Stalled while cruising - please help a newbie

[NHJeeper]

So there I am, wide smile on the highway in my 91GW (recently purchased, my first since childhood). I'm driving 65mph with the pedal depressed, and she suddenly stalls. Feeling awfully like running out of gas - I know fuel is in the tank. Wouldn't start. Towed.

This is the third time it has happened, other two times she would start again. This time my mechanic was able to start when he tried the next day.

Sending unit is currently malfunctioning - fuel gauge stuck on full.
It has been dog cold here, seems to have started with the cold temps - not sure if this is an issue.
Is this what they mean by a vapor lock?
Could it be a carb problem? Fuel Pump, sending unit?
Is this a common problem with these beauties?

Any information would be greatly appreciated, I'm a newbie in a world of darkness. Thanks in advance.

[Dan G]

First - check the ignition module - grey aluminum box on driver's side fender. Frequently causes intermittent problems as you describe ie when the box gets hot it quits and when it's cold it works fine.

There are many common problems with these beauties - the most common seems to be the wallet drain. Someone here has it right - JEEP means Just Empty Every Pocket.

Hey, live free or die right?

[joe]

What did it do when it died? Did it stumble bumble with maybe a tad bit of RPM increase just before quitting? That'd be a sign of no fuel. Carb went dry for whatever reason. The fuel sock/filter in the tank maybe plugged or if your state's been running that MTBE(?) fuel additive crap the sock maybe melted.
If it quits cleanly and quickly just like as if you turned the key off it's most likey the ignition module. I would get one anyway and see if it cures it. If not then keep the old one in the glove box because you "will" need it eventually. Could be the pickup coil in the distributor but once they go south they usually stay south and won't allow you to restart again later where a bad ignition module will sometimes after it cools off.

[Don S]

..
NHJeeper
... Welcome to the IFSJA group. I sure hope you enjoy our members here. It is very difficult to diagnose problems on the I-Net.
CARBURETOR – ENGINE STALLS
The first thing I would do is with the engine NOT running is pull the Air Cleaner, look down in the carburetor and open the throttle 4 times. If a fair amount of fuel squirts out then the accelerator and fuel pumps are OK. If OK I would then check the vacuum advance system in the distributor. On the older FSJs I pull the cap and see if the point plate advances when a vacuum is applied to the little nipple on the distributor … You thought I was going to say… ’I suck’… well …I do..
... I dought it is a vapor lock. I would look for bad electrical connections in cluding engine to frame grounding.

link> VAPORLOCK FIX 101 (http://groups.msn.com/ATexasOklahomaJeepClub/ouraycotopic.msnw)
… Below is a good fast link to acronyms we really use.
link> Acronym and Abbreviations for 4x4 Gearheads (http://groups.msn.com/NISSAN4X4TRAILS/acronymlist.msnw)

Good luck and ..CUL… ds..

ps ... Carburetor links...

link> FSJ MC-2150 CARBURETOR (http://www.ifsja.org/tech/fuel/2150.shtml)
link> MC-2150 CARBURETOR (http://home.earthlink.net/~bubbaf250/2150carb/carb01.html)

[reddog]

Originally posted by -joe:
The fuel sock/filter in the tank maybe plugged or if your state's been running that MTBE(?) fuel additive crap the sock maybe melted.
I am curious Joe. Why do you think that MTBE melts the sock?? I live where MTBE has been used for some time with no ill effects (other than the groundwater contamination) from it.

Kerry

[NHJeeper]

Some great leads here to get started on - thank you.

And when it died, it did take a bit of an RPM jump, enough for me to look around and say, "huh?" before giving out. No Fuel it sounds like.

We'll see...

Be well.

[Da Big Blue]

Welcome to the board. Pretty soon that 2 posts will turn to 200 possibly 2000

[Rich 89 Gr. Wag]

NHJeeper,

I have an 89 GW, and I had an 87 GW. The ignition control module is what died on mine and I had the same symptoms as you. I think the dealer gets $100 for the module. You can try a junk yard and probably get one for $5-10. That'd be a cheap way to possibly diagnose the problem. Where in NH are you?

[CheapJeep]

You can but the ign module over teh caounter at most chain stores, just check taht the plugs are the same (they changed in @87 I think) It is just a F*rd part)

Scott