Osprey413
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Dallas, TX
Well, today my Jeep ('97 4.0L) has hit an all time low. Let me begin this story a few months ago. In July I changed my spark plugs and wires just as basic maintenence. Install went fine, made sure I put all the wires on the correct plug (by changing one plug and wire at a time). Started engine, idled rough for a few seconds then evened out. Fine. Put my tools away, came back to Jeep and tried to start it. Nothing. Turned over, but didn't start. I took the plugs out and replaced them. Started up with the new plugs. This time I decided to drive over to the mechanic incase it wouldn't start again atleast I wouldn't have to tow it. Sure enough, got it to the mechanic and turned it off. Tried to start it and nothing. The starter didn't even turn the engine over. So the mechanic comes out to look and wigles the battery wires. Engine starts now, but idles and drives like crap. It seems to be missing randomly. Mechanic's theory is that I have water in my gas. OK, I try this theory out. I go through about 20 tanks of gas and I still have the problem. Then, all of the sudden, I get a check engine light. When I got this check engine light the engine had stalled because the RPM's dropped so low that the engine died. Fight with the Jeep the whole way to the mechanic, I had to constantly give it gas to keep the RPM's up. Mechanic looks at it and changes the CPS. The Jeep runs now, but I still have the same rough idle/missing while under gas problem as before, but in addition to those problems the Jeep doesn't like to start in Park unless it is warm. Recently(past few weeks) I have been getting a check engine light weekly. I take it to AutoZone and have them check it out, same problem. The code is for the CPS or CKS. I decided not to change the CPS because the check engine light magically went away after 2-3 starts. Still idles/misses like crazy and apparently at random intervals. I can drive the Jeep one time and have it not miss at all and then the next day barely be able to get out of the driveway. Now, to add to all these problems I have a really bad oil leak. This leak just showed up out of no where. And as far as I can tell the oil only leaks when the engine runs over 3500RPM for an extended period of time (ex. hard acceleration or passing). The leak is so bad that it is dripping down onto my exhaust and smoking like crazy. I even stopped by the side of the road and in the 2 min. that I was there a sizable amount of oil formed a puddle under my engine. But, if I keep the Jeep under 3000 RPM for most of the drive the oil doesnt seem to leak at all. I got home from a 30 mile drive (engine missed alot) and parked the Jeep. Left it running and there was no oil (as far as I could tell) leaking at all. The oil pan had oil on it from the previous leak, but there weren't any drops forming at all. Apparently I have a leaky seal that only leaks at high RPM's. I havent located it yet because this just happened a few hours ago. I am at a complete loss as to what is making my Jeep run so terribly and now with this oil leak I am really distressed. I have no idea what is going on with my Jeep, but it's bad real bad. Any suggestions, ideas, donations, sympathy would be greatly appriceated. Right now I'm in college so I don't have the money to fix these exspensive problems (CPS is $123, and the oil leak will cost an arm and a leg to fix im sure). I love my Jeep and don't want to give it up, but if I can't figure out or pay to fix these problems I may have to sell it and go with a Jap. sedan (the horror). This is how bad of a situation I am in. Please!! Help!!