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Jeep Cherokee Grand Cherokee Engine and Performance Problems

729 messages,  Last post on Mar 20, 2013 at 10:59 AM

You are in the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee Forum.

What is this discussion about? Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8, Jeep Cherokee, Engine, SUV

Messages Page 68 of 74

#667 of 729 Re: 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 Please help!!!! [jeepmomof4boys] by cski

Aug 15, 2011 (10:17 am)

Replying to: jeepmomof4boys (Jul 11, 2011 12:23 am)
Hi!
 
We all feel for you here. Everyone here is very nice and helpful. We need more info!
How many miles does it have?
What has been done to it maintenance/repair wise?
Which engine? 4.7 V8 or the I6?
 
The WJ model Grand Cherokee has a litany of recalls, electrical problems, computer problems, transmission and transfer case problems, etc.
 
So...
1) make sure there is oil, coolant, and TRANS FLUID in it. Have your service station check them for you first thing.
2) See if a local shop has a special where they will diagnose your check engine light for free (with the hopes of you allowing them to fix it).
3) Write down all the issues you are having so you don't forget anything
4) Be prepared to spend $2,000 to $5000 in repairs. I am not kidding unfortunately.
 
Anything we advise you on here is supposition and educated guesswork due to the sheer amount of issues you are having.
 
Last, if you can afford to have it repaired, it is a great driving, great looking, versatile vehicle. However, it is a truck and has expensive, heavy-duty parts that cost a ton of money, so if you have 4 kids and a limited income, get rid of it and buy a front wheel drive, highly rated, reliable car that has less things to break!!! Sorry!!!! :+(

#668 of 729 1987 Jeep Cherokee brakes by feelingood777

Aug 17, 2011 (9:39 am)

I recently changed the pads and calipers on my Cherokee. I have bled the brakes, and I did not bench bleed calipers but I did check them to makes sure they were full of fluid then bled system again. Now I can't get enough pressure to stop the car quickly. I can pump them up a little when the engine is off but when it is on they have almost no pressure. They do slow the car down to a stop but not very quickly. What might cause this. I am new to the Jeep thing and I am stumped. Thanks for any info.

#669 of 729 Re: 1987 Jeep Cherokee brakes [feelingood777] by cski

Aug 17, 2011 (10:56 am)

Replying to: feelingood777 (Aug 17, 2011 9:39 am)
Check to make sure there isn't gunk blocking the line coming out of the master cyl. When you bled the brakes, any sediment in the system goes to the bottom and may be partially blocking one of the lines.
 
Other than that, reduced pressure = leak! :=(

#670 of 729 1998 Jeep Cherokee Oil Pressure Drop by 98cherokeeken

Sep 07, 2011 (8:53 am)

About a month ago, I purchased a 1998 Jeep Cherokee. I took it for a test drive and drove it on the street and also took it out on the freeway. Everything seemed to be working just fine on the vehicle. I checked the oil and it seemed fine and though the engine looked a bit dirty, I felt comfortable with the purchase. I gave the guy the money and drove the vehicle home. The drive home was about 20 minutes and about a block away from my house I had to stop at a stop light. Suddenly I saw the oil pressure drop to 0. I suddenly felt like I had been taken, but I still went home and purchased my insurance to make sure I had the vehicle covered. Not feeling great about my purchase, the one thing that has been keeping me going is that I know the Inline 6 cylinder 4.0 engine is one of the best engines any American car company has ever put into production. So, I thought that a full tune up and an oil and filter change would do the trick. I called a mechanic I trust, and scheduled the appointment for the following Saturday to have the tune up and oil and filter change done. I took the Jeep Cherokee in and my mechanic did a full tune up and the oil an filter change. I picked up the vehicle the next day, and I took my Jeep out for a drive. I drove for about 30 minutes and then had to stop at that same stop light, and of course the oil pressure dropped again though close to 0 but not all the way. I parked the car and did a bit of research online. I found out that a lot of people are having the same issue with their Jeep Inline 6 4.0 engine also. The first thing I did was change the Oil Pressure Sending Unit. This unit sends the information to your pressure gauge in your dash. Apparently they can be faulty as they can be hit or knocked out of place because they stick out slightly from the engine. So, I purchased one for $40, and things seemed to be fine again, but again it was only for about a half hour. The oil pressure dropped again! So on Thursday, I called my mechanic and explained the situation to him. I told him that I changed the Oil Pressure Sending Unit but it did not seem to work. He said that something has got to be blocking the oil from getting to my engine, so we decided to do an engine flush to see if that would get any sludge out of the engine that may be blocking the oil from coming into the engine. So, the oil flush was done on Saturday, and again on Sunday I picked up my car. I drove the car for about 2 days before the engine's oil pressure dropped again, and of course it was at a stop light. So, this is where things currently are for me. I have spoke to my mechanic and also another mechanic who specializes in Jeeps. They both seem to think that it could be the oil pump, but before I spend the $650.00 I have been quoted on the repair, I have decided to take a look at the oil pressure before it goes to the engine. In order to do this, I am purchasing a Mechanic Oil Pressure gauge, pulling the Oil Pressure Sending unit off, inserting the Oil Pressure Gauge, and testing to see if the measurements are within the specs that are in the owners manual. This will be happening on 9/11/11. I have been doing a bit more research on this problem and I have heard that it could be the oil filter is not compatible with my engine and that a Napa Gold oil filter worked for others. The Mechanic Oil Pressure gauge will tell me what the pressure is before the oil is pumped through the the filter and through the engine. If the pressure is low before the oil is pumped through the filter and into the engine, then I know the problem is the oil pump. If the pressure is fine before the oil is pumped through the filter and into the engine, then I know there is some loss of pressure in the engine. So, this is where things currently stand. If anyone else can think of anything that might help, please let me know. I will be watching for updates.

