Topic: Why won't my jeep start for longer that 3 seconds?? please help! (Read 11637 times)

Warwick Wendy · « **on:** November 05, 2009, 01:00:28 PM »

Hi Guys,

Hope everyone is well and enjoying Guy Fawkes day!

I have a real dilemma!! Had a problem with my jeep Wrangler 96 TJ a while ago with intermittent starting, the immobiliser light would stay on and the car wouldn't start, this would happen for a while, then I'd go try it again about an hour later and it would start ok. Now me being a panicker! thought I can't be doing with this happening and risk being stranded when out so I decided to upgrade the immobiliser. The guy came out, took off the old one and replaced it with a brand new Viper. Only problem is as soon as he took off the original one the car wouldn't start at all. He continued to fit the new one thinking this would fix it. It didn't!! Malens came out and that guy took 2 hours searching over the car looking for the problem...the car starts for about 3 seconds and cuts out again. So off my Jeep went to the Jeep dealer in Coventry on Friday and has been there ever since. They say they can't figure out what's wrong with it and they can't do a full diagnostic check until the car is running. At a £100 per hour I need this sorted and quick.
My last hope is that any of you may offer an idea of what the problem may be...........I'm flumaxed!!!!

Is it an ECU problem and if so how can they tell? because when asked if it could be that he said I wouldn't like to say. aaagghh!!!!!!!!!

p.s. The guy who came out to fix the new immobiliser said the original one wasn't a stock one but fitted after by Chrysler, but I have no clue what to think now.
Really would appreciate any input guys???

Thanks in advance....Wendy x

isle of man · « **Reply #1 on:** November 05, 2009, 04:21:16 PM »

Wendy - sadly you're stuffed....the bod who removed/attempted to remove the imobiliser has gone about it the wrong way.
As I see it your only option from this point it to get a PCM from America they don't have the imobiliser in the system.

I could be wrong but I have lived through such a problem before.

thorna · « **Reply #2 on:** November 05, 2009, 05:34:20 PM »

Ah; reading the title I thought it was easy & I had the answer for this!
But reading the info about immobiliser this has thrown me & can only offer the following:

FYI My TJ suffered the prob where it would start & instantly die. The verdict was the PCM/brain was loosing its memory: the cause was the battery was on its way out. To fix it you had to jump on the accelerator pedal as it started up; holding the engine at a high rpm allowed it to find its memory again & then all was good (long term a replacement battery solved it).

PtP · « **Reply #3 on:** November 05, 2009, 08:17:39 PM »

I've had a similar problem with my TJ when I first had it. It would start and only run for a couple of seconds and then die. I think the air-bag and seatbelt warning light used to stay on too. IIRC, I used to press the activate button on the fob and or wait until the alarm just re-activated it-self and then pressed the deactivate button again and nine times out of ten it would work properly. After a short while the problem disappeared and it never returned. I too had a new vehicle battery fitted not long after the problems appeared, but I replaced the battery because I accidentally damaged the case – the old one seemed to be working okay albeit it was nine years old.

I'd guess your alarm fitter has buggered up your standard installation well and truly. I've never heard of anyone successfully removing a Chrysler immobiliser from a TJ let alone replacing it with a non-standard one, other than doing what IOM says!

I presume your fitter has refitted the standard Chrysler unit and that is what your local dealer is looking at and not the new one?

Warwick Wendy · « **Reply #4 on:** November 05, 2009, 08:51:19 PM »

Thanks for all the replies...

No the guy left the new one fitted and the Jeep dealers have disconnected that one too. So at the mo it's without any. I too had a new battery fitted about a year ago.

But we may.....she says lightly!..... have a breakthrough...

Got in touch with a guy in Cannock who does ECU remapping?!?! make sense to anyone?
told him all the problems I've been having and he reckons he can take off the code from my ECU and so it will work without the original immobiliser, he said you won't get the original to work now its been messed with anyway. He seemed to understand everything that had happened and has done it with many ECU's.
Watch this space, will be taking it to him tomorrow..........For £150 let's hope it does the trick!

EEEEK!!! Miss my beast!!!

Bubba · « **Reply #5 on:** November 05, 2009, 09:50:41 PM »

not realy sure he can do that he would have to down load the the ecu and then isolate the rite thing i dunno how you would know what to look for
and then re loade the ecu if it were that simple the dealers would be doing it too

i think ebay usa for a 4.0 pcm [ecu] buy it fit it and drive away

Bishops Finger · « **Reply #6 on:** November 05, 2009, 10:10:58 PM »

This sounds like the shit I went though with my ZG a year ago...make sure the battery is 100% OK

Don't put up with brain dead shithead so called specialists saying they know the solution....or Jeep dealers who don't either

Dumb ass question are your immobiliser batteries fresh and OK??

Warwick Wendy · « **Reply #7 on:** November 05, 2009, 11:02:15 PM »

Quote from: V8 Bubba on November 05, 2009, 09:50:41 PM

not realy sure he can do that he would have to down load the the ecu and then isolate the rite thing i dunno how you would know what to look for
and then re loade the ecu if it were that simple the dealers would be doing it too

i think ebay usa for a 4.0 pcm [ecu] buy it fit it and drive away

This guy tomorrow is the last move before ordering one from the States.

To be fair when I asked the guy at the dealers if it could be the ECU, He said "how do we know, do you know anyone who tests them!?!?!" WTF!!!
So i'm afraid the guys at Coventry don't know their asses from their elbows!!

