1997 Jeep Cherokee engine sputtering and then dies

LOOKINGFORWARD6

MEMBER
1997 JEEP CHEROKEE

Engine Mechanical problem
1997 Jeep Cherokee 6 cyl 185000 miles

My Grand Cherokee after driving 5-7 miles sputters and dies. It is very hard to start if I try to restart immediately. If I leave it sit for 1-2 minutes it starts up on the first crank. I drive another 2-3 miles and the it dies again. After the second time it will run perfectly. It only happens twice and then the Jeep runs great.

Here is the weird part. This never, ever happens in the morning after the Jeep has sat in my garage overnight. I can drive for miles in the morning and the Jeep runs fine. It only happens after I drive to work and the Jeep sits all day and I get in it to go home. It has happened after 4 hours of sitting and after 8 hours of sitting.

3 Replies

JAMES W.

MECHANIC
2,395 POSTS

One thing you are correct on, this is weird. Weird problems call for weird tactics. Before you leave work the next time, loosen your fuel cap a little and see what happens. Let me know what happens.

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Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 AT 6:33 PM

LOOKINGFORWARD6

MEMBER
2 POSTS

James,
Loosening the gas cap did not solve it. It still died this time after sitting only 3 hours (after it had been driven in the morning). This time I did not get but 4 feet and the Jeep died. Again, it died twice and ran perfectly the rest of the afternoon and also after sitting for another 6 hours and then driving home.

Someone else has suggested a possible crank shaft sensor problem.