#671 of 729 Re: 1998 Jeep Cherokee Oil Pressure Drop [98cherokeeken] by b_web

Sep 07, 2011 (11:50 am)

Replying to: 98cherokeeken (Sep 07, 2011 8:53 am)
I have a 1994 JGC with the same engine. It has nearly 300,000 miles on the original engine. My oil pressure gauge goes from 0 - 80 at any given time with no apparent reason. Instead of relying on the gauge I rely on the performance of the engine. Oil and filter changes every 3500 miles and everything has been fine since I bought my Jeep 15 years ago. My mechanic tells me its as strong now as its ever been.

#672 of 729 Re: 1998 Jeep Cherokee Oil Pressure Drop [b_web] by cski

Sep 07, 2011 (3:12 pm)

Replying to: b_web (Sep 07, 2011 11:50 am)
9/11/11 is a good day to commit to a jihad on our crappy trucks that we repair and repair and repair. I would like to listen to my gps calmly saying "recalculating" as it plunges to its death at a local cliff. I will never buy an american car again. Sad. :+( BTW, if your Jeep product is red, you can call it a "crimson jihad".
 
No I am not trying to make fun of the sad events at 9/11, but only to poke fun at a vehicle that J have poured thousands of dollars into.

#673 of 729 Engine trouble? -1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited by tangoc

Sep 07, 2011 (8:18 pm)

I am not car savvy at all. My Jeep is an automatic... I've been having some problems- staling when I back up, some slack in shifting, and possibly misfiring of the spark plugs. I took it in for a mechanic (friend of a friend) to do an electrical check of some kind (free). He said about 4 spark plugs were misfiring. He told me he could run a check on the whole engine ($75) but the spark plugs probably needed to be changed. Trying to save a little money, I bought the spark plugs and my ex and oldest son offered to do it for me. They had no clue what they were doing either. So, they removed all the wires on one side at once before they realized they were supposed to do it one at a time. They said all the wires on that side seemed to be in the wrong place (according to the diagram). They replaced all the plugs and it wouldn't crank. Then they put new wires and a new distributor cap cord on. It still won't crank. I'm concerned that it's something more serious. But, before they worked on it, it would crank. Could there be an alternative firing order for the cords to the spark plugs? That's what we keep wondering, because they said the old cords were in a different order when it was running. We really need help! I can't afford to take it in!

#674 of 729 4 plugs gone bad.... by cski

Sep 09, 2011 (4:18 am)

You have got to take it in. The reason your plugs are not firing is due to an ignition or computer issue. 4 plugs do not go bad all at once. The plugs are a symptom of a greater electrical issue.
 
Sorry!

#675 of 729 Re: 2011 Hemi hesitation/misfire problem [deeceesd] by burbo7

Sep 28, 2011 (11:46 am)

Replying to: deeceesd (Feb 14, 2011 11:06 pm)
deeceesd. Thanks for the posts. I'm having the same issue as you described on my '11 GC 5.7L. I have not taken it to the dealer yet. I'm at approximately 3,000 miles. Curious of the fix if you ever got a resolution from Chrysler? I too was questioning the locking torque converter.

#676 of 729 Re: 2011 Hemi hesitation/misfire problem [burbo7] by cski

Sep 30, 2011 (8:19 am)

Replying to: burbo7 (Sep 28, 2011 11:46 am)
I am sorry your Grand Cherokee is deceased. Are there funeral Arrangements? Possibly a viewing? Or is it so horribly messed up that it is a closed repair bay service? LOL.
 
I still love my Grand Cherokee, especially the music of the V8. however, never a day goes by that I do not regret buying it and sinking 10,000.00 in repairs over the past 5 years. It has been difficult. Every repair I have had is over $2000.00.
I will not buy one again. It was just too much. I am gun-shy of Chrysler forever!

Messages Page 68 of 74

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