. if it is getting fuel then skip all of the aformentioned and do this to check for fire.

FIRE: take a spark pulg wire off one of the spark plugs. stick a screw driver or something metal in it and ground it to the engine block. turn the key to the start position to turn the motor over and while it is turning, you should see it ark as it grounds out on the motor. if not, then u have a fire problem and u just go through all of the stuff that gives fire to the distributor, ie coil etc.

COMPRESSION: as far as checking compression... don't worry about it under your circumstances... your problem is most likely something electrical.

it is possible that while your husband was "repairing" the uncover wires, he could have hook something up incorrectly or shorted something out which would compound matters making them much worse.

goodluck

[_Dark_Flash_]

the relays are in a little black box next to your battery, check your manual to see which ones are which