I love my jeep. It's a 1999 Grand Jeep Cherokee Laredo. But lately, all I've been wanting to do is put it in neutral and let it roll off a cliff. I can drive it around just fine at a FULL tank of gas, even a half tank of gas, everything runs smooth. But as soon as the gas gauge reads under half, I can't turn left without stalling it. It'll stall, and pick up again, or it'll stall and just die out and I have to re-start it (Which is embarrassing in an intersection). I've had the gauge checked to see if it was reading wrong, I've had the fuel filter replaced, I put methyl-hydrate in the gas tank in case there was water in it, I've had it checked by 3 mechanics who tell me to "just keep the gas tank full" But it's a little bit of a pain when it costs me $110.00CDN to fill it, and it sucks gas back like a monster, and I can't use half of my gas! So I'd be constantly filling my tank since I have a long commute to work! Has ANYONE heard of this problem in Jeeps before?What can I do?
2006-07-11 02:32:49 · 10 answers · asked by chickingirl19 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Three things come to mind that might create the symptoms your car is showing. One is a nominal fuel pump--that is one that is functioning, but not well. When the gas tank is half full or better the pressure inside the tank is higher and while the pump is marginal in its ability to draw in fuel, the added pressure from the increased fuel load in the tank is sufficient to make it function. This could be tested by measuring the fuel output of the pump (pressure and volume) at various levels of fuel.
A second possibility might be that the intake inside the tank has either become loose and risen up too high, or otherwise is mislocated. As the fuel level drops, the pump's ability to scavenge fuel would be compromised. I can think of no test for this short of a visual inspection involving removing the gas tank and looking inside.
Still a third possibility is some sort of debris in the tank that may be floating about, but settling near the intake inside the tank as the fuel level drops. Oddly enough, I had something not too dissimilar happen in a VW rabbit I owned some years ago, in which some solder particles were left in the tank at the time of manufacture and, even though solder does not float, would somehow find its way down to block the fuel intake when fuel levels dropped. Here again, removing the tank for a visual inspection ia about all I can think to do.
Ah--now one other thing does come to me and that is the possibility that if your tank has a vent hose for allowing air in to replace the fuel as it is consumed, that the vent itself is clogged or the hose crimped or the like. If this were the case, as you drained fuel you would be creating a vacuum that would increase in strength as the fuel level decreased. At some point this might become strong enough to overcome the suction of the pump.
2006-07-11 02:52:00 · answer #1 · answered by anonymourati 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is hard to answer this question without more information. Is this a new problem or is it a problem that has been present from the day you bought the car? I can tell you this, the gas tank is located under the rear of the vehicle and the fuel pump is located inside the gas tank and I have actually experienced one car that would lose pump suction on steep hills or sharp turns when the tank was low. There is also a pick up filter on the suction of the fuel pump that may be partially plugged causing a temporary loss of suction when fuel level is low. If you attack this problem yourself, try to use as much gas out of the tank as possible so you won't have to pump the gas out. Remove all electrical connections, fill and vent hose connections, fuel lines, etc. There should be two straps that hold the tank to the underside of the vehicle. Once the gas tank is out of the car, remove the pump assembly and check the inlet filter, float operation, etc. There should be a rheostat that can be adjusted to correct fuel gauge readings. Your tank may be getting too low before warning light comes on or you think you need gas. Make sure this is set correctly. The pump can be changed for about $50 or so. If you don't find anything wrong, then you have two options left: 1. Get rid of it. 2. Live with it. Good luck.
2006-07-11 09:53:02 · answer #2 · answered by wrench this 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call a gas tank repair shop and ask the technician if he has had any other jeeps in for a similar problem. It sounds like your pick-up on your pump/sending unit has malfunctioned and not picking up fuel below half or there is a hole in the pick-up. I would recommend not returning to the other three mechanics. Try a MASTER MECHANIC certified shop. Depending what area in Canada? in Durham region try Franks auto service 905-435-0949.He has many years of experience and has probably run across this one. good luck
2006-07-11 10:02:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you will need to pull the fuel pump and check the tank baffles the fuel pump has 2 filters on it the first one can get plugged the 2ND one can get fuel from the fuel spilling over there may also be a small amount of water in tank but i would put this way down on the list
it dosent have a pick up tube and it isnt tune up related you need to pull the pump and have the pump and tank checked
2006-07-11 09:42:35 · answer #4 · answered by mobile auto repair (mr fix it) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe it was 1996 or 1997 when jeep had a manufactures recall on replacing the fuel pump/fuel sending unit due to incorrect readings under 1/2 a tank. the vehicles just ran out of gas.
2006-07-11 09:41:05 · answer #5 · answered by j_higi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got a 2001 Jeep grand Cherokee Laredo. I haven't heard of this problem nor have I experienced it.
Have you had a tune up? That might help some of the problems with it. Perhaps it's bad gas, I don't know.
2006-07-11 09:37:34 · answer #6 · answered by casey_leftwich 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
now i dont know much about your jeep... but it seems that the fuel pick up tube is loose in your jeep.... ( the tube the picks up fuel from the tank to the intank fuel pump ) At below a half tank, on a left turn the fuel will move to the right side of the tank exposing the suction tube to air causing a drop in fuel pressure. just a guess mind you from your explanation ..
2006-07-11 09:41:24 · answer #7 · answered by SigmundS of Yew 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got rid of my Jeep last year it was the same year and make as yours. All we had was problems with it from the day we got it. Plus we owned a 97 before we got the 99 and it was the same thing one problem after another. All of our problems where minor in the 99 but it still adds up when you have to fix something every month the 97 even though it had a new motor when we bought it 2 months later we started having problems with the motor and it was going to cost us $3000 to fix whatever was wrong with it (don't remember now it's been to long) My moms neighbor bought a new one a couple years ago after a year they got rid of it because they got sick and tired of things going wrong with it. So in my opinion Jeeps suck and your gonna have problems.
Sorry but I would just get rid of it.
2006-07-11 09:45:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your jeep must have a gas leak. have a repairman check the tank or the fuel lines.
2006-07-11 10:47:21 · answer #9 · answered by crimson viper 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It desperately wants to be in a Juicy Fruit commercial...it's gonna move you
2006-07-11 09:36:57 · answer #10 · answered by just visiting 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