1999 Jeep Wrangler Car just stops running for no reason

MCSORLEY33

MEMBER
1999 JEEP WRANGLER
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
84,000 MILES

I will be driving and the car just stops. It doesn't stutter like it ran out of gas or anything like that and when I go to turn the car back on it starts up fine. This happens about once a day. Finally today it did it whe I was driving down the freeway and it turned off. It's like if you were going to turn the key is how it shuts down, the gauges go to there home position and the check engine light does come on. This time when I went to start it it turned over for a while and I noticed that the volt meter wsa just below the dash that's between the 9 and the 14. When I noticed the gauge go above the line I tried starting it and it started right and I got home. Other than that it runs fine. I want to say it's alternator but with these cars these days with the millions of sensors I don;t know where to start and I don't want to send it in and have them "explore" and cost me millions to fix. Please help, I can replace an alternator or a sensor I jsut don't know where to begin.

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 AT 7:40 PM

2 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Scanned the computer for OBD2 code/s Autozone can do this for you and get back with the code/s-sounds as though the cam and crankshaft sensor is acting up-not so sure yet till you give a code/s this will point me to the right direction. Could be very be in the fuel system for who knows-

Or when it dies out immediately check for fuel and spark do below

Get a carb cleaner and spray into the carb or the throttle body on an EFI. Did it start and die? If not disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine -have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors-

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Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 AT 8:00 PM

MCSORLEY33

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Ok, I went to an auto parts store and they scanned it but it came up with no scans. Luckily the counter guy said he's been a mechanic fo 10 years and told me about a crankshaft sensor that could possibly be the problem. So I am trying it and if it does it again then I will have to take it to a shop and "explore" which I am dreddin so I hope this is it. It wsa simple to switch out and $30 for the part seems resonable than $100 and hour.

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Monday, August 25th, 2008 AT 3:17 PM