JeeperKeepers
New Member
OK need some help with solving a frustrating intermittent prob on 02 Jeep Liberty 4WD 3.7 Limited.
For the last year and a half or so every now and then the CEL calls out and throws general codes. Sometimes the car is driving just fine anyway, sometimes car will fall into limp mode, but will resolve on its own after shutting it off, letting it sit, and restarting. Sometimes the light also goes off, sometimes it doesn't.
I've had a hard time getting a diagnosis from my mechanic because the problem is so intermittent, but clearly it has some kind of ****** issue. The question is just how BIG is the issue?
Could it be this, which I found on forum elsewhere: "a clogged MAP sensor and MAF sensor will cause the "LIMP MODE" to activate (trust me) and has nothing to do with your transmission."
A few details on the latest incident:
1. The last codes it threw were P0871, P0101, P0122, all codes that indicate general transmission/overdrive sensor issues. These aren't consistent codes, nor do they always cluster in the same manner, nor do they all show up in this order; there have been other codes in the past, but I don't remember them--these are just the most recent.
2. The driving situation the last time the CEL appeared: I was doing a hard acceleration upon entering highway, and Lib performed it just fine all the way through the gears. Just after I was cruising (less than a quarter mile), I noticed the light. At that point I was traveling about 65 mph looked down and saw it. Got off freeway, stopped at AutoZone, and they pulled codes for me. I was about 100 miles away from home and almost at my destination. For the hell of it, checked ****** fluid, which was right in the middle, and went to my destination about 10 miles away because car was still driving fine. Car sat for 7 hours. I then drove it home another 100 miles (it never acted up at all or went into limp mode at all, drove just fine). Made one quick stop on way before I stopped at house where car sat maybe 10 minutes. When I cranked it up again, it fired up great, and the CEL was all gone.
3. Later that evening, I was out doing stop and go driving—car goes into limp mode and CEL illuminates right in front of the store I was going to. When I came back out, I started up car—the CEL was still illuminated—BUT the car was out of limp mode.
This is the general M.O. of the problem over time. This example is typical over the last two-ish years. I can go months without a problem, but the instances are becoming more frequent, it seems to me, at least.
4. The next day, I took car to my trusted mechanic. I told him the codes from before they went out; he puts car on scanner; everything checks out…solenoids, etc. He cancels codes but he hasn't been able to replicate issues to get them to come back on. The only thing that he noticed was that one wire feeding ****** was not "grounded" (and I don't know which wire it was).
The reason this is important to get finally resolved is twofold: (1) I don't want to get rid of Jeep. I love it. It's been a rock (for the most part). (2) I'm getting ready to bequeath it to my 17-yr. old son for his use, but I don't want to hand him a huge problem and leave him stranded out on the road somewhere. Neither of us are mechanically inclined.
Final details: Mileage 194,000
2 prior major repairs: New CU 3 years ago & new rebuilt engine 1.5 years ago (with only about 2K on it so far).
Recently replaced battery.
Please help! Otherwise I'm going to have to say bye-bye to my little Libby, which will break my heart. I just can't have it being a problem for my son and I need to get it finally resolved. Personally, I still love driving it too, but it may just be EOL time :-(
For the last year and a half or so every now and then the CEL calls out and throws general codes. Sometimes the car is driving just fine anyway, sometimes car will fall into limp mode, but will resolve on its own after shutting it off, letting it sit, and restarting. Sometimes the light also goes off, sometimes it doesn't.
I've had a hard time getting a diagnosis from my mechanic because the problem is so intermittent, but clearly it has some kind of ****** issue. The question is just how BIG is the issue?
Could it be this, which I found on forum elsewhere: "a clogged MAP sensor and MAF sensor will cause the "LIMP MODE" to activate (trust me) and has nothing to do with your transmission."
A few details on the latest incident:
1. The last codes it threw were P0871, P0101, P0122, all codes that indicate general transmission/overdrive sensor issues. These aren't consistent codes, nor do they always cluster in the same manner, nor do they all show up in this order; there have been other codes in the past, but I don't remember them--these are just the most recent.
2. The driving situation the last time the CEL appeared: I was doing a hard acceleration upon entering highway, and Lib performed it just fine all the way through the gears. Just after I was cruising (less than a quarter mile), I noticed the light. At that point I was traveling about 65 mph looked down and saw it. Got off freeway, stopped at AutoZone, and they pulled codes for me. I was about 100 miles away from home and almost at my destination. For the hell of it, checked ****** fluid, which was right in the middle, and went to my destination about 10 miles away because car was still driving fine. Car sat for 7 hours. I then drove it home another 100 miles (it never acted up at all or went into limp mode at all, drove just fine). Made one quick stop on way before I stopped at house where car sat maybe 10 minutes. When I cranked it up again, it fired up great, and the CEL was all gone.
3. Later that evening, I was out doing stop and go driving—car goes into limp mode and CEL illuminates right in front of the store I was going to. When I came back out, I started up car—the CEL was still illuminated—BUT the car was out of limp mode.
This is the general M.O. of the problem over time. This example is typical over the last two-ish years. I can go months without a problem, but the instances are becoming more frequent, it seems to me, at least.
4. The next day, I took car to my trusted mechanic. I told him the codes from before they went out; he puts car on scanner; everything checks out…solenoids, etc. He cancels codes but he hasn't been able to replicate issues to get them to come back on. The only thing that he noticed was that one wire feeding ****** was not "grounded" (and I don't know which wire it was).
The reason this is important to get finally resolved is twofold: (1) I don't want to get rid of Jeep. I love it. It's been a rock (for the most part). (2) I'm getting ready to bequeath it to my 17-yr. old son for his use, but I don't want to hand him a huge problem and leave him stranded out on the road somewhere. Neither of us are mechanically inclined.
Final details: Mileage 194,000
2 prior major repairs: New CU 3 years ago & new rebuilt engine 1.5 years ago (with only about 2K on it so far).
Recently replaced battery.
Please help! Otherwise I'm going to have to say bye-bye to my little Libby, which will break my heart. I just can't have it being a problem for my son and I need to get it finally resolved. Personally, I still love driving it too, but it may just be EOL time :-(
