Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: just-boot-it! on January 12, 2013, 04:25:41 PM

Title: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 12, 2013, 04:25:41 PM
On the way home from work my 97 4.0 xj shifted into top gear abour 45mph as normal but as you increase throttle it started to hestitate off and on quickly and sometimes it was so severe i thought the diff was fooked??
So i managed to get home by keeping it in 3rd and keeping the revs up and thinking it was maybe the fuel pump I parked on a grass bank about 30 degree slope upwards and crawled up very slowly and the same symptoms occured?? No dash lights, no leaks or unusual dial readings?
Any ideas guys?
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: Panic mechanic! on January 12, 2013, 04:28:20 PM
tps?
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 12, 2013, 04:31:20 PM
Not sure, it accelerates fine upto top gear then any amount of throttle around 50mph it no likey likey!
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: Panic mechanic! on January 12, 2013, 04:38:07 PM
yup I would swap it out and try another if you can get your hands on one
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 12, 2013, 04:52:03 PM
Ive read somewhere you can check the fault codes manually if you have a digital odometer? something about turning the ignition on and off, any ideas?
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: Panic mechanic! on January 12, 2013, 05:35:51 PM
97 Cherokee OBDII Key Trick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4RhmgJcwAY#)
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 12, 2013, 09:20:36 PM
Thanks for the vid, spent a couple of hours research and it sounds like either the tps or cps, just as the snow is about to fall the xj gets a cold  :icon_sad:
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: Mike Pavelin on January 13, 2013, 10:05:44 AM
I would check plugs, leads, dizzy cap first
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 13, 2013, 01:45:38 PM
Bit of an update, been to a mates garage and checked the voltage and resistance of the tps, cps, both fine, used his obd2, no fault codes. the distributor cap contact points and rotor contacts show signs of wear, like fine scratches? On the drive home like before it starts to shake the engine into top gear around 50 mph.
I will give lighthouse a call and order a dizzy cap, rotor and new leads.

Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: tag on January 13, 2013, 08:47:58 PM
Fuel pressure........... :icon_winkle:
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: JamesH on January 13, 2013, 09:09:10 PM
I would consider changing the rotor, cap, leads and maybe plugs and even coil too. They should be seen as fairly frequent service items imo and aren't normally too expensive.
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: Jeepjedi on January 14, 2013, 03:33:49 PM
tps could still be bad, it is usually the fault, the turning/contacts bit in the unit goes bad voltage is not that much of an indicator, but i may be wrong but it is a cheapish item and worth for peace of mind
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: gazjeep on January 14, 2013, 07:01:26 PM
Cheapest place for TPS was rockauto.com & very quick delivery too  :icon_winkle:
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 14, 2013, 07:06:12 PM
The jeep is my weekend / bad weather car as i have a tdi golf for the commute in the week but dont really want to drive it regular as the hesitation and banging noise is so severe it cant be good. Fuel pressure is ok I think as when you boot it and it kicks down and it takes off as normal, would the car be hesitant all the time if there was low fuel pressure?

Thanks
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: Jonny Jeep on January 14, 2013, 07:33:17 PM
Try unplugging the upstream O2 sensor. If the sensor is causing the rough running the Jeep will run fine with the sensor disconnected. You may get a code and check engine light with it disconnected but if it runs OK replace the sensor. NTK is OEM.
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 14, 2013, 07:39:04 PM
I take it upstream means manifold?? Hope not what a pain in the arse that was with my borla manifold only took two weeks of faffing to cure that! Its ran fine for a month since the new 02 sensor was fitted tho.
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: tag on January 15, 2013, 02:17:57 PM
the fuel rail needs a constant pressure, if its low or too high it will affect performance, last year i worked on a vw golf that would not pass emissions but not showing any codes after checking all the obvious  it was the fuel regulator over fueling the rail  and the car ran rich,  if the rail is low the symptoms would be lean running  both these conditions can lead to poor running , alot like a bad lambda sensor........ :icon_winkle:.  
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 15, 2013, 07:15:45 PM
Its just passed its mot two week ago, without 1 advisory ( 52 plate golf had 3 !! ), although they did say the exhaust was blowing, got my dizzy and new plug leads, gonna fit them saturday. Damm faults have eaten into my lift kit fund! :banghead:
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: isle of man on January 15, 2013, 07:17:56 PM
Kat blocked/breaking up...
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 15, 2013, 07:29:39 PM
Cats only 6 month old but could be blocked.....
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: isle of man on January 15, 2013, 07:31:26 PM
Hey, Ive just got my finger in the air, trying to help.
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: Jonny Jeep on January 15, 2013, 08:55:30 PM
Yep, upstream is pre cat in/just below the manifold. It may not be the cause of the problem but unplugging it from the loom can be used for a free diagnosis.
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: isle of man on January 15, 2013, 08:59:36 PM
Do this when the engine has reached normal operating temperature as before that it's NOT part of the loop.
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: Jonny Jeep on January 15, 2013, 09:04:55 PM
I'd unplug it when it's cold. The engine won't switch to closed loop with the O2 sensor disconnected. If the O2 sensor is the cause the engine will run fine with it disconnected but may trip a code. Disconnecting the sensor when hot/in closed loop will just put the computer in open loop.
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 16, 2013, 08:09:17 PM
Many thanks, ooh look more snow on the way friday and the jeep is almost an ice block! Yipee!
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: just-boot-it! on January 18, 2013, 08:11:36 PM
Seems sorted now, to and from work today running sweet, new dizzy cap and leads, stil going to check my plug gaps but talk about just in time. Now time to show those landrovers how to drift :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: lumpy 4.0 xj
Post by: MOCAJ on January 18, 2013, 08:13:03 PM
oh dear  :icon_rolleyes: