ZJ: Is there an I Hate Jeeps.com? (Problems are back)

[TOOLman]

After my poking around last week, the Jeep ran better than ever. Since I didn't exactly fix anything, I wasn't too surprised when the problems reappered on Saturday. Badly.

I thought it had to be the spark plug wires, since it ran well after I disconnected, measured, and reconnected them. So I spent $75 on a new set on Monday. Unfortunately, that didn't solve the problem :(. Yesterday I barely made it home. This morning, I checked all wires again, making sure that they were properly connected. It ran fine today, but I could feel that there were moments when performance was degraded, even though it wasn't bad enough to cause the frightening jolts I've experienced earlier.

I'll ask the dealer to order a cap and rotor (they didn't have any in stock) and hope for the best. Right now I feel like selling this POS, but who'd buy it? :(

[J's Jeep]

I feel your frustration. We will get it dont worry.

You might as well do the whole upgrade. Get a coil while you are at it.

What about your o2 sensor.

hummm what else. Have you changed your plugs?

battery connections, alternator?

Fuel filter?

Your cat could be bad.

[Bob]

I don't know exact problems you are having, but I once had a random problem with the ignition system on my 4.0.

Take a look at the distributor cap posts. There may be a chance the last person that removed the oil filter used a large wrench and may have inadvertently hit the distributor cap---thus cracking the post(s). This happened to mine thanks to the young and inexperienced Oil Can Henry's employees. The random miss-firing and low performance went on for months before I found the problem.

Nothing against grease monkeys---someone has to do that dirty job. I stopped doing oil changes back in the 70's when I moved on to a real career.

[Bob]

TOOLman...

I found your earlier posts regarding the problem with your jeep. The symptom you describe here sounds like you are loosing power to the security system---yes that ingenius system that shuts off your ingition when someone tries to steal your Jeep! The ticking in the glove box is part of the system that flashes the lights on/off.

This is a real problem when connectors get old and oxidized. The security system will activate and get out of sync when the battery is low or terminals are loose and you try to crank-over the beast. The next time this happens use your remote to shut-off, reactivate and shut-off the system and the ticking. This should resyncrinize the security system.

Also, the remote transmitter went bad on mine ($160 part) . This forced me into using the old key entry method. Several times during the winter I would unlock and open the door and it would set the alarm off and disable the ignition. The only way to resyncrinize would be to relock/unlock the door. This worked most of the time---other times I was forced into opening the hood and taking the battery connections off and reapplying them.

Keep in mind the security system also links to a switch under the hood (the left side by the battery). If someone tries to open the hood when activated it will disable the ignition.

The key is to maintain good power to the system at all times. Even a low battery will send this system into a crazed frenzy. You also want to make sure the security system connections are not oxidized.

I hope this helps...

Bob

>>>This afternoon, she started without any problems. She was running a bit uneven, but not as bad as it has been the last week. Then I stopped to do some shopping on my way home. I came out, unlocked the Jeep with the remote, and turned the ignition key. Nothing!

It is completely dead. No warning lights go on, the "ping ping" sound that indicates that the door is open isn't heard. No reaction from the engine. All that is heard is a loud ticking noise that sounds like it's coming from the glove compartment. If I open a door, or the glove compartment, the ticking stops.<<<

[TOOLman]

Thanks guys.

I changed the plugs two months ago, and the plug wires three days ago. I've checked the cap and rotor. There was some oxide, which I tried to remove. Couldn't see any cracks or other damage. I've ordered a new set, which I hope will arrive today.

O2 sensor and cat were replaced three months ago along with the rest of the exhaust system, including the headers.

Battery was replaced when it died completely a few weeks ago. Alternator seems to be working well. Battery connections look OK, but you never know.

I checked the TPS sensor with a digital multimeter, and it seems to work as it should. I also tested the resistance of the secondary coil, and it looks fine.

I have a new fuel filter, but I haven't changed it yet. I still think the problem is electrical. It seems to be worse when it's raining.

Bob - I do have the 'anti theft' thing, but there is no alarm system. I think you're right about what happened when the battery died, but that seems to be an unrelated problem to the ignition failure (if that's what it is).

I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope that replacing the cap and rotor will solve the problems.

Thanks again for your support and your help.

