[JeffreySCooper]

Check my Jeep's info
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Okay, today while out on a normal drive (pavement) I was cruising around 40-50mph and suddenly, it dies. So I coast up to where I can pull over and I try starting it. No luck. This shocked me seeing how it was with no warning at all. My Jeep was running strong since day 1. Okay, surely if I try again it'll start, no. Okay, now I'm mad. I try starting with a little throttle, same deal.. Then I try with mild throttle, nothing. Okay, now I'm gonna disconnect my stereo amplifier, get some more power, but no, still dies. Pop the hood and checked everything I could, and nothing looked out of order. Got back in and waited about 30 mins for it to cool down, Tried again and what'ya know.. wont stay started. I then got frustrated enough to call another car guy to throw in his two cents. He says the only thing he can think of is a fuel filter or fuel pump. I call my grandpa who is an actual mechanic, He comes out to take a look and hes stumped but says the same thing as the guy I called. Okay, so by this time nearly two hours have passed. My grandpa offers to use his AAA to give me a tow, buuuut.. his card is at home. (he's 20 mins away from home) so, I had him go home and call AAA and he comes back and tells me it's gonna be another hour. 4hrs after the initial dying, I come home with a dead WJ. Needless to say, I'm not happy.

I did do a little research. I came up with just two other ideas apart from the fuel filter/pump, and thats a bad key (chip) or the battery terminals being bad. The battery is fine, plenty of cranking power at start up, and it's clean. The key though, it's bad. That green casing around it is all cracked and nearly about to peel off, I'm saying that might be it. But I don't know. Want some JeepForum magic here, hoping one of you WJ guys can tell me exactly what it is. So, what's your idea?

Here's what I'm hearing/seeing: I'll put in my key and wait for that annoying dinging to stop, and I'll see check gauges lit up. (Gauges look fine.) I'll turn the key to start, and It'll be like any normal start-up, it'll turn over, but then idle REALLY low. Like 500. then it'll die after 1-3 seconds. Oil pressure gauge wasn't moving at all. Not sure if I ever had it running long enough for it to do anything. I may post a video tomorrow to show you whats going on if no one can enlighten me.

[ablaydes]

Man this sounds so familiar to me, Same deal coming home from work in my 1999 WJ, and it dies, came to a stop, turned the radio off and A/C, tried cranking and started right up and died 2 seconds or so after, did this 4 or 5 more times and then I gave up, called my dad, towed it home, Me and my Dad figured that it couldn't of been the fuel pump because it would start and run for about 2-3 seconds and die, so called the dealer, they told me to bring it in, so hauled it up there and got a call 1 hour later saying the chip in The key went bad, they reflashed the key or something like that and it worked fine after that no problems

I'm not saying this is your problem,but your story just reminded me of the same situation I had with my old WJ

I'm pretty sure there is a light that will come on if the key is jacked, should be red on the top right of your gauges, try to see if it's throwing any codes

You can read your codes by turning the key to Aux pos 3 times and holding it the 3rd time and the codes if any will show the same place as the mileage

Good luck

[billzcat1]

Sounds like the SKIM module is no longer recognizing the key. That 3-second shutoff is the giveaway. Unfortunately this is a dealer-only repair.

[JeffreySCooper]

Yeah, that key/SKIM was my best guess. Seen in my research that most WJs with that issue had a similar problem. But, my key light isn't doing anything. I just know my actual KEY is very tattered.

Can I still get this looked at at a dealership if my dubs not under warranty, AND I bought it used? I've only bought used cars, and kept them for half a year or so, so this dealership maintenance is new to me.

[ablaydes]

Yes, you can take it to a Dodge,Chrysler or of course a Jeep dealership, and they will look at it for you, just make sure you tell them to look at the key first, BC if not then they will look at everything else and try to hook you into something that's not needed,

I beleive if I remember correctly, mine cost like $120

They put in a new SKIM, and flashed my keys to the new Module and that was it

[JeffreySCooper]

Okay, I just checked my codes, the area where the mileage is read "donE"

[JeffreySCooper]

Just checked that code, It means no codes are present. Plus, my key light isn't showing.

[JeffreySCooper]

Also, I only have one key.. :l

[narnwv]

Originally Posted by JeffreySCooper

Also, I only have one key.. :l

I'd get it to a Chrysler dealer, get a new key, and have the new key programmed as well as the old key re-programmed (if it's still even usable)

[JeffreySCooper]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYUaw...ature=youtu.be


New problem as of this morning.

[ablaydes]

Battery seems dead to me, you can see it drain down when you turn it over, hook some jumper cables up to it and see what it does then

[JeffreySCooper]

Originally Posted by ablaydes

Battery seems dead to me, you can see it drain down when you turn it over, hook some jumper cables up to it and see what it does then

Done the same thing after an hour charge AND after a jump.

[JeffreySCooper]

Update: checked fuel pump relay, sound of fuel pump running when key selector is on on, and fuel pump fuse. All good. (A few guys I know told me it sounds like a fuel pump)

[shockracer]

If the pump is running, I'd look else ware. Have you replaced the fuel filter? Have you tried to use a different battery?

[JeffreySCooper]

No to both, funds are low as of now. Might see if I can borrow my neighbors battery tomorrow.