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sunshine
New User
Apr 22, 2006, 7:41 PM
Post #1 of 11
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97 Jeep Cherokee
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I have a 97 Jeep Cherokee Country, 4x4, 4.0L L6 HO MPI. It had some serious get up and go a couple of weeks ago. In the last two weeks it has gradually lost RPM's. Little by little every other day. It starts "okay", but, it's starting to choke a bit there too. While on the road it takes pressure on the gas to get it to go now. You take your foot off it loses RPM's, you come to a stop, same thing. Going up hills is a chore for it. It idles one bar below 1000 RPM's now when before it was above. I was hoping to get an idea of what it "could" be before taking into a shop and getting a "list" from a mechanic.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 23, 2006, 5:04 AM
Post #2 of 11
(2449 views)
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Re: 97 Jeep Cherokee
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Some thoughts and suggestions:
1,000 RPM is too high for an idle speed but it could just be the gauge is off.
Do you have "check engine" light on? I heard that some places like Auto Zone will run a scan for free.
I would take a general look around for the obvious like wireing that may be burned, disconnected, , broken and if unplugged find the two ends and plug it back together. Vacuum leaks can cause all kinds of trouble and many look like wire going to rubber connections. Sometimes you can hear a vaccum leak. If you find that hit back I'll get you thru it.
Air cleaner assemblies need to be intact for some vehicles to run right. Air filter completely plugged up could do this but not fast unless you went thru some amazing dust storm.
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Unless I read your post wrong It sounds consistant with an exhaust restriction which is usually a catylitic converter problem. There are some tests for exhaust restrictions with a vacuum gauge.
Hey - if you don't trust the integrity of a shop find another. They should listen to your observations and even give them a written history of that to go with the repair order. Good luck and let us and the world know how you made out, T
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Bigford460
New User
Apr 26, 2006, 10:24 AM
Post #3 of 11
(2441 views)
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Re: 97 Jeep Cherokee
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- i had a jeep is was doing that to and then i lost oil preasure so check your oil presure and if you truck idels and 1000rpm thats 2 much, it should idle at 500-600, it could just be a simple fuel filter and aircleaner those do make a differnce when changed
I LOVE Bronco's
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Apr 26, 2006, 3:55 PM
Post #4 of 11
(2434 views)
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Re: 97 Jeep Cherokee
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I have to agree with you Mr. Greenleaf. Sounds like exhaust or fuel restriction.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 26, 2006, 6:29 PM
Post #5 of 11
(2432 views)
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No need for formalities with me
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Hey way2old - thanks but you don't need to call me MR. and yes that is my name. Tom is fine. We just keep on rocking here and there and I only will be at friendly sites which I already said this is. Take care - I've got my share of gray hair myself. Lot of years busting knuckles. Now sharing what I can as you are. Be well, T
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sunshine
New User
May 1, 2006, 9:25 AM
Post #6 of 11
(2420 views)
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Re: 97 Jeep Cherokee
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Took it in, they had it for two days. Nice they noticed a pushed up shock on the back side with broken bolts. That was a $40 fix. Something I didn't even notice with the lift. Anyway, engine light never came on before or currently and no codes came up on the puter. They changed out the catylitic converter (it was broken up, you could hear it) and thought it was good to go after the test drive. Sure, it almost stalled out on me over the weekend. Next up will be a supreme tune-up at a different place. I'm peeved because I took it to someone we've known a few years and still got jacked. Read through quite a few boards on the net and it seems to be a clogged filter in most cases. I will stay next to the Jeep if I have to at the next place and make sure they check everything. Any comments about Firestone? I don't want to take it to another small shop.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 1, 2006, 10:31 AM
Post #7 of 11
(2417 views)
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Are you asking about their tires or a place that also repairs cars? I bet you meant a repair place.
Any place is only as good as the mechanic. You can't brand name good or bad on that one and ask to talk to the mechanic and know that person by name! Never hurts to tell the exact mechanic you are happy with the job and ask for that person when you need more service and you'll get the best!!
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I worked for a place once, with a white coat service manager and was NOT allowed to talk with customers. Well this jerk gave me a car and an order as to what to do and a really ticked off customer returned the next day with the same problem. Nice lady and I demanded to talk to her as my name was on the repair!! She told me and I fixed it NO time. Sh*t happens even when you try. Most people want you to be happy with their work. Good luck and hit back with whatever. T
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sunshine
New User
May 7, 2006, 2:44 AM
Post #8 of 11
(2406 views)
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I really do appreciate comments/suggestions. You all have been very helpful in resolving the problem.
First off, all went well with the major tune-up. The Jeep runs great. The RPM's are steadily holding below 1000. Was told a couple of things. All of the spark plugs were corroded, dist and rotor looked to be original (personally looked to be in bad shape) and needed to be replaced, and the oil was goop. I was standing there and had them point out certain things. I'm not mechanical in no shape or form, but, I am getting more knowledgeable as time goes on, heh.
Now, here's something that did stump. A jingle sound when you go over bumps and such. I did not have the suspension checked. Everything came out fine on the computer. The Catalytic is fine. What could the sound mean? It seemed to become more predominant over bumps. Just sitting in traffic you don't hear it. Now, if it's a suspension issue it couldn't be the shocks/struts as they are two months old.
Any ideas?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 7, 2006, 6:59 AM
Post #9 of 11
(2404 views)
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97 Jeep Cherokee Noise on Bumps
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Hi again Sunshine (I really like that name)
The noise is possibly a stabilizer pin or shock absorber. Both use rubber bushings that can fail or the shock can make noise on its own. Could be something else but those are common and not too expensive. Both are much harder to remove than to install new. Ask if so, the quality/grade you want.
The stabilizer bar uses a bar from side to side and is really just a 5-6" bolt with rubber bushings. The bar should just be a round metal part about 1 to 1and half size and the pins can be cheap or more if better ones chosen.
You can just look and see this. Best to do shocks and pins in pairs. If one failed the other may not be far behind. There may be a rear
stabilizer bar too and noises can be tricky so you need to look.
If the oil looked lousy change it at double intervals for a while and the new oil should clean it up.
Hit back as needed and get the noise taken care of. If a serious front end part its a safety issue. Good luck and let us know. We are here to help, T
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sunshine
New User
May 17, 2006, 7:12 AM
Post #10 of 11
(2390 views)
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Re: 97 Jeep Cherokee Noise on Bumps
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You know, I wasn't all that sure about Firestone, but, with the few times I've taken my vehicle over they have been very helpful and did not try to sell me things I didn't need. They also informed me of some things to look for with owning a Jeep. Yes, the mechanic had suggested the same about the oil. Took it in this morning for a totally different issue and I suppose that goes along with the jingle sound. Test drove it three times (parking lot, feeder road, and highway), took tires off and nothing was out of place or needed to be replaced, put it up on something that spins the wheels and boom, there it was. One back tire doesn't move with the rest. It's a four-wheel drive problem. They do not do that type of work so my next stop will be a specialty shop. I'm guessing that will be a pretty penny, haha. Was told all is mechanically sound otherwise. Thank you for your help.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 17, 2006, 10:31 AM
Post #11 of 11
(2388 views)
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Re: 97 Jeep Cherokee Noise on Bumps
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Brake parts can make noises. Drag lightly when you hear the noise and if it quits that's almost certainly the problem. T
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