/Tommy

[DrGP]

Perhaps this can help, quote:

“This is an old hotrod trick.
If you tune your AM radio between stations it just picks up static. Your ignition system is the closest, therefore strongest, source of static. If it's bad, that's what you'll hear.
If the whole system is in good shape you should hear very little. If a plug lead is leaking spark you will hear a pop each time that plug fires. If you rev the engine, the pops will rise and fall in frequency with the RPM. If the coil wire, or the coil itself, is leaking you will hear a much higher frequency equal to 4 pops per rev.”

Keep on working and you will eventually find what is wrong!

[TOOLman]

Thanks, but it shouldn't be the plug wires, since I just replaced them. The problems are exactly the same now as before, which means that there should be precisely the same fault in the new wires as in the old ones. Highly unlikely, I think.

If replacing the cap and rotor doesn't help, I don't know what to do. Throw out the DC POS and install a Japanese engine...?! (Please, put those flamethrowers away, I was just kidding!:eek::))

[Bob]

Real hotrods didn't come with radios... like my '65 Plymouth Race Hemi.

>>>>“This is an old hotrod trick.
If you tune your AM radio between stations it just picks up static. <<<<<<

Bob

[Howler]

TOOLman Sorry to hear that. I am not sure what to say to fix the problem but I will be an ear if you need it. Just don't want to see you sell the beast you took a long time to build it up. Consider me the bartender.
Howler

[Bob]

Tommy,

Are you sure you don't have an alarm? The factory security system is pretty elaborate on Jeeps. It should consist of the following when activated: External lights flashing on/off with horn sounding repeatedly. Also disables the ignition system so you can't start the vehicle. Unless you open a door, hood or rear hatch when the security system is activated you would never know you had an alarm.

Try this: get inside your Jeep and lock all doors with the remote. Wait approximately 1-2 min. or after the security light on the panel stops flashing. Unlock the door from the inside manually (don't unlock with electric switch… this may deactivate the security system). Then try opening the door and see what happens.

Bob


>>>Bob - I do have the 'anti theft' thing, but there is no alarm system. I think you're right about what happened when the battery died, but that seems to be an unrelated problem to the ignition failure (if that's what it is).<<<<

[TOOLman]

Howler - thanks! I appreciate it. Now, can I have beer, please? :D

Bob - there are stickers on the side windows saying 'Electronic Alarm' (probably put there by the previous owner in Germany). I tried the method you described last year: I rolled down the driver's side window and locked the Jeep with the remote. I then reached in and opened the door (I didn't wait as long as you suggested, though). Nothing happened. No alarm, no sound, no flashing lights. There is a red LED marked "Anti Theft" flashing on the OEM radio, and that's it.

I replaced the cap and rotor last night, but that didn't help. :(
Now my last hope is that replacing the fuel filter will solve the problem, but I seriously doubt it.

[TOOLman]

At lunch today I went out to an auto parts store to get some new tools. It's about 6 miles of highway (70 mph speed limit), and a couple of steep hills to pass.

On the way back, my ZJ started to "sudder" violently in an uphill, i.e. with a lot of load on the engine. It shook so hard I thought we were going to jump off the road.

On the other side of the crest, it became better, but later on these vibrations came back again. There was a severe degradation in performance, and the RPMs on the tachometer didn't match what I usually see at that speed in O/D.

I've encountered this phenomenon once before (before I even started tampering with the engine and exhaust). That was just after I installed my BB, so I thought they were driveline vibrations caused by the small lift.

Now I get the feeling that it's actually one of the cylinders not running. Do you think that would cause the symptoms I've described? Could it be the injectors that are clogged up? It didn't help at all when I spilled some injection cleaner (STP) into the tank a few weeks ago.

If this problem persists, I don't know if I'll make it home today. :( I'll check the spark plug wires before I go, to make sure they are properly connected.

[MaineZJ]

Maybe I missed something Tommy, but did you do an injector test? There is a resistance and voltage check, also if you pull the plug on one injector at a time, you should notice a big differance in yer idle, if not, it's an injector prob. HTH

[TOOLman]

MaineZJ - no, I didn't. I've been thinking about it, though. The symptoms yesterday made me think it could be the injectors. Would you happen to have the correct values in that manual of yours?

It usually runs fairly well at idle. It's under load that it starts behaving strangely.

[MaineZJ]

Tommy, remove the connector from the injector and measure resistance, should be around 12.4 ohms. With engine on and everything connected, voltage should fluctuate between zero and two volts. If not then I suggest you check your wiring harness, especially if you see a real high voltage. Keep us informed and good luck!

Derrick

[TOOLman]

Thanks, Derrick!

