Check Engine
 

My 96 Cherokee (6 cyl, 140K miles) "check engine" light
comes on with increasing frequency. There is a recall notice
out there to replace the computer (free), but most people who did
it regret it. The car has passed all NY exhaust gas inspections.
I hope to avoid a $600+ exhaust system replacement on this
older car.

The car hesitates a little under acceleration load, especially
when cold, so obviously something needs tweaking. What
do you recommend about servicing ? I'm concerned that
the Jeep dealer will mandate the computer replacement
and all the woes and (exhaust system) replacements that
go along with it.

Please advise.

Re: Check Engine
 

You need to stop stressing and pull codes. AutoZone will pull codes for
free. Write them down, and come back here with the list.

I have not heard of any recall to replace the computer, and the exhaust
system sucks, you should get a new one because the one you have is probably
broken anyhow.




"9mmplus" <covington_j@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:13ndelct109b2f8@corp.supernews.com...
> My 96 Cherokee (6 cyl, 140K miles) "check engine" light
> comes on with increasing frequency. There is a recall notice
> out there to replace the computer (free), but most people who did
> it regret it. The car has passed all NY exhaust gas inspections.
> I hope to avoid a $600+ exhaust system replacement on this
> older car.
>
> The car hesitates a little under acceleration load, especially
> when cold, so obviously something needs tweaking. What
> do you recommend about servicing ? I'm concerned that
> the Jeep dealer will mandate the computer replacement
> and all the woes and (exhaust system) replacements that
> go along with it.
>
> Please advise.
>

Re: Check Engine
 

9mmplus wrote:
> My 96 Cherokee (6 cyl, 140K miles) "check engine" light
> comes on with increasing frequency. There is a recall notice
> out there to replace the computer (free), but most people who did
> it regret it. The car has passed all NY exhaust gas inspections.
> I hope to avoid a $600+ exhaust system replacement on this
> older car.
>
> The car hesitates a little under acceleration load, especially
> when cold, so obviously something needs tweaking. What
> do you recommend about servicing ? I'm concerned that
> the Jeep dealer will mandate the computer replacement
> and all the woes and (exhaust system) replacements that
> go along with it.
>
> Please advise.
>
>

I've got a 96 Cherokee too and had the same thing happen, checking the
code revealed it was the rear oxygen sensor, (they have two), cost about
$40 from oxygensensors.com and took about 10 min. to install.

DON'T go in for the recall if you don't have to. What they do is
reflash the computer (change the programming). There is a defect in the
program that keeps it from sensing when the cat goes bad. IF the cat is
rattling when you take it in for the recall they will replace it, if it
quit rattling because all the stuff has already fallen out like mine did
they won't. The result is they will flash your computer, the check
engine light will come on and stay on, and they will tell you to have
the cat replaced to fix it.

My cat stopped rattling about 200,000 miles ago, and I'm NOT taking it
in for the recall, at 350,000 miles the exhaust system is all original.

As to your hesitation you probably have some carbon buildup in the
throttle body, you might try running a good quality cleaner such as
Techron, also bad wires can cause hesitation, the cheap, easy test for
that is to look at the running engine in the dark. Make sure you are in
a dark place (and if you have an underhood light make sure it stays
off!). Look at the engine along the ignition wires and if they are bad
you will see faint arcs along the wires and between the wires and metal.

At 140,000 that engine is just getting broken in, mine lasted over twice
that before needing a rebuild!

Jeff DeWitt

Re: Check Engine
 

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007, Jeff DeWitt wrote:

> 9mmplus wrote:
>> My 96 Cherokee (6 cyl, 140K miles) "check engine" light comes on with
>> increasing frequency. There is a recall notice out there to replace
>> the computer (free), but most people who did it regret it. The car has
>> passed all NY exhaust gas inspections. I hope to avoid a $600+ exhaust
>> system replacement on this older car.
>>
>> The car hesitates a little under acceleration load, especially when
>> cold, so obviously something needs tweaking. What do you recommend
>> about servicing ? I'm concerned that the Jeep dealer will mandate the
>> computer replacement and all the woes and (exhaust system) replacements
>> that go along with it.
>>
>> Please advise.
>>
>
> I've got a 96 Cherokee too and had the same thing happen, checking the code
> revealed it was the rear oxygen sensor, (they have two), cost about $40 from
> oxygensensors.com and took about 10 min. to install.
>
> DON'T go in for the recall if you don't have to. What they do is reflash the
> computer (change the programming). There is a defect in the program that
> keeps it from sensing when the cat goes bad. IF the cat is rattling when you
> take it in for the recall they will replace it, if it quit rattling because
> all the stuff has already fallen out like mine did they won't. The result is
> they will flash your computer, the check engine light will come on and stay
> on, and they will tell you to have the cat replaced to fix it.
[snip]


Was this the recall a year or two back? I took my `96 in for it and never
had a problem with it.

