fuel problems.

[BIGBEN]

first off, this is a 99 wrangler with the 4.0


the situation is that whenever it rains is when i have the problem. the engine will start fine but after a minute or so it will start to sputter like it is fuel starving. after anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes it will start to smooth back out and run normal again. if you push in the gas peddle while it is sputtering it will almost stall out but then it will start to speed up, all the while sputtering like it is missing a cylinder. it does the same if it is out of gear or in gear. it has done it bad enough to stall the engine while it was just idling.

i have looked at everything around the engine and nothing seems to be messed up. i am going to drop the gas tank this weekend and make sure everything looks good there.

other than when it rains the only time this has happened is when i drove through a deep puddle. but it did the same thing and smoothed out after a couple minutes of sputter.

any ideas what this could be. i have a few things i am going to look at but any help will be appreciated.


thanks much,

BIGBEN

:ben:

[whiterhino]

You don't have a fuel problem. You have an electrical problem. Some part of your electrical system is getting wet when it rains and when you splash it. Take some consideration at what could be getting wet in these conditions. It could be a variety of things.

One way to trouble shoot it is to put a spray nozzle on a hose & gradually mist over one section of your engine compartment at a time. With luck, you can duplicate the problem. Then go back and spray over those same wires with WD40. (it displaces water) See if you can make the problem go away.

IMO, pulling your tank is a total waste of time.

[bigblue2230]

I have had this problem before. When was the last time you put good spark plug wires on? I had a truck that couldn't go more than a year without needing new plug wires, and it acted exactly like you are saying.

and, oh yah, do the spray bottle thing like whiterhino said.

[Alter Ego]

If you don't get a check engine light when it happens, I would check the plug wires, cap, rotor system. It sounds like steam is getting something wet. When it happens, quickly pull the distributor cap and look for condensation and/or signs of cross-arcing and corrosion. If you have the original wires, you're due for a new set.
If you do get a light, hook a scanner on it and see what it says. Dont pull the tank (yet). The problem is electrical and most likely not the fuel pump.

[Haggar]

Sounds like my old dodge... really sounds like a misfire issue, but that *should* cause a BLINKING check engine light, that goes away once the misfire stops.

Mine was bad wire insulation (after less than 2 years on the OEM wires)

Replace all of your ignition 'consumables'... wires, cap, rotor, plugs.


If thats the issue, then you might think about a new cat, if you've had this issue a lot. The reason they blink the MIL, rather than light it continuously, is that it means pull over and shut off the engine immediately, because the unburnt fuel from the misfire is causing your cat to overheat and be destroyed.

[thrca]

How would getting a new pet cat help this issue? They just eat, sleep and poop, not fix cars.