Well, yesterday I tried to replace the fuel filter. I removed the old filter, and then realized that the new filter wouldn't fit. :( I drained the old filter and put it back, and since then she's been running just fine. I drove some 70-80 miles yesterday without any problems.

The gas that I poured out of the filter looked suspicious, but since I'd forgotten to bring a clear vessel to pour into, I couldn't see exactly what it was. I'm guessing that there was a little water inside the filter, and that every now and again a small droplet would come along with the fuel and cause the engine to misfire.

I'm not getting my hopes up yet, but it looks promising. Of course, there could be more of whatever's causing the problems in the gas tank. If the problems come back, I guess I'll have to drain the tank and make sure it's clean.

It'll be exciting to see how she behaves tomorrow morning when I go to work...

[MaineZJ]

Water in your tank will screw you up good, there are some products you can dump in your tank to get rid of it. Have you tried any? Also, someone told me not to fill up after the station just had their tanks filled. The reasoning is that all the crap on the bottom of their tanks gets swirled up. I think filters probably takes care of this, but why chance it? Sounds like you are leaning to a fuel problem vs. electrical. I hope you figure it out. Didn't you say that during certain types of weather, your problem is more pronounced? Keep us updated. Can't stand hearing about a sick Jeep! Get well soon!

[TOOLman]

I could feel one or two small jolts this morning, which tells me the problem isn't quite solved yet. Right now I'm definitely leaning towards a fuel thing.

I did put a bottle of STP Injection Cleaner in the tank a while ago, but that didn't help at all. Of course, that will only clean the injector nozzles and provide some lubrication. I'm going to add some STP Injection Trim when I fill her up from now on, but that's just a cleaning/lubrication substance, too. To get rid of the water (if that's what it is) I'm thinking about putting a bottle of "carburetor alcohol" in the tank. The alcohol mix with the water as well as with the gas, and hopefully help getting it out of the system.

For a while, it seemed as if the problems were worse in wet weather, but none of the symptoms were really consistent. Sometimes (mostly) they occurred at low RPMs in O/D with a slight load (jolts), but at other times they could occur at higher RPMs in 2nd or 3rd gear (RPM variations and performance degradation). For a while it seemed to become worse every time I filled her up, but at other times she ran terribly when the tank was almost empty. I thought rain and fog made it worse, but some days she ran like sh*t when it was dry and sunny, too.

These inconsistencies were what made me think it was an electrical problem. I thought that a fuel-related problem would be more like "all of the time". Now I've realized that whatever is contaminating the fuel could be released in "bursts", causing the problems to occur at just about any time. Of course, that doesn't explain why she ran perfectly for several days after I re-tightened the spark plugs... :confused:

I think I'll talk to some Jeep mechanics and ask their opinion. Should I drain and clean the tank, and replace the fuel filter? Or is it enough to spill some injection cleaner and alcohol into the tank?

Oh well, I'll keep you updated anyway. Thanks for all your help!

[MaineZJ]

Tho not specific to our vehicles, this may help you out.
http://members.nbci.com/minimopar/troubleshoot/index.html
Just go to engine and next, until you get to fuel system diagnoses. HTH

[TOOLman]

Thanks. I did check that site once, but looking for electrical problems. I ended up at a "sorry can't help you" kind of page :rolleyes:

I checked the fuel system diagnosis, and it gives some sound advice. The problem is that it doesn't run permanently bad. I'd have to stop somewhere along the road, as soon as it begins to miss, and do the test on the fly. It's a paradox - while bad enough to make the Jeep run badly, the problems aren't sufficiently bad to make for easy detection! Sigh...

[MaineZJ]

Man I feel for ya, have you tried the "Bang on the Gas tank trick"?Supposedly if you do and the prob goes away, it's your fuel pump. Did you ever get another filter?

[MaineZJ]

Tommy, I hope you don't mind me leaning over yer shoulder while you troubleshoot. It's just my nature, I've troubleshot electronics most of my life and I just hate giving up on a prob! And I'm not a mech, but I am learning a lot by reading the various forums!

[TOOLman]

Derrick - on the contrary! I appreciate your input very much. I only wish we didn't live so far apart, so I could by you a couple of beers.
:beer::beer:

Sadly, my Jeep has deteriorated again. Last night and this morning the problems were back again. When I turned out on the highway, accelerating 0-70 mph up a long hill, I think she ran only on 5 cylinders. Some occasional jolts, too, but not the worst kind.

