[Ashzeigler]

I have a 95 Jeep Wrangler 2.5l 4 Cylinder. Today I went out to start it and head up to work. When I turned the key the engine cranked and cranked and cranked some more, but it never turned over. All the lights on the dash and everything that had to do with the electrical components worked fine. The check engine light did not come on and has never come on. The other thing is that this has happened to me about 3 times in the 3 years that I have owned the Jeep. 2 of those times have come in the last 2-3 weeks. It will not work, but when I come out the next day and try and start her she will fire right up. I have done a lot of research about this and all the results that I seem to come across are wide and cover multiple possibilities. The other thing is that it is getting cold out (Im in Kansas) and I am not sure if that has anything to do with it. The battery is good and so is the starter. I have been calling around and most people have told me that. I just do not get why my jeep runs "perfect" and then it will not start. And then the next morning it is back to running perfect. I guess my question is what is wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

 

[hannahuffster]

Whenever it throws a fit you are going to have to have the time to check for spark and fuel. A motor has to have fuel - fire - air to run and you are not getting one of them... Know what you are not getting and we can start to narrow it down from there...

 

[tim2]

My 94 2.5 did the samething, it would start when it wanted and then not start the next time I turned the key. When it wont start pull the coil wire off the dist cap and put a plug in it and have someone crank it over and you check the spark from the coil. I ended up having to replace my coil as it was going bad. Now it starts every time I turn the key.

 

[Ashzeigler]

Thanks a lot guys! Tim I will give it a try, I really appreciate the advice. I have a trickle on it right now to recharge the battery, but I will try that tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes!

 

[fastwoodsracer]

Mine did this one day while way out of cell range.I checked everything possible, then started moving relays around. There are 2 relays by the battery on my 1990. It turned out to be one of them.

 

[Ashzeigler]

Well I went ahead and trickle charged the battery and sprayed some starter stuff into my air filter. I cranked her and she fired right up for about 30 seconds and then died because of lack of fuel. So it is clearly a fuel problem. I am just not sure what kind? As I said the check engine light is not on and has never come on. Does that mean that it is not the pump? I guess what I am trying to ask is this. Because the "check engine" light is not on, does that eliminate some of the possibilities to this problem? As of now I only have 3 explanations. 1. Clog in the fuel lines. 2. Electricity is not getting to the pump. 3. Fuel pump is shot. Any help would be great. I just do not want to waste $86.99 before tax if I do not have to. Thanks!

 

[chensley]

Well I went ahead and trickle charged the battery and sprayed some starter stuff into my air filter. I cranked her and she fired right up for about 30 seconds and then died because of lack of fuel. So it is clearly a fuel problem. I am just not sure what kind? As I said the check engine light is not on and has never come on. Does that mean that it is not the pump? I guess what I am trying to ask is this. Because the "check engine" light is not on, does that eliminate some of the possibilities to this problem? As of now I only have 3 explanations. 1. Clog in the fuel lines. 2. Electricity is not getting to the pump. 3. Fuel pump is shot. Any help would be great. I just do not want to waste $86.99 before tax if I do not have to. Thanks!

see how much fuel pressure you are getting.

 

[Ashzeigler]

I took off the fuel lines and it was getting no pressure at all. Nothing came out and it was bone dry! I think the pump is just shot.

 

[sppfields]

Shouldnt you be able to hear the fuel pump run with the key in the run position on a fuel injected motor? I would turn the key on and get someone to listen near the fuel tank. If it tries to run, the screen could be stopped up. I dont know just my 2 cents. I would check my 95, but the trans is out right now and cant start it.

 

[fastwoodsracer]

One of these relays on mine is the fuel pump relay.

 

[Ashzeigler]

I went ahead and dropped the tank and replaced the fuel pump. Put it all back together and she ran great (for about 3 days)! Now the battery is dead. I assume its the alternator. Every time I drove her she ran good, but the next time I tried to start her it got harder and harder and the battery got lower and lower. It is either my battery is old and shot or my alternator will not convert power back to the battery. I will just go ahead and replace both. It seems like when one thing breaks, 2-3 more things always go with it! :banghead:

 

[noholdingback1]

If all else fails

If all else fails ,
you may want to check the computer located on the firewall behind the window washer fluid .The capacitors can go bad ,it causes the fuel pump not to cut on (the circuit does not know the key has been turned so the fuel pump will not cut on). the computer is in a black plastic case and the capacitors are only about a dollar a piece . Total 3 dollars to do them all.and if you know anyone who is into electronics its a easy fix . I went through the same problem a few years ago .replaced every thing in the fuel system ,fuel pump ,fuel lines ,relays ,injectors ,cleaned the fuel rail ,new fuel filter .then came across this fix on another forum .at the time the printed circuit board was about 700 to 1000 .so i took a chance ,worked like a charm ,but its not a job for most people .you have to remove a thick rubber like insulator and be very careful when removing the old capacitors and soldering in the new ones ,if you get solder the wrong spot you can cause other problems . I spent $500 trying to fix and $3 to actually fix the real problem . good luck

 

[DitoRox]

this guys write up is exactly whats going on if its the ecu. its also perfect lol Crash Course In Brain Surgery Replacing Capacitors On ECU - JeepForum.com

 

[Fabrokoner]

One way I have read to check if you have the capacitor issue is this:

On the 2.5 when you turn the key to on you should hear the fuel pump kick on and pressurize the lines. If this doesn't happen leave the key in the on position and wait. After a while the capacitors may charge up enough to complete the circuit. You will hear the pump kick on. If this happens its a pretty good bet you need some brain surgery.