Engine cuts off with no warning

**Erik T.** · 12-03-2007, 02:43 PM

Can't figure it out.

I'll be driving, uphill/downhill/flat(doesn't seem to matter), and my engine will suddenly cut off. No warning, no sputtering, just off like someone turned the key. I took it for a test drive today after filling the tank and putting in some Gas Treatment in case it was something basic like water in the tank. Watching the odometer, I saw it go from 2,000 rpm to zero than back up to 2,000 rpm, down again, and off.

I can restart it after a second or two.

Once when driving down a steep mountain grade, it cut off at 60 mph, I put it in neutral and started it only to have it die again. I eventually got it off the road, and a minute later it started again after several failed key turns.

In case this is related, I recently had some transmission problems with the trans slipping and the idle trying to stall out - it was fixed when I noticed the trans fluid was only half full because of a leak. I filled it and it seem to work fine since.

Any thoughts?

**05SoCalRubi** · 12-03-2007, 04:36 PM

I had the same problem with old XJ, It was the crank sensor. I dont know if the TJ have that.

**Erik T.** · 12-03-2007, 05:54 PM

Hm, I'll check into that.

I ran into a guy who told me he thought it might be a cam something er other on the front of my jeep. A Cam sensor? Now I can't remember. But it was something I knew nothing about.

**ChiliPalmer** · 12-03-2007, 07:59 PM

Not sure about a cam and or crank censor but it could be a ground wire somewhere? I had a Lincoln LS that did the same thing - just died like someone shut the car off. Sometimes it would start right up and sometimes it would take a while. Took the dealer two months to find the problem!

In your case; does the vehicle lose power all together or does it just die?

CrawlinLJ · 12-03-2007, 08:23 PM

my moneys on the crank sensor, my brothers 2000 tj with about 85K miles started acting exactly the same way as your jeep. Its a cheap and easy fix too.

**Erik T.** · 12-04-2007, 07:10 AM

I keep my power, it's just the engine that shuts off. All the lights and electrical power stays on.

I'll check into the crank sensor

**Erik T.** · 12-06-2007, 05:50 PM

Picked up a crank sensor a few days back, and finally had an hour of daylight after work to work on it. I got the old one out easy enough, but spent about 30 minutes trying to get the two plugs to hook back up.

It's like I'm an inch shy of length from being able to plug the two back together. Where it's at now, it will just barely reach but I can't get both hands in there to hold them to push 'em together.

Irritating. I'll try again in the morning before work.

98tjsahara · 12-06-2007, 06:18 PM

Fuel pump? Cracked dist cap?