Warwick Wendy · « **Reply #8 on:** November 05, 2009, 11:07:46 PM »

Quote from: Bishops Finger on November 05, 2009, 10:10:58 PM

This sounds like the shit I went though with my ZG a year ago...make sure the battery is 100% OK

Don't put up with brain dead shithead so called specialists saying they know the solution....or Jeep dealers who don't either

Dumb ass question are your immobiliser batteries fresh and OK??

The battery was new about a year ago, cos the recovery guys said the other one was knackered after having to jump start it one day.

At the moment it's too late to check the old immobiliser batteries as it's already been removed from the jeep

Bishops Finger · « **Reply #9 on:** November 05, 2009, 11:33:57 PM »

Maybe try Elloitt at EDM ...northampton way???

Mike Pavelin · « **Reply #10 on:** November 06, 2009, 07:54:46 AM »

The part ot the immobiliser behind the dash (the bit the moron removed) was fitted on arrival in the UK by Chrysler Jeep Imports in order to comply with UK regulations. It acts as receiver for the remote fobs and cuts the starter circuit. Immobilisation of the engine, on the other hand, is achieved by using the anti-theft program encrtypted in the PCM. Once this is enabled, it will shut the engine down if it does not receive the correct coded run signal from the immobiliser module via the CCD bus. When manufactured, the anti-theft function is disabled and is only activated if an immobiliser is fitted. Once activated, it cannot, however be reversed, at least using the equipment and information provided to the dealer network. It may be possible for a specialist with the right equipment and knowledge to get round it.

By the way, I hope you didn't pay the immobiliser twat.

Warwick Wendy · « **Reply #11 on:** November 06, 2009, 12:56:34 PM »

OK guys! Well you were right....The guy in Cannock said its a hybrid and cant be opened, whatever that means!

So my only option is to get one from the States.......Now me being a girl! (Hair is dyed blonde) eeek!! but am a natural red head (rusty brain) means I need you guys to point me in the right direction either on ebay or wherever to get the correct ECU. Its for a 96 TJ Wrangler, I do have a part number off mine but won't it be different out there?

Sorry to keep needing your help

Thanks

isle of man · « **Reply #12 on:** November 06, 2009, 01:23:24 PM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-98-99-00-JEEP-WRANGLER-Engine-Computer-ECM-PCM-ECU_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem27aab5c9dfQQitemZ170367764959QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

isle of man · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2009, 01:28:39 PM »

Panic mechanic! · « **Reply #14 on:** November 06, 2009, 03:42:14 PM »

silly question but would not a xj one work on it? or similar year?

Mike Pavelin · « **Reply #15 on:** November 06, 2009, 03:55:39 PM »

Only a 1996 XJ 4.0 one might do the trick. Pre '96 have the old single plug unit, and the '97 onwards have SKIS so will be useless.

Mike Pavelin · « **Reply #16 on:** November 06, 2009, 03:58:21 PM »

Why don't you just get the original immobiliser reinstated?

Panic mechanic! · « **Reply #17 on:** November 06, 2009, 04:09:41 PM »

then i may have one you can use but i will need it back at some point if she is desperate,

Warwick Wendy · « **Reply #18 on:** November 06, 2009, 04:16:21 PM »

hmmmm!! I was having the problem with the intermittent starting before I took the immobiliser off so best I change all really, Didn't think the old one would work if re fitted.

Am looking into how fast I can get one from the States at the mo, but the offer of one to use in the meantime may be a fab idea if it works

thanks

Warwick Wendy · « **Reply #19 on:** November 09, 2009, 05:56:23 PM »

Does anyone have any other numbers for the States to get a new ESU? As I seem to be having a nightmare with the Auto Computer Exchange, soooo slow and never calling back when they say they're going to.
As I'm sure you can understand I need this fixing asap as it's my only form of transport
(excluding my motorbike and I'm not F****** riding in this bloody weather LOL)

cheers x

isle of man · « **Reply #20 on:** November 09, 2009, 07:59:45 PM »

W it's possible I could help you - I have here an American PCM that I would exchange with you till your replacement arrives, this I will do free of charge to help you.

I suggest that you send me your address and cover the cost of IOM>UK post, then order your PCM from America and send mine back to me when your American PCM arrives.

Let me know?

gazjeep · « **Reply #21 on:** November 09, 2009, 09:39:01 PM »

Damn decent of you Mr H

Wendy, bite his bloody hand off sharpish

Warwick Wendy · « **Reply #22 on:** November 09, 2009, 09:45:18 PM »

Don't worry Gaz!!! I bit his arm off as well as his hand within 2 minutes lol

I just cannot not believe the people on this site!!!!!!!!!

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!

Bulldog67 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 09, 2009, 09:48:30 PM »

Quote from: gazjeep on November 09, 2009, 09:39:01 PM

Damn decent of you Mr H

no denyin it, he is a consistent shiny one!

Bubba · « **Reply #24 on:** November 09, 2009, 10:48:38 PM »

yup a good all round chap indeed

Author Topic: Why won't my jeep start for longer that 3 seconds?? please help! (Read 11637 times)

Warwick Wendy

thorna

Warwick Wendy

Bishops Finger

Warwick Wendy

Warwick Wendy

Bishops Finger

Mike Pavelin

Warwick Wendy

Panic mechanic!

Mike Pavelin

Mike Pavelin

Panic mechanic!

Warwick Wendy

Warwick Wendy

Warwick Wendy