Engine Troubles please help!!

[dgold_881]

I have a 03 Lib Renegade.. I was driving into work and doing roughly 55mph when the rpm needle shot up and the engine died. I pulled off the road and started the engine back up.. It ran for a moment then died again. I let it set for a few minutes and then started it back up and attempted to drive it back home. I was a mile down the road and it died again. The battery is good and I have power... but I have no clue why its dieing.. could there be a sensor out??? where do I get a devise to read the code??? I'm lost can anyone help me?? Thanks.. ; )

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Sounds like a sensor is out of whack. Which one I dunno.

Take your ignition key and turn it On-Off-On-Off-On. Not too fast, but not too slow either. Once you get that perfected, any engine codes will appear in the odometer area. It'll give you a clue about what's going on. Post them here.

 

[2003KJ]

Take your ignition key and turn it On-Off-On-Off-On. Not too fast, but not too slow either. Once you get that perfected, any engine codes will appear in the odometer area. It'll give you a clue about what's going on. Post them here.

That rarely works.

This almost sounds like the classic crank position sensor. I would first verify that no grounds have come off, or that no other connections have come lose, and go from there.

If you have an autozone close by and can get it there, they will read you the codes for free. I don't think they actually will loan you out the scanner, but it might not hurt to ask.

 

[dgold_881]

I've looked over all the connections. Every thing looks fine. I take very good care of the vehicle too.. no abuse whats so ever.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

That rarely works.

This rarely works?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=256325487779031200&hl=en

It should work on KKs, and all KJs from model years 2002-2005. I have verified this on each year. Due to programming changes, it does not work for 2006 and 2007.

 

[dgold_881]

I also found this posted online... can anyone confirm what he says??

"Hi maybe I can help.Im a chrysler/jeep technician. Ive seen these problems many times. Although I cant pinpoint your fault without seeing it ,here are some things that I have run into..
First know this. Any sensor cam/crank/tps etcc..) that has a reference voltage from the pcm can cause this issue.
these sensors,(ESPECIALLY THE CRANK SENSORS) CAN SHORT OUT INTERNALLY. THIS WILL CAUSE A NO START CONDITION AND A "NO COMMUNICATION" ISSUE WITH THE PCM. This condition has caused numerous unneeded pcm replacements. It gets difficult to diag when its an intermittent problem. sometimes a tech will install the pcm and let the jeep leave. Then when temp is right, the sensor shorts and it all happens again. Often by the time the jeep shows up on the hook the engine has cooled and the short is gone. In this case the tech has nothing to go on. YOU MOST LIKELY WONT HAVE A CODE HERE.
THIS IS HOW I DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. WHEN THE CONDITION IS PRESENT(NO COMMUNICATION") wITH THE KEY ON, START DISCONNECTING EACH SENSOR THAT HAS A REFERENCE VOLTAGE. START WITH THE CRANK SENSOR. IF YOU SEE THE SCANNER GET COMMUNICATION, THEN YOU FOUND THE SHORTED SENSOR.tHIS CAN BE A PAIN IN THE ASS IF THE CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT.
PLEASE NOTE: IT IS EXTREMELY RARE THAT THE PCM ITSELF HAS CAUSED THIS CONDITION. 99% OF THE TIME ITS A SENSOR SHORTING OUT, WIPING OUT ALL COMMUNICATION.
ALSO NOTE: i HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS CONDITION ACTUALLY DAMAGE THE PCM. ONCE THE SHORTED SENSOR IS REPLACED, THE PCM IS FINE. THERE IS A RESISTOR IN THE PCM THAT PROTECTS IT FROM THIS.
sOMEONE IN THE FORUM WROTE THAT THE DEALER SAID THAT THE SENSOR SHORTED AND DAMAGED THE PCM. THEY SAID THE GOT A NEW CKP,CMP AND PCM. THATS THE STORY THAT IS USED WHEN THEY REPLACED THE PCM FIRST FOR NOTHING, WHEN IT WAS A SHORTED SENSOR THAT WAS THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG.
IVE SEEN THAT HAPPEN TOO.
I NORMALLY WOULDNT GIVE OUT MY OWN PROCEDURES BUT YOU ALL SEEM FRUSTRATED.
I DONT KNOW WHAT CLIMATE YOU LIVE IN BUT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. I LIVE IN TORONTO. WE HAVE HOT SUMMERS AND COLD WINTERS, MAYBE THATS WHY IVE SEEN THIS SO MANY TIMES.
GOOD LUCK, LET ME KNOW IF I HELPED YOU OR MADE THINGS MORE CONFUSING.

