Lots of the cranking, none of the starting

[Rooster-Alpha]

Hey everybody!

So my problem is that when it's cold outside my X may or may not start. About this time last year is when the trouble started, there was a cold spell and I could not get it to start. So I put it in the shop, they held on to it for two weeks and everytime they tried to crank it, it would start right up. I got it back (they didn't charge me anything which was nice) and went a whole year through more cold spells and ice storms with now problem.

Now it's doing it again. I have no other vehicle, but just like last year my sister is out of town until around Christmas and I'm able to use her Jeep for a while. This year it seems to be a little worse so I'd like to fix this issue before I have to give her back her car.

Any ideas on what may be causing an intermitant no start on cold mornings?

Edit: Forgot to mention it's a '99 Sport, 4.0L OHV.

 

[JBS 1999]

Rooster,
I have the exact problem with the same 99 sport OHV car. I am going to check Fuel Press, Fuel pump relay, Volts at Batt and Alt., check IAC, and CPS.

I will follow up. john

 

[RomeovilleIL]

Upper and lower intake gaskets. Do a search.

 

[dsurgi]

mine too

2000 explorer

got cold not starting. put in my shop overnight. starts right up. checked fuel pressure. seem ok. up to 60psi and slowly falls (10psi in 42 min). checked fuses and relay. (good).

Starts every time now. However before it either took several times to crank and then start and once it cranked tried to start multiple times. finally started.

am at loss.

Where is fuel check valve on this vehicle?

 

[Rooster-Alpha]

I replaced the fuel pump + fuel filter and this problem stopped. I guess it was going, but slowly. A week after that (Thanksgiving day) My battery went out. I wanted to wait until the local Interstate battery shop opened beccause you can get refurbished batteries there for $35 (as long as you give them your old battery) so I jump started it for five days anytime I needed to go somewhere. I think the strain I put on the alternator for those five days of running with no battery power has now killed the alt. I've put a new battery in (brand new, not refurbished. The X just decided it couldn't wait for a refurbished battery and left me stranded).

Right after installing the new battery I drove down to Advance to get them to do a alternator check and it tested fine. I know better though because when I drive it the battery guage drifts between normal and low and the battery light flashes like a strobe at a rock show when it drifts down to the low side of the guage. So after spending $638 in the past two weeks on the old girl I'm flat broke and will be going to Pull A Part after work today to get an alt.

 

[Flash]

I think the strain I put on the alternator for those five days of running with no battery power has now killed the alt.

As soon as the engine starts the whole thing runs on alternator power, not battery power.
The battery is only there to start the engine and perhaps to run the accessories for a little while when the engine is off.

The clue there is that it's a cranking battery not a deep cycle.

If you were running without a battery at all I believe that puts strain on the diodes. I guess the same could happen if the battery was virtually non existent.

 

[Flash]

This is all hearsay because it's never got below 1 or 2 degrees C here and even then not for long.

If the brushes in your fuel pump are worn down then in very cold weather the springs that hold the brushes can contract causing a no contact situation.

Your pump is plumb wore out.

 

[Rooster-Alpha]

This is all hearsay because it's never got below 1 or 2 degrees C here and even then not for long.

If the brushes in your fuel pump are worn down then in very cold weather the springs that hold the brushes can contract causing a no contact situation.

Your pump is plumb wore out.

Yeah, I replaced the pump completely and I no longer have the crank but no start issue.

I think the alternator might be working intermittently, like mabye the voltage regulator is going bad so it's not supplying enough power sometimes.


Edit: Does anyone know if the alternator that fits the SOHC will also fit the OHV?

 

[Sedition]

Narrow it down a little before randomly replacing parts. See if it's fuel or spark. Try Aero-start (ether in a can) to check for fuel related problems or pull a lead to check for spark.

 

[JBS 1999]

I also replaced the FP and car starts right up every time in the cold.