If I'm on the right track here, it should be something contaminating the fuel, that has now made it from the tank and into the fuel filter that I "cleaned" the other day. It's about time to fill her up today, so I'm going to add some injection trim and some alcohol. If the problem is water in the tank, the alcohol should help. I might have to drain the tank and try to clean it out.

I don't think it's the fuel pump, but who knows? Gas quality has gone down over here lately, so I'm guessing it's water or something polluting the gas.

I finally got around to ordering a Haynes manual yesterday. I hope I found the right one...it's called "Repair Manual". It was only £16.99, which I thought seemed too cheap...? With my luck I probably ordered the wrong one. :rolleyes:

Again: I appreciate any tip you can give me. I'm totally in the dark here myself. The good thing is that I'm learning quite a lot about my ZJ...

[MaineZJ]

Glad you got the haynes. Mine is titled" Automotive Repair Manual". Tho it's not as detailed as the FSM, it works for us backyard mechanics! Learning about our ZJ's is fun and it seems to be a never ending process. Sorry to hear things are getting worse, don't give up! And, yeah I'd love to try some Swedish brew! Oh, well, maybe someday!

[TOOLman]

I'm not too fond of local brew myself (I prefer tastier stuff like Guinness or some of the Belgian Trappist beers). From what I've heard, though, Swedish beer is far superior to American. Don't flame me over this, it's only hearsay.

[MaineZJ]

They say Guiness is good for ya, but never got used to the taste of it. Used to get it every now and then when I lived in Dakar. Used to drink Tuborg when I was over there. My fishing buddy was a Dane, boy that guy could drink!!

[TOOLman]

Last night my Jeep hit an all-time-low. The whole 25 miles from town and home, it ran worse than ever. I had to disable the O/D, because the jolts were so bad I thought she'd break into pieces. Several times I was sure she was going to stall, and at times I couldn't get her past 45 mph. I barely made it home.

Since it was somewhat successful last weekend, I decided to try the fuel filter thing again. I disconnected the 'out' hose and drained as much fuel as I could out of the filter. This at least made it go from 'disaster' to 'bad'. It ran this morning, but very badly. I hope I'll make it home tonight.

This weekend is 'Midsummer', a big 3-day holiday in Sweden. I was going to go to my brother's place, where there'll be a big party with lots of half-famous musicians. Now I guess I ain't goin' nowhere. :( On top of this, it seems as if one of my dear cats has gone M.I.A. I haven't seen him in a week. :(:(

[Bob]

Tommy,

What kind of insurance policy do you have on your Jeep? You may consider taking out extended coverage and rolling it over a cliff---life will get better!

Bob

[TOOLman]

Bob - yeah, especially if I'm inside it at the time... (j/k - mostly). :(

[MaineZJ]

Will this help?
http://www.icarumba.com/icarumba/whatswrongwizard/icar_whatswrongwizard_viewresult.asp?sid=1029;a129 861215719955

[TOOLman]

Thanks for the link.

That site suggests that it's an ignition problem, and offers the solution "leave it to a professional shop" :)

I'm feeling more and more convinced that it's fuel related. This morning it was extremely bad, but when I "blew through" the engine (WOT from stand-still to about 55 mph), it ran marginally better for a while. This works about the same as when I disconnect the fuel filter and empty it.

My guess is that there's a lot of goo in the tank, which must be removed. I'm going to contact the local dealer and get an appointment. I'm going to ask for their advice, of course, but recommend that they drain and clean the tank, and replace the filter. I'd also like them to check the fuel pressure, and possibly the injectors. I don't want to know how much that will cost, though. :(

Since I've replaced most of the ignition parts, I doubt that it's electrical. If it were, "blowing through" the engine shouldn't make a difference.

I've done all I can do by myself at this point. Now it's up to the profe$$ionals.

[Howler]

Best of luck Toolman Hope its an easy fix for you.
Howler

[MaineZJ]

Good luck Tommy! Hope your wallet isn't hit too hard!

