For the last several weeks (or maybe longer) my YJ has been having problems starting when cold. Now it seems to have problems restarting after sitting for just a few minutes. I don't know when the last time it was tuned up--I've only had it for about 20,000 miles. That may be the problem, or it could be the fuel pump.

Those of you who have seen the underside of my WRangler know that the gas tank skid and gas tank have been dented quite severly. The gas gauge doesn't work and the fuel pump is probably badly displaced.

Anyway, later this morning I'll be taking it to a new garage in my area. Pat Washington, you may know him from his handle, OIIIIIIIO, is part owner. His Dad is going to check it out for me.

Wish me luck in a farily inexpensive (I hope) fix!

After they steam cleaned the engine, gave me a complete tune up, replaced the ignition coil, replaced the cam shaft sensor, and tried a new crank shaft sensor, and charged me $452+ the problem still persisted. They told me the only thing left would be the main computer.

However, just on a hunch they replaced three ground wires/cables, and it appears to be working properly.

When the YJ was hooked up to their test equipment it was getting no spark and no fuel pressure. They didn't charge me for the revisit.

Prayerfully it will continue to be OK.

Just as a side comment: Isn't it amazing that with all this new modern technology and equipment, that doctors and mechanics still have to diagnose some things on a "hunch!"

Let me start by saying that to many of you this may be common knowledge, but I was surprised by what I found out about automotive computers.

A lot of you will remember Memorial Day weekend 2006 when my YJ suddenly just died on the trails and wouldn't start again. After Big D towed me back to the staging area and a roll back brought me home, it was determined that my crank shaft sensor needed replaced. Well, that was taken care of and the YJ ran, but not well. (I'm not sure when I actually noticed all the nagging little problems beginning.) I'd be driving down the highway and the vehicle would suddenly jolt for just a fraction of a second, like it wasn't getting any gas. When driving at slow speeds in a low gear (like going around a corner) somestimes it would "buck" violently. I've notice this "bucking" many times while on the trails, also. It's been extremely hard to start after it hasn't been run for a while.

I took it to Pat and Mike Washington's garage, Central Auto & Truck, a couple weeks ago and Mike steam cleaned the entire engine compartment followed by a complete tune up. The problems persisted. After putting it on their diagnostic machine they determined that it needed either a new cam shaft sensor or a new crank shaft sensor. They tried both and neither solved the problem. A new ignition coil did not fix things either. Finally new ground wires were tried, with only minimal success. Their equipment showed that I times I was getting no spark and no injecting of fuel. The only other possible cause was the main engine computer.

I was able to locate a guy on Ebay who refurbishes PCM's, ECU's, etc. He had my part number in stock, programmed it with my VIN and mileage and sent it out to me by priority mail. If he doesn't have your part, you can send him yours and he'll repair it within 24 hours and ship it back. Pat installed it last night in half an hour. I picked the YJ up this afternoon and it runs like a charm: No sputtering, no bucking, and I THINK the engine is running at lower RPM's. We'll see how it starts up on a nice, brisk morning, tomorrow.

Right now I'd say my YJ is running better than ever and I can't wait till Saturday to get out on the trails.

All the work that Mike did wasn't cheap, but he was trying to save me from having to get a new computer. However, it turned out that the computer was cheaper than just about everything else: $112.50 including shipping.

So if you've got nagging engine problems and think it might be the computer, give me a call and I'll hook you up with the guy.

i have a bucking problem in my jeep when it is under alot of load going up hills. like right before i got to down shift. is that the same thing your talking about. mine alwase does it at a certain turn at my house and other places also. its done it for years.
but i never noticed it wheeling.

Every time I would turn into my driveway (which incidentally goes down hill) I'd be in second gear. It would start to buck terribly until I'd push in the clutch. And sometimes when I'd try to accellerate in third gear after turning a corner, it would buck. It's not the kind of bucking that will stop by pressing down further on the accelerator. You actually have to push the clutch pedal in for a second or two.

The times I noticed it while on the trails it happens when I try to accellerate with just a gentle push on the skinny pedal. It almost always happens on Trail 14 coming out of one of the turns.

It acts like you're just learning how to drive a stick shift. Anyway, so far it hasn't done it since the computer install.

The bucking when turning into my drive way I could live with, even though I looked like a fool. But when it give a quick lurch on the highway, that's unacceptable. And yes, I had that lurch before I had any lockers, so that wasn't the problem.

It's amazing, though, that we all get to learn the idosynchrasies of our vehicles and accept them until they get to the point where they start to annoy us.