Re: Check Engine
 

Lee Ayrton wrote:
> On Sat, 29 Dec 2007, Jeff DeWitt wrote:
>
>> 9mmplus wrote:
>>
>>> My 96 Cherokee (6 cyl, 140K miles) "check engine" light comes on with
>>> increasing frequency. There is a recall notice out there to replace
>>> the computer (free), but most people who did it regret it. The car
>>> has passed all NY exhaust gas inspections. I hope to avoid a $600+
>>> exhaust system replacement on this older car.
>>>
>>> The car hesitates a little under acceleration load, especially when
>>> cold, so obviously something needs tweaking. What do you recommend
>>> about servicing ? I'm concerned that the Jeep dealer will mandate
>>> the computer replacement and all the woes and (exhaust system)
>>> replacements that go along with it.
>>>
>>> Please advise.
>>
>>
>> I've got a 96 Cherokee too and had the same thing happen, checking the
>> code revealed it was the rear oxygen sensor, (they have two), cost
>> about $40 from oxygensensors.com and took about 10 min. to install.
>>
>> DON'T go in for the recall if you don't have to. What they do is
>> reflash the computer (change the programming). There is a defect in
>> the program that keeps it from sensing when the cat goes bad. IF the
>> cat is rattling when you take it in for the recall they will replace
>> it, if it quit rattling because all the stuff has already fallen out
>> like mine did they won't. The result is they will flash your
>> computer, the check engine light will come on and stay on, and they
>> will tell you to have the cat replaced to fix it.
>
> [snip]
>
>
> Was this the recall a year or two back? I took my `96 in for it and
> never had a problem with it.
>
>
>
Yes it was.

If your cat is good I doubt you'd have a problem.

Re: Check Engine
 

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:48:36 -0500, Jeff DeWitt <JeffDeWitt@nc.rr.com>
wrote:

>9mmplus wrote:
>> My 96 Cherokee (6 cyl, 140K miles) "check engine" light
>> comes on with increasing frequency. There is a recall notice
>> out there to replace the computer (free), but most people who did
>> it regret it. The car has passed all NY exhaust gas inspections.
>> I hope to avoid a $600+ exhaust system replacement on this
>> older car.
>>
>> The car hesitates a little under acceleration load, especially
>> when cold, so obviously something needs tweaking. What
>> do you recommend about servicing ? I'm concerned that
>> the Jeep dealer will mandate the computer replacement
>> and all the woes and (exhaust system) replacements that
>> go along with it.
>>
>> Please advise.
>>
>>
>
>I've got a 96 Cherokee too and had the same thing happen, checking the
>code revealed it was the rear oxygen sensor, (they have two), cost about
>$40 from oxygensensors.com and took about 10 min. to install.
>
>DON'T go in for the recall if you don't have to. What they do is
>reflash the computer (change the programming). There is a defect in the
>program that keeps it from sensing when the cat goes bad. IF the cat is
>rattling when you take it in for the recall they will replace it, if it
>quit rattling because all the stuff has already fallen out like mine did
>they won't. The result is they will flash your computer, the check
>engine light will come on and stay on, and they will tell you to have
>the cat replaced to fix it.

And they will replace the cat for FREE under warranty, per the recall.


>
>My cat stopped rattling about 200,000 miles ago, and I'm NOT taking it
>in for the recall, at 350,000 miles the exhaust system is all original.
>
>As to your hesitation you probably have some carbon buildup in the
>throttle body, you might try running a good quality cleaner such as
>Techron, also bad wires can cause hesitation, the cheap, easy test for
>that is to look at the running engine in the dark. Make sure you are in
>a dark place (and if you have an underhood light make sure it stays
>off!). Look at the engine along the ignition wires and if they are bad
>you will see faint arcs along the wires and between the wires and metal.
>
>At 140,000 that engine is just getting broken in, mine lasted over twice
>that before needing a rebuild!
>
>Jeff DeWitt