[Timmy]

I would check my fuel pump, my '96 cherokee was doing kind of the same thing, all of a sudden instead of starting right up on the first turn it started taking 2,3 even 4 turns to start it, I also thought it was an electrical problem, I replaced the cap, rotor, coil, and plugs, still would only run for a while then die, I found it, well actually the dealer found it to be a shorted out body harness, right at the framerail connector pigtail from the gas tank, and the pumps output according to the dealer was weak and causing the jeep to idle bad and actually die at times, it also needed a new fuel filter, now it runs great, but my cat's guts r fallin out, oh well. I dont know if that is your problem but after fixing mine and finding out it wasn't anything close to what I thought was wrong I thought maybe I would throw it at ya n see if maybe you have considered that possibility. There is a pressure test you can do on your fuel pump, I havent done it but I know there is something on that in the haynes manual. Good Luck.
Happy Jeepin

[TOOLman]

Well, I called the dealer to get an appointment. They said "not for several weeks". :( :mad: If it gets any worse, I'm basically screwed, living so far from civilization.

The guy (who knows me by name now, BTW :rolleyes: ) suggested a product called Red-Line Water Removal to get rid of water in the tank. I bought a bottle and, after carefully reading the label, spilled it into the tank. For several miles it ran fairly well, but then it deteriorated again. I guess I'll have to drain the filter every day or so until the stuff is out of the tank. I bought a new filter, but I won't replace the old one until the tank is clean.

The good news is that I got my Haynes manual yesterday. Why didn't I order one a long time ago? I checked the trouble-shooting section, and the first thing it suggested for this problem was "clogged fuel filter or contamination in fuel tank"! I could have saved $100+ from the start! This manual seems to be great. I now know how to relieve pressure in the fuel line before disconnecting from the filter. Maybe I don't have to be showered in gasoline from now on?

Timmy - I thought about the fuel pump, too. It sounds as if it's working, though. And if it were the pump, I can't see why draining the fuel filter would make a difference. I'll keep it in mind, though. Thanks. I should get a pressure gauge and test the fuel rail, just in case.

Maybe time and patience will help here? The think is, I really want it to be OK soon. July 10 I'd hoped to go to the SOT (Sweden Off-road Tour), but I won't go wheelin' while she's acting like this. :(

[Timmy]

My pump also was working, I could hear it just buzzin along, the pump ran the whole time but it was not supplying the system with adequate pressure. If my connector wouldn't have shorted out that pump would have probably just kept running till it died. Im just saying its probably worth at least testing the fuel rail for pressure, I wish I would have done that right off the bat. I know how you feel, I was so pissed, I just couldnt figure out what was wrong. Good Luck

[TOOLman]

Oh, thanks for the info, Timmy.

I don't have a gauge for that myself, but I was going to ask the shop to do that for me. Unfortunately I couldn't get an appointment due to vacations and stuff.

Maybe I'll just buy the gauge...

[Jerry Falletta]

The last time I had a problem caused by a fuel filter, I replaced it (the first time) after the vehicle would not run for more than a minute or so, although it would idle reasonably well. The first filter change occurred in the parking lot of a fire station near Gettysburg, PA at midnight; an auto parts store owner actually opened up (at the request of a local police officer) and sold me a couple of filters. That made a big difference right away, and I continued on my journey to Northern VA. I changed that new filter again a few days (and a few hundred miles) later, and it ran perfectly afterward.

I don't even want to know what had gotten into the gasoline that caused the problem :eek:.

My curiosity is really raised by this one - let us know when you find out the cause of your Jeep's "illness".

[MaineZJ]

Ditto what Jerry says, Tommy. You've got to figure this crap out and get rolling again! Man, I hope to never go thru what you are, but if I do, I'll know what to do if ya let us all know. Yeah, sounds a little selfish, but we all come here to learn and I wish you the best of luck. Knocking on wood for you man.

[TOOLman]

Thank you guys.
I'm fairly sure now that fuel contamination is the problem. I've got a new filter, but I'm not going to install it until I've gotten as much goo out of the tank as possible.

It seems to run better when I've drained the filter. The more thoroughly I drain it, the better it runs. Yesterday my Jeep ran almost as in the Good Old Days for a while.

I promise to inform all of you when I'm certain of what's causing it. That's what forums like this are for; to learn from other people's mistakes and problems :)

BTW, I was crawling under my Jeep yesterday since the e-brake got stuck on the driver's side. I spotted a tag on the rear diff that I'd noticed in the Haynes manual, so I had to check it out. Would you believe it - I have an LSD! Since the rear was already on jack stands, I tried spinning one of the rear wheels, and I'll be darned if the other wheel didn't spin in the same direction! Cool, huh? :D

I washed her yesterday, vacuumed the interior, and even cleaned the windows. Maybe pampering will help...

[Bob]

Tommy,

You will be surprised how much better you will like your Jeep when you keep her clean. There like girlfriends... if you want to get from point A to point B without any fuss, you need to pamper them. Even girlfriends will admit that.

