Problem with the Jeep on the trails...

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:43 am

OK I recently went trail riding with fellow LOST members. Yes my Jeep goes wheeling...

Anywho, during the rides, we would stop occasionally. Once, because there was a car in the middle of the trail, and the other to take pictures. Both times, when I shut the Jeep off, it wouldn't restart. I'd turn the key and it would just crank. It would try to kick over, but it wouldn't do so. After letting it sit for 15 minutes, Jackpot, the Jeep would start, but kinda hesitate. It ran smoothly after starting though. No stumbling. No check engine light. Both times there was a considerable amount of fuel in the tank, it never got under 3/4 of a tank. After it started though, it did feel a bit hesitant in low RPMs, but high RPMs, felt normal.

Oh, it did stall once while trying to turn around too. But since then, nothing, it runs and starts perfectly fine.

Thoughts? Did I not explain myself well?

JSAN · **Joined:** Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:13 pm **Posts:** 27

So when it didn't start, is this what happened:

Turn the key to start, but instead of starting, it just clicks and ticks, like its about to start, but it doesn't. Normally all the lights in your dash cluster come on when starting but go away immediately upon a successful start. But this time these lights were blinking as the engine was clicking away trying to start. So you had turn the key off to stop?

Smetna · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:03 am

Off axis? Probably not if your tank was pretty full, but maybe.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:41 am

No clicking. I said that it cranked like normal, it just didn't turn over and run.

etflies1970 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:21 am **Posts:** 37

I had the smae problem with my 11 renegade while on the beach it would not start. After the the third time i took it in and they said the security program for the fuel cut off had gone bad they reflashed it and no problems since.

G.E.Nauticus · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:02 pm

etflies1970 wrote:

I had the smae problem with my 11 renegade while on the beach it would not start. After the the third time i took it in and they said the security program for the fuel cut off had gone bad they reflashed it and no problems since.

This, If its a fuel issue it would most likely studder a little bit and die a few times before it refused to start all together. To rule this out you can do 2 things.

1. When turning the key from off to on(not start) you should hear the fuel pump engage for a few seconds. Will only happen once or twice, (some cars 3 times) without actually starting engine. This will prime your fuel lines.
2. After priming the fuel lines (without starting the jeep) like stated above, find the fuel pressure release valve(looks like a stem valve on the tire) and press it in after priming it, it should squirt pretty good. It will be on or right next to your fuel rails.

That will rule out Fuel pump cutoff but you may still get Injector cutoff....

The problem however, I'm 90% sure, is electrical and causing you to not get spark. A few things to watch for next time. Check Diff temps, Trans temp, Engine Temp. These things if not in the tolerances can sometimes hinder the vehicle from starting by cutting off spark. Your can use an IR gun to get your diff casing temps.. And Trans casing temps. I don't know the thresholds or any of the specifics someone else may need to pop in here to give you those values.

But Coolant, should stay below 250F
General rule for most trans is like 280F is high. Casing will be cooler then internal temp however.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:40 am

Fuel pump works fine and I heard it prime on the trail.

Remember guys, this is only on the trail, and its the first time ever it has happened. I'm not sure of the engine/transmission temps but the engine temp gauge never went past its usual spot of just right under half...ever...

The Jeep has run perfectly fine since. No hesitation, no hard or impossible starts, nothing but normalness.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:52 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9MME7pEric

And like I said, 15 minutes later, like nothing happened except with a bit of hesitation at low RPMs.

kskj · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:33 pm

My 04 used to do kind of the same thing on the trail. But it was usually after steep climbs or off camber on Rocks. But I would just have to wait two or three min before it would start and run fine.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:59 pm

Is this similar to the problem you're experiencing, Marlon? I don't know if that the thread below was solved, but it might be worth a read.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=65698

KK_Canuck_Guy · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:43 pm

Just to add my :2cents:

, this exact same thing happens to me sometimes.....not even off road!

I live on fairly steep hill and so when I park, its usually at that angle as well....it has happened to me about 3 or 4 times since I got her...which isn't too bad but still..kinda unsettling.

Ted15 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:36 am

I had a similar issue with a 98 ram I had. My problem was some bad gas but the check engine light was on for that. It went out on its own later. I know it's expensive and I also know its not as clean as it should be. That thing ran like crap for the next two fills till it cleaned out. :2cents:

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2012 12:10 pm

lfhoward wrote:

Is this similar to the problem you're experiencing, Marlon? I don't know if that the thread below was solved, but it might be worth a read.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=65698

Nope, not similar. His starts, studders, then dies. Mine didn't start at all, as you can see in the video.

And guess what?

It still hasn't happened since. My Jeep starts up just fine, warm or cold, all day, every day.

Problem with the Jeep on the trails...

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