1998 Jeep Cherokee Startup issue

BOB3838

MEMBER
1998 JEEP CHEROKEE
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
115,075 MILES

Is some fuel supposed to stay in the line so that upon next startup, the engine gets fuel quickly? I find that if the engine has been off for more than one hour, it requires a lot of cranking to get it started. The battery is new and spins the engine very fast. Sometimes I have to "give it gas" when cranking, like older cars, in order to start (don't want to crank it longer than 5 seconds). If the engine has been off less than an hour, it starts "instantly" without problems. Might there be a small leak in the fuel line, or the check valve (if any) is allowing the fuel to drain back into the tank, so that it takes awhile to feed the engine, after it has been off for a longer period.

Monday, June 22nd, 2009 AT 1:27 PM

2 Replies

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Hello, when you turn the key on, no crank, the pump should prime the system for a few seconds. With the key in the crank position, there should be an rpm signal and again the pump should run. You can use a gage to check fuel pressure and bleed-off rate.

Fuel pump manufacturers should have a web site, you can email them and ask about bleed off rate for their pumps. I don't have that spec in front of me.

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Monday, June 22nd, 2009 AT 2:37 PM

BOB3838

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks for your help. The problem was solved as follows. With the doors shut and windows up, I couldn't hear the fuel pump when key was turned to ON (before crank position). So I opened up the box in the engine compartment with all the relays/fuses, and took out all the relays (one at a time) and cleaned the contacts and sprayed contact preserver on them (Radio Shack type stuff), them inserted/pulled out/reinserted each relay to ensure good electrical contact. Cleaned up the box cover and replaced. Now, I could hear the fuel pump with the key in ON, and the car starts right up without any hesitation. I hope anyone with an older car that is parked outside, and has oxidized electrical contacts, will benefit from this.

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Saturday, June 27th, 2009 AT 2:38 PM