Starts and then stalls, need some advice!
 

Hello! I just picked up my new to me cherokee and I'm having an issue with it. It drove great on the test drive and on the way home but once at home it wants to stall every time I start it. The previous owner had it for the past 10 years and it is in very good shape overall... my luck this would happen.

Anyway to the point, it's a 1999 cherokee classic, 4.0L automatic, 4dr, pl,pw,ac,cruise etc. It will start and run for a few seconds and then dies. If I hold the gas it will remain running until I take my foot off then it sputters, hiccups and stalls out.

I am thinking it is either an alternator or coil. If anyone has any suggestions that could help I am all ears. Thanks!

Re: Starts and then stalls, need some advice!
 

Could be it knew you had an astra before.. kidding of course..

Ummm.. sounds like an idler issue, could be the idler is set to low. Ether that or the intake is clogged up really bad needs to be changed, or the injectors are dirty.. possibly carbon build up in the manifolds.. geeze tons of things especially with a 10 year old truck.

Re: Starts and then stalls, need some advice!
 

haha no i've decided to keep the astra as my daily and have the XJ as my fun vehicle. The car has been sitting for at least a month but not long enough for the fuel to go bad. It could be tons of things, the first time it stalled I was driving it and it died. I had it running once when I held the gas but it once i take my foot off it sputters and dies. No codes.

Re: Starts and then stalls, need some advice!
 

does it have a chip key that's what they will do too

Re: Starts and then stalls, need some advice!
 

I don't know if I have one. It is a 2.5" key with an oval shape end, it is black with a Chrysler emblem on it.

Re: Starts and then stalls, need some advice!
 

After working on it today, I had it start and run for 15-20 seconds. I thought I had fixed the problem and began cleaning up tools when it sputtered and died.

- I replaced the cap and rotor
- cleaned the battery terminals
- fixed a battery ground that was broken (negative battery terminal to inner fender)
- cleaned the throttle body and IAC
- swapped the fuel pump relay with the starter relay
- checked the condition of the spark plugs
- heard the fuel pump turn on with the ignition

Any help is much appreciated.

Re: Starts and then stalls, need some advice!
 

Crank position sensor

Re: Starts and then stalls, need some advice!
 

the oval end is about 1/4" thick if so then you have a chip key and the key could be no good or the computer may have failed.

Re: Starts and then stalls, need some advice!
 

my guess, change the IAC. the fact that it runs with your foot on the gas tells you this is most likely the key problem.

Re: Starts and then stalls, need some advice!
 

So a big update. I replaced the entire negative terminal and ground to fender cable as both were rotten and falling apart. I found an IAC at the wreckers and cleaned it well before installing it. I had the battery fully charge over night and had it tested, it came back in good condition!

I turned the key and it fired up instantly! I was very happy, i let it sit and idle for 5 minutes while I "again" cleaned up the tools. I sat in it and revved a few times and all sounded great. I took it around the block and ALMOST made it back home when it suddenly died.....

I fired it back up, it ran for mere seconds before dying again. I fired it up again and this time would only stay running when I held the gas. I fired it up and briskly floored it to my house where it died again..

So this is where I am at... I thought I had it all well and working but I am thinking this could be a fuel pump? Any thoughts or help is much welcomed!