Jeep Cherokee won’t start
Asked by Emilia Apr 03, 2018 at 12:49 PM about the 1988 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer 2-Door 4WD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
This morning my Jeep Cherokee wouldn’t start. It
tries to turn over, all of the lights and the radio come
on, but the engine won’t start. I’ve tried jumping it
and made sure there was enough gas, and still had
no luck. Help?
1 Answer
Check fuel pressure. If you don't have enough it will not start at all. Have someone open the gas tank cap. Put their ear down as close to the opening as possible. Then you turn the key to the on position (not start position). The person should hear a buzz noise for about two seconds. That is the fuel pump coming on. This is a rough way but it gives you info. Next find the valve on the fuel pressure rail that feeds the injectors the fuel to run. Take off the cap. When you turn your key on and someone pushes in the little valve stem you should get a stream of gas shooting out under pressure. If you don't you have fuel pump problems. The next thing I would do is direct wire the fuel pump by taking out the fuel pump relay and putting a piece of wire between the hot and the wire that goes to the fuel pump. If it comes on you are good to go except you have no safety if you have a crash. The fuel pump will keep pumping as long as the wire is connected. This is a quick and dirty way. Good luck!