It has been raining like mad here in California this last week and my 2000 jeep wrangler was running just fine. Two days ago, however, the roads were flooding and I tried to put it into 4wd to help keep control in the flooding conditions (I haven't used my 4wd for a few years). It wouldn't go into 4wd easily and was running very high RPMs when in 4wd, so I just put it back to regular 2wd. The next two times I started the car, everything was fine. However, the third time I started up, the check engine light came on and stayed on. The idle was acting erratically (idling high, followed by very low (near stall) idling. Also, it is giving me rough acceleration right as I shift to each gear. Anyone have any input?
Dear atomicboy488,
A lot of Rain=Possible Water in the Gas=Erratic Running!
This sounds like it may be as simple as cleaning the water or gunk out of the gas tank which is what I always do 1st because it's easy and inexpensive.
If your fuel is contaminated with gunk, grime, WATER and/or bottom junk like rust this will cause stalling AND ROUGH ACCELERATION!
Try spraying a can of starter fluid in the air intake and see if it runs! If it does, it's most likely bad fuel or clogged injectors so....
Fill the tank with High Test, Add some DRYGAS and a good fuel system cleaner or 2 or 3 and this should dissolve all the gunk and clean the injectors! Read & follow the cans' instruction carefully.
If this cures the problem never let your gas tank get below 1/4 and especially never run it to empty as this is when the gunk and/or water will enter the system!
Hope this helps!
Good Luck!
jackiaria
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thanks. will try this tomorrow
it seems to have worked. Rough engine has gone away (almost instantantly). The engine light is now out (I have gone 40 warm up cycles with the car and it is out).
However, when it did go out, I was concerned the bulb had burned out because I don't see the engine light when I actually start the car like I did, but when I just turn the key to "on" without turning the engine, the light comes on, cycles, and turns off like it does to test the light. Should I be concerned?
It fixed the idle/acceleration problems immediately. Check engine light is now out too. WOO HOO
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