THANKS j. "

 

[2003KJ]

This rarely works?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=256325487779031200&hl=en

It should work on KKs, and all KJs from model years 2002-2005. I have verified this on each year. Due to programming changes, it does not work for 2006 and 2007.

Never could get it to work. I even purposely made the check engine light come on and still couldnt get it to give me the code. Had to use my scanner to turn it off. And yes I was doing it right. I have even tried it on several various Chrysler vehicles ranging from 2000-2006, all with no luck.

 

[2003KJ]

I also found this posted online... can anyone confirm what he says??

"Hi maybe I can help.Im a chrysler/jeep technician. Ive seen these problems many times. Although I cant pinpoint your fault without seeing it ,here are some things that I have run into..
First know this. Any sensor cam/crank/tps etcc..) that has a reference voltage from the pcm can cause this issue.
these sensors,(ESPECIALLY THE CRANK SENSORS) CAN SHORT OUT INTERNALLY. THIS WILL CAUSE A NO START CONDITION AND A "NO COMMUNICATION" ISSUE WITH THE PCM. This condition has caused numerous unneeded pcm replacements. It gets difficult to diag when its an intermittent problem. sometimes a tech will install the pcm and let the jeep leave. Then when temp is right, the sensor shorts and it all happens again. Often by the time the jeep shows up on the hook the engine has cooled and the short is gone. In this case the tech has nothing to go on. YOU MOST LIKELY WONT HAVE A CODE HERE.
THIS IS HOW I DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. WHEN THE CONDITION IS PRESENT(NO COMMUNICATION") wITH THE KEY ON, START DISCONNECTING EACH SENSOR THAT HAS A REFERENCE VOLTAGE. START WITH THE CRANK SENSOR. IF YOU SEE THE SCANNER GET COMMUNICATION, THEN YOU FOUND THE SHORTED SENSOR.tHIS CAN BE A PAIN IN THE ASS IF THE CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT.
PLEASE NOTE: IT IS EXTREMELY RARE THAT THE PCM ITSELF HAS CAUSED THIS CONDITION. 99% OF THE TIME ITS A SENSOR SHORTING OUT, WIPING OUT ALL COMMUNICATION.
ALSO NOTE: i HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS CONDITION ACTUALLY DAMAGE THE PCM. ONCE THE SHORTED SENSOR IS REPLACED, THE PCM IS FINE. THERE IS A RESISTOR IN THE PCM THAT PROTECTS IT FROM THIS.
sOMEONE IN THE FORUM WROTE THAT THE DEALER SAID THAT THE SENSOR SHORTED AND DAMAGED THE PCM. THEY SAID THE GOT A NEW CKP,CMP AND PCM. THATS THE STORY THAT IS USED WHEN THEY REPLACED THE PCM FIRST FOR NOTHING, WHEN IT WAS A SHORTED SENSOR THAT WAS THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG.
IVE SEEN THAT HAPPEN TOO.
I NORMALLY WOULDNT GIVE OUT MY OWN PROCEDURES BUT YOU ALL SEEM FRUSTRATED.
I DONT KNOW WHAT CLIMATE YOU LIVE IN BUT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. I LIVE IN TORONTO. WE HAVE HOT SUMMERS AND COLD WINTERS, MAYBE THATS WHY IVE SEEN THIS SO MANY TIMES.
GOOD LUCK, LET ME KNOW IF I HELPED YOU OR MADE THINGS MORE CONFUSING.

THANKS j. "

To get back on topic, yes this is what I was getting at earlier. Crank sensors often are very hard to diagnose when they go out. Some have them die while driving down the road (as was your case), and others will park it one night, and the next morning it's a no go.

This wouldn't be the first case of a crank sensor going bad on a KJ that i've heard of. While it's not extremely common on these, it wouldn't be the first. The fact that you are able to drive it even the slightest bit after letting it sit a while, tells me that it is shorting out at that certain temperature, like the above quote mentions.

Sometimes they throw the CEL, sometimes they dont. I've even heard of them sometimes showing a "no bus" on the odometer after about 15-20 seconds of the ignition being on when they go bad.

 

[dgold_881]

Thanks for all your input!