I need to stop breaking my jeep...

[closhedbb]

Okay! New problem. I was out wheelin' yesterday and went into a puddle that ended up being deeper than I thought it was. Long story short, engine cut out, wouldn't start. I got someone to pull me out, and when I did, it still wouldn't start. We pulled the jeep onto an incline to let water come out of the exhaust, and LOTS of water came out the exhaust. I kept trying to start it, and every time I did, a little more water spat out the back, until finally it started. At first I was very relieved. It ran fine the rest of the day, no problems. This morning, it ran fine, no big deal, then about 15 mins after, I went out to start it again, and now it won't turn over. Not only that, but the odometer is showing "No bus", and the check engine light is on. I would think the water wouldn't cause any more problems after I had it running for a while. I put about 50 miles on it after the water incident. Does anyone have any idea what could be the problem?

 

[Rusted]

My immediate thaught was that you got water into the distrubuter, just a little water there and it will not start. The fix for that is to take the cap off dry it out (I heard WD-40 is good too), and try it again.

Did you get the computer wet? The distrubuter comment does not help you with the other electrical problems you mentioned. I would disconnect the battery, so there is no power to anything, and let it dry out for awhile. But if you had power going through the boards when they were soaking wet there could be more problems.

How deep was this water?

 

[mbryson]

My Cherokee 4.0L HATED water........ It was totally reliable UNLESS you played in water or mud. I never figured it out....

 

[closhedbb]

The water wasn't too deep. Only about 30", so the computer or the engine was not immersed, just very well splashed. The main problem initially was getting the water out of the exhaust. I had to get pulled out because the exhaust was completely under water. But the engine and everything up front was not underwater at all. It ran fine for a day. It rained last night, and got pretty dang cold, but it ran alright this morning, then this afternoon, it just up and got stupid on me.

 

[mbryson]

The water wasn't too deep. Only about 30", so the computer or the engine was not immersed, just very well splashed. The main problem initially was getting the water out of the exhaust. I had to get pulled out because the exhaust was completely under water. But the engine and everything up front was not underwater at all. It ran fine for a day. It rained last night, and got pretty dang cold, but it ran alright this morning, then this afternoon, it just up and got stupid on me.

I had to go through EVERY electrical connector I could find, clean and reconnect each one (most common issues were TPS, CPS and the actual computer connector). Di-electric grease helps, but I never really did wade into the water again......and avoided mud as much as I could.

 

[Badger]

well first you should never charge into a puddle or mud hole it is only going to cause problems.it's going to shoot water into your relay box ,alternator,and other bearings on the front accessories.second you should never try to restart your truck if it ever stalls in a puddle .if you have somebody there to pull you out to so without starting it .once it's pulled to dry ground always check the air cleaner .if you have water in there then pull the intake tube to the throttle body.if you have water or traces of water there .then pull the coil wire ,pull all the spark plugs .check the oil at this point to make sure it isn't a milkshake .if it is drop the oil in to some kind of container and replace it.replace the oil filter.now you can crank the motor so you will pump any water out of the cylinders.possible spay some WD-40 in the plug holes to help clear the water out.reinstall the plugs if they don't look fouled out.might want to even check the gaps on them to make sure they are still right.now it is time to see if it will start.good luck finding what is wrong with it .if you have "no bus" coming up it means that it's not recieving a signal from the computer.you might want to check your under hood relays to see if you have water or dirt in the connections to make sure you are getting power to the computer

 

[Badger]

living in Jersey and wheeling the pines you soon learn what to bring with you if you know you are going to run into water .which living in jersey was a common occurance.this is a common trail in jesery



this jeep is on 35's and i had just gone thru it and told him to hold off he didn't listen

 

[Meat_]

Never get tired of looking at that

 

[Badger]

this is more the way you want to deal with water.

water crossing

 

[EZRhino]

My jeep hates water too...must be part cat. My computer got wet and fried itself, and that was after driving it after it got wet too. It could definately be the computer. Where is it mounted on your rig?

EZ

 

[mbryson]

My jeep hates water too...must be part cat. My computer got wet and fried itself, and that was after driving it after it got wet too. It could definately be the computer. Where is it mounted on your rig?

EZ

Assuming by the avatar that he has an XJ, it's up by the air intake on the drivers side fender....

 

[Meat_]

this is more the way you want to deal with water.

water crossing

And here is how NOT to cross water

 

[closhedbb]

Nice video clip! Yeah, I really do think it is the computer. Everything looks fine, fuses, intake, etc... And the fact that tho odometer says 'no bus' means that there IS something wrong with the computer. I hope that's all it is, that wouldn't be too expensive. I just gave up and took it into the shop, gonna take a hit on this one... Another lesson learned.

 

[EZRhino]

Do this: get a replacement computer, swap your PROM into it like the instructions tell you. Plug it in. If it doesn't work, then just swap it back and return it.

I am floored that cherokee computers are in the engine compartment! I just finished sewing up a gore-tex sock to put mine in to keep it dry. So far so good. (Mine is inside the jeep, but still gets wet, go figure )

EZ

 

[closhedbb]

Does anyone in here know the part number for a 2000 Cherokee ECU?

 

[XJEEPER]

Try Crabtree Auto in Riverdale....they buy a lot of late model totaled XJs so they may have a cheaper than the dealer ECM option on the shelf. They are a M-F shop, DexOnline will get you their number.....ask for Joe and tell him that Jeff Turner sent you.

 

[closhedbb]

I'll do that, thanks.

 

[closhedbb]

Try Crabtree Auto in Riverdale....they buy a lot of late model totaled XJs so they may have a cheaper than the dealer ECM option on the shelf. They are a M-F shop, DexOnline will get you their number.....ask for Joe and tell him that Jeff Turner sent you.

Thanks for the referal. I gave Joe a call, and he was very helpful, a great guy. Thanks again!

 

[closhedbb]

I got a new ECM from Crabtree Auto, exact same year and everything. It's the exact same ECM. Now the shop is telling me that I need to have it reprogrammed at that is going to cost $120! Somehow that doesn't seem right to me. I would think a perfectly good ECM out of an XJ of the same model exactly wouldn't need to be reprogrammed. Am I wrong? I should just be able to plug it in, right? Reset the computer, and let it run through it's cycle of callibrating itself to my driving style.

 

[mbryson]

I got a new ECM from Crabtree Auto, exact same year and everything. It's the exact same ECM. Now the shop is telling me that I need to have it reprogrammed at that is going to cost $120! Somehow that doesn't seem right to me. I would think a perfectly good ECM out of an XJ of the same model exactly wouldn't need to be reprogrammed. Am I wrong? I should just be able to plug it in, right? Reset the computer, and let it run through it's cycle of callibrating itself to my driving style.

yes....Run away from that shop.......