I am glad you are making progress... time to PARTY!

Bob

[TOOLman]

Bob - I won't be surprised. I already know how much more fun it is to have a clean and tidy vehicle. It's just that while it was raining more or less every day, it felt pointless to wash her. I drive on dirt roads every day, and if it rains I'll have mud and dirt up to the roof.

The last few days it has been very nice weather here. Today it peaked at 86°F. The skies are starting to get clouded, though, so I guess it's back to normal soon. :rolleyes: That reminds me, I've got to refill the A/C with R134a. Why does it leak so bad? :mad:

[Howler]

Tommy your seals are probably dried out and leaking. This usually happens just after winter. Wasn't till this vehicle did I realize that you should run your A/C for 15 minutes every month no mater if it is summer or winter. You may want to replace the seal if it is a bad leak.
Howler

[mzugg]

Toolman
I was surfing through the forum and saw your sad tale. The more I read, the more the problem sounded like a dirty fuel filter. By the time I got through page 2 I was convinced. I had the very same problems on another vehicle I have. Plugged fuel filters on fuel injected vehicles act like ignition problems.

Anyway, the reason I took the trouble to register and reply is to encourage you to change that filter ASAP. You are running the risk of much more extensive damage if you keep it on there and it ruptures from the pressure (which it might very well do if it is plugged). I don't know what a fuel filter costs in Sweden, but if the filter is expensive, replacing dirt damaged injectors is more expensive!

In short, worst case, if it's not the filter causing your problem, you're good for another however many km a filter is good for, and it was cheap insurance. If it fixes it, get a spare, and see if the new one plugs up prematurely. My bet is it won't. These fuel injection system filters are so fine that they will eventually plug up on invisible contaminants that are normally present in the gasoline. Then, unlike most carbureted filters that were designed to bypass when plugged to keep the engine running (but fouled the carb in the process), the filter is designed to stop the fuel flow to the engine rather than allow the injectors from becoming contaminated.

I'm not trying to seem like a know it all, and don't want to. I just couldn't let you suffer the frustration you are experiencing, and I couldn't let you unknowingly risk much more extensive damage to your vehicle without a comment. For whatever it is worth.

In case anybody wonders, no-I'm not a Jeep service tech. But I am an ex-ASE Master Tech who has moved on to other things less abusive to my hands.

Good luck Toolman, and post us on how it turns out.

[TOOLman]

mzugg - thank you very much for your input. I do have a spare filter, but I was going to wait for a while before replacing it, lest the new filter gets clogged up too soon. (They cost about $40 here BTW.) I just went for a ride, and it alternated between running fine, jolting slightly, and missing badly. I was going to drain the old filter again, but after reading your post I think I'll replace it right now.

Howler - I just read the same thing in my new Haynes manual. It was the same thing last year. I left it to a shop who hired an expert to look at the system. He didn't find any leaks, but filled up the system with R134a. In the Haynes book I also saw that you can do this yourself. I'll have to look around to see if I can find these refill kits here in Sweden.

[Swede]

Hey Tommy, I hope you start to gettting your things together with fuel filters and all.

I saw that you have a leak in your aircondition system, the most common problem is that the sealing in the compressor gets dryed out and if you don't fill the system with new oil it will just go on leaking. I don't know if the tubes described in Haynes manual contains any oil? I've had my system refilled and the guy who did it poured about 5 dl compressor oil in the system.

Mikael

[TOOLman]

Hey Micke. Glad to see you over here.

I replaced the fuel filter, but it didn't help at all of course. I'm beginning to worry that the fuel pump is going south. :( I think I need a pro to look at things now, checking out the injectors and the pump.

The Haynes manual mentions oil for the A/C system. I haven't looked close enough at that section to see whether this involves the high pressure side or the low pressure side of the system. Maybe the seals need to be replaced?

Right now I'm working at home (three more days before summer vacation ;)), so I'm not driving much. With the weather we've had up here the last couple of weeks, you'd definitely need the A/C. I'll talk to the shop where I had that R134a refill last fall, maybe they know what needs to be done.

Did you get that locker yet? I discovered the other day that I have an LSD on my rig, too! I don't know in what condition it's in, but with the rear end on jack stands both wheels were spinning in the same direction.

I wish I could get my Jeep to work. Then maybe we could meet up this summer? It's not that far after all, and I've got some relatives fairly close to your whereabouts (Eskilstuna).