KJ zGal
Full Access Member
Once again, I'm posting here in the hopes that someone might have SOME idea of where to go with this. I've got an 02 KJ with 186k on it, and have been fighting with it for the last two months to get it to run right.
First day it started, I went out to turn it on and it cranked, turned over and over and over but wouldn't start. Took it in, had the fuel pump replaced. Since then, its favorite thing to do is crank, start, quiver, and either die, or rev up to normal RPMs. The interior lights flicker like crazy when the engine is revved up, and more than once we've had to jump it to start it (turn the key, absolutely NOTHING happens). One time, we jumped it and it would NOT start while it was hooked to the other vehicle, but it started right up once it was NOT connected any longer.
It's now been back to the mechanic 7 times, and he hasn't been able to solve the issue. He initially said it needed a new computer, because when the fuel pump went it shorted something out so that the Jeep wouldn't start with the chipped key. The alternator does not test as needing to be replaced.
Until last week it has been running fine, starting was always the issue. I pulled up to a gas pump, put the fuel in, turned it on and it hovered at about 300 RPMs, no exhaust note but the vehicle was DEFINITELY running. Tried to give it some gas to rev it up, but the needle only twitched and then nothing happened. Turned it off, turned it on again, same thing. Gas pedal was completely ineffective. Third time, turned the key on and off three times in an attempt to prime the fuel system, and then it started right up.
I'm baffled, but I read something about ECU capacitors possibly being an issue. Any ideas? I really need to sell the thing and if I can tell the buyer what's wrong with it I would feel a lot better! I'm including links to a few videos of its symptoms.
Things we've tried:
- New battery
- New wires going TO the battery
- New spark plugs
- New drive belt
- Cleaned throttle body and IAC
- Driving 200 miles to see if it helped
- Kept engine revved to about 3,000 for a couple of minutes
Start and stall:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202551016280541&l=2682256320799770523
Completely dead after sitting overnight:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202568778564587&l=7997792734187098866
Lights flickering when revved:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202573784769739&l=8150389818696536062
Weird noise that just started today:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202623266886761&l=869469436968452832
First day it started, I went out to turn it on and it cranked, turned over and over and over but wouldn't start. Took it in, had the fuel pump replaced. Since then, its favorite thing to do is crank, start, quiver, and either die, or rev up to normal RPMs. The interior lights flicker like crazy when the engine is revved up, and more than once we've had to jump it to start it (turn the key, absolutely NOTHING happens). One time, we jumped it and it would NOT start while it was hooked to the other vehicle, but it started right up once it was NOT connected any longer.
It's now been back to the mechanic 7 times, and he hasn't been able to solve the issue. He initially said it needed a new computer, because when the fuel pump went it shorted something out so that the Jeep wouldn't start with the chipped key. The alternator does not test as needing to be replaced.
Until last week it has been running fine, starting was always the issue. I pulled up to a gas pump, put the fuel in, turned it on and it hovered at about 300 RPMs, no exhaust note but the vehicle was DEFINITELY running. Tried to give it some gas to rev it up, but the needle only twitched and then nothing happened. Turned it off, turned it on again, same thing. Gas pedal was completely ineffective. Third time, turned the key on and off three times in an attempt to prime the fuel system, and then it started right up.
I'm baffled, but I read something about ECU capacitors possibly being an issue. Any ideas? I really need to sell the thing and if I can tell the buyer what's wrong with it I would feel a lot better! I'm including links to a few videos of its symptoms.
Things we've tried:
- New battery
- New wires going TO the battery
- New spark plugs
- New drive belt
- Cleaned throttle body and IAC
- Driving 200 miles to see if it helped
- Kept engine revved to about 3,000 for a couple of minutes
Start and stall:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202551016280541&l=2682256320799770523
Completely dead after sitting overnight:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202568778564587&l=7997792734187098866
Lights flickering when revved:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202573784769739&l=8150389818696536062
Weird noise that just started today:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202623266886761&l=869469436968452832