Wierd starting problem

first off, my '98 cherokee has a cracked exhaust manifold which has been cracked for a few months now. Yesterday morning I went out to my car and it started fine. But then yesterday after work(around 5pm) i tried starting the car and it wouldnt start. It took 5 or 6 cranks before it started. A few seconds after it started, it immediately died. It then started back up just fine and i began to drive it home. On the way home, while driving the car would sputter... like it wanted to die on me. I gave it gas and it stayed running till i got it home. Then it did the same thing today, Except this time i didnt have any trouble after i finally got it started after work. What are yall's thoughts?

Beachmonkey6 said:

first off, my '98 cherokee has a cracked exhaust manifold which has been cracked for a few months now. Yesterday morning I went out to my car and it started fine. But then yesterday after work(around 5pm) i tried starting the car and it wouldnt start. It took 5 or 6 cranks before it started. A few seconds after it started, it immediately died. It then started back up just fine and i began to drive it home. On the way home, while driving the car would sputter... like it wanted to die on me. I gave it gas and it stayed running till i got it home. Then it did the same thing today, Except this time i didnt have any trouble after i finally got it started after work. What are yall's thoughts?

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cracked exaust will burn up your valves if it's cracked bad enough.a bad manifold is like you breathing in through a straw and out through your mouth.you are'nt getting enough air to run the engine but your blowing to much out cuz of that crack.I've heard of using the 99+ manifolds as they tend to crack less.

Why is it just now having the starting problem if it has been cracked since october? Did the crack just get worse? Any other ideas?