98 TJ won't start HELP

snakester14

Active Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2006
Location
Greenville
Alright so I was driving out of the neighborhood on friday and the Jeep just stalled. Started back up and tried to drive it home but i had it floored in second and the RPMs just dropped and it stalled again. Then after that the jeep occasionally would start and go up to 200 rpms then die.
Things I have checked:
First I thought i was out of gas and my gauge was off, but i put 3 gallons in and its at just over a quater tank so its not that.

Second I checked the fuel pump fuse and relay, both were good.

Third I checked for fuel pressure at the the schrader and their was fuel pressure.

Fourth I pulled a plug to check for spark, it had spark and I also checked for codes and none came up.

So now I am stumped and the only thing I can think of is a vacuum leak. I have looked around the engine bay extensively for a vacuum hose unhooked or something but really don't know what im looking for. Where should I look for leaks? Do TJs have vacuum canisters? if so where are they? what else could I do to try and get this thing runnin again? any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks,
Jake
 
I've had trouble with my 2000 TJ not starting and it it was the camshaft position sensor. My 2000 is a little different than your 98 in that the 2000 model does not have a distributor cap like the 98s do. Mine did not give a check engine light code, but there was a code when I did the little trick with the key and the digital odometer. It gave me a camshaft position sensor code. Try seeing if there is a code that way. This website will tell you how. http://www.dailydriventj.com/main.shtml
 
I ran the codes like stated on the site and it came up with 2.4 does that mean anything? is that supposed to mean 24 or what?
thanks,
Jake
 
fattypackard said:
maybe bad cat. my old TJ has a cat go bad and had those exact symptoms.

just an idea.
Click to expand...

I know the cat is bad, it has been rattling for the past 8 months you think it just went out? by the way it stopped rattling a few weeks ago
 
snakester14 said:
I know the cat is bad, it has been rattling for the past 8 months you think it just went out? by the way it stopped rattling a few weeks ago
Click to expand...

Probably. My cat started rattling and then stopped and then all of a sudden I couldn't drive it anywhere.
 
04sahara said:
Probably. My cat started rattling and then stopped and then all of a sudden I couldn't drive it anywhere.
Click to expand...

alright all try cuttin right before the cat tom. and see if it runs, if so then get a new cat. Thanks for the help and all let you guys know if that was the problem
 
before going and cutting the cat off... try pulling the upper O2 sensor from the exhaust, but leave it plugged in.... that will give the exhaust a place to exit, but it will run really rich.... if it runs better then before it could help diagnose the bad cat problems....
 
I had the o2 wire on my 97 tj..it was to long from the factory, and was melting on the exhaust. Causing a short of some sorts. I know of this happening to 4 more 97 models. Easy to fix, if thats the problem.
 
fattypackard said:
maybe bad cat. my old TJ has a cat go bad and had those exact symptoms.

just an idea.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for the idea, IT WAS THE cat after all. So now im in the market for a high flow but till then i guess im gonna just cut the cat off and run a straight pipe in its place for a week or 2.
thanks to everyone who helped me find the problem with my TJ
 
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