bunny hops

[Blonde]

Hi,
New to this forum,have lurked for a bit , more of a reader than a writer.
Wondering if anyone can give advice on the following:
My jeep is doing little bunny hops/hiccups every now and again, seems to get worse when the car is warmed up (ie mostly on the freeway).
Already have dented one of the side panels giving it a good almighty kick to get it to behave and nothing!
Any ideas why its acting so weird?

[Wozza]

Hi Blonde and welcome to the nut house smile.gif
Is your TJ modified at all (lift etc). I'm not too clued up on the subject but check This Thread (http://www.ilovejeeps.net/showthread.php?s=7b6914bed8e1173df6e2a2405b5449c0&threadid=1355&highlight=Death+Wobble) on a US site. It may help track the problem. That guys Jeep is seriously modified but I've heard of this happening after a mild lift.

[ 01 September 2002, 08:57 AM: Message edited by: Wozza ]

[Jeff]

Welcome!

It could be one of two things;

a) The TPS (throttle sensor) is on the blink, which causes the Jeep not to idle properly. If you let it sit there, does it stay on 800rpm?

b) could just be crap in the engine. Grab yourself a bottle of winns or similar, and chuck it in with your next tank. Keeping to the same brand of PULP petrol is also a good idea.

Now be nice to that jeep of yours! graemlins/punchface.gif

[Jonesy]

I had a similar problem...try the TPS thats what was wrong with mine.

[Steve]

Yeah my vote is for the TPS. Is your fuel economy really suffering? Worse than normal that is?

[Phil]

Yeah mine feels like it going to wheel stand sometimes just the shot for rock crawling (NOT) you can buy the TPS yourself and just plug it in, cheaper than the dealer,
depends on how confident you are

[Wozza]

Had my TPS replace a few weeks back but got no hiccups. It just ran rough and idled at 1500rpm. Could the oxygen sensor cause these symptoms??

[Blonde]

Just stock at the moment but in time..
Yes it is guzzling quite a bit of fuel.
Thanks for the help guys, gives me something to look at

[Dale]

It may well be as simple as needing new plugs.

I had a simliar prob, would miss when under load eg going up a hill

[big red beast]

i had this problem for the past few weeks. what happened to me was it felt like it was going to cut out, stall as i went to take off from ideal. got worse as the car got hotter. i thought it might have been something jeep ********ed when they chenged the petrol sensor for the recall a few weeks ago. so i started blaming them - before i took it in to them i started doing some inspecting for simple thing.
thought it might have been my spark plugs etc and decided to check em all on friday morning - what i found was that the BITCH of a plug stuck under the alternator was ********ed.
what had happened was that over time ripping the lead off the plug had cracked the lead. this is due to the shitty place they put the barsted. that way it was mis firing.

so one thing check all your spark plugs, makje sure they aren't black or the ceramic isn't cracked and that the leads are fully sealed.

make sure yoy check the lead tucked under the alternator as when i purchased my car it was just out of warranty and i did a service as soon as i got it home and that plug had never been changed i think - it was black as shit and the rest were newish. that means even jeep mechanics get the shits with the positioning of the psark plug.

[Buddha]

could be as cheap as having a few more driving lessons. graemlins/headspin.gif

ps:sorry but i couldnt resist that one. ;)

[Buddha]

could be as cheap as having a few more driving lessons. graemlins/headspin.gif

ps:sorry but i couldnt resist that one. ;)

[GIJEEP]

I had a similar problem with mine.

It started to miss fire on rare occasions, and then got worse until it wouldnt run properly.

The problem was the Oxygen sensor. Yours could be the same problem. The check engine light wont come on either (Well thats what happened to me). Take it to Jeep and let them tell you what the problem is. It will cost around $30. If it is the sensors, buy one yourself and replace it. It cost me $400 to replace the sensor, when the bloody thing only costs $180.

[GIJEEP]

How do you guys take that shitty spark plug from behind the alternator?

Originally posted by the big red beast:
i had this problem for the past few weeks. what happened to me was it felt like it was going to cut out, stall as i went to take off from ideal. got worse as the car got hotter. i thought it might have been something jeep ********ed when they chenged the petrol sensor for the recall a few weeks ago. so i started blaming them - before i took it in to them i started doing some inspecting for simple thing.
thought it might have been my spark plugs etc and decided to check em all on friday morning - what i found was that the BITCH of a plug stuck under the alternator was ********ed.
what had happened was that over time ripping the lead off the plug had cracked the lead. this is due to the shitty place they put the barsted. that way it was mis firing.

so one thing check all your spark plugs, makje sure they aren't black or the ceramic isn't cracked and that the leads are fully sealed.

make sure yoy check the lead tucked under the alternator as when i purchased my car it was just out of warranty and i did a service as soon as i got it home and that plug had never been changed i think - it was black as shit and the rest were newish. that means even jeep mechanics get the shits with the positioning of the psark plug.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

[Steve]

My 97's alternator sits lower than the newer models. But my plug is behind the air-con compressor. Remove serpentine belt and remove 4 bolts on compressor. At least they thought to use flexible tubing for the aircon piping so you can move the thing to the side and get to the plug!

[Phil]

If and when you decide to fit a york compressor the "shitty spark plug" problem arises again.

[Kramer]

Similar bad access for the XJ. The way to get it is to use a 3/8 drive (skinnier) universal knukle between a standard 5/8 deep reach socket (Ithink that's the right size). Extend the knuckle with a short extention, use your 3/8 drive ratchet and be gentle as when you apply force in this position you could damage the porcelin on the plug. But it does work if you're careful.

Of couse, I'm presuming it's ther same sort of setup as the XJ, I could stand corrected.

Kramer

[ 03 September 2002, 08:22 AM: Message edited by: Kramer ]

[big red beast]

sorry i said mine was below the alternator and someone corrected me and said it was below the air con. whcih is correct.

as someone said above use a universal joint and guide it in with your fingers i know its hard.
the hardest bit is getting the blasted lead off the barsted.

A TIP: i worked out the other day, i know it will sound stupid but it works.
using electrical tape, tape together the universal joint to the ratchet and to the socket as i went to get the barsted out when i finished tighting the sparky and as i went to pull it out it left the socket stuck on the sparky, the barsted took me forever to get the barsted socket out.

GIJEEP - its rare that jeeps have problwems with the air flow meter, they can withstand a shit load of air flow through them, unlike other cars. the use of snorkels (vcold air induction) and big pod style filters like mine increase air flow considerably and they handle it fine. i am very surprised that your air flow meter ********ed up, you sure jeep didnt just screw you. did you test pulling out the plugs off it and using a connection cleaner on them and try disconnecting em while the car is running. this will cause the CHECK ENGINE light to come on but it can be fixed by disconnecting the earth off the battery for a few seconds. - i know this cause i originally thought my problem was the air flow meter.

[GIJEEP]

I didnt try anything. It happened a few weeks after i bought the thing and didnt have time to play with it.

At the time i just wanted it fixed. But i guess your right. I did get screwed.

[Blonde]

How ever did you guess that im female?

Problem solved,thanks for all your input.
Fault was a faulty spark plug lead, changed so far no more problems.

Think I will continue to lurk or find myself a gay friend who can type for me in this here all guy forum.
tongue.gif