The engine idle goes up and down?

Tiny
NATHAN JENKINS
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
  • 5.2L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Now the idle goes up and down.
Noticed a cable connection throttle was off put thst in its place, still the up and down with idle. But not as bad.
I need to drive it, now thst its cranking, there is a Crack in the passenger side computer shell, maybe 3 inches. This thing is so touchy, can that Crack affect the idle. It sat for a year, rats had lived, and dined on hoses, replaced the worst one, evicted the rats. I had to drive it a long way to get it away from a shop, had pinion and bearings replaced, the former owner jammed a front driveshaft in place to get it drivable to sell. Im sure thst killed bearings and etc. That's all fixed. But it sat. Im sure I put good gas on bad. Drove fine made it to where im staying. Then crank no start
Thats an old thread. Did a lot and replaced cps. Starts everytime. Now the idle is off. Im not a mechanic but I can sometimes figure things out. Cracked computer housing passenger side., Lots of burned or melted electrical lines none touching, will tape. Lotsof dirt that I cant reach with my weakness and a good preasure washer. Eventually it'll all come off. The crank sensor was caked and corroded. Thats gone. The idle goes up. Amd down. Sorry you wanted details.
I can live with it. Im thinking I need to push all the wiring half installed for accessories out of the way, and drive it. See if I can reboot computer, going to disconnect battery then turn lights on drain computer. Then hook it back up and drive. I may have solved the problem. Maybe. You guys are great
Thanks or im not even close, but it cant hurt.
Sunday, January 25th, 2026 AT 12:39 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,872 POSTS
I think you hit the problem with the wiring being all chewed up, this needs to be repaired because it sounds like the computer is "hunting" which will cause the engine idle to do as you have described. If you upload images for the wiring damage I can tell for sure, also, check for vacuum leaks on the engine, this video will help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRKWV4Are5c

Also, I would service the idle air control valve and run the codes to see if any come up.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/jeep-diagnostic-trouble-codes-for-car-built-on-or-before-1995-odb1

Please go over these guides and get back to us.
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Monday, January 26th, 2026 AT 8:31 AM

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