Jeep starting problems

[wazman]

About a year ago, I bought a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Laredo with the 6-cylinder engine. It's got 82,000 miles on it. Recently, I've had a problem starting it when it's been sitting at work all day. Normally, it turns over a couple times and then starts. But when this happens, it turns over about 10-12 times before it starts, and it's a very dry turnover - like it's not getting enough gas or something.

I had the same problem for a few days last year, and then the battery went dead (I don't know how old the battery was). I replaced that, and it's been fine until summer hit. Now, it happens every day. Strangely, though, it seems to happen only after it's been sitting outside in the parking lot of where I work - anywhere else it's fine.

We took it to a mechanic and here's what they did:

Checked alternator and starter - both fine
Replaced serpentine belt
Replaced spark plugs and wires
Changed oil
Changed fuel filter

The battery is only a year old.

What could this be? They checked the electrical system and said it was fine, but I don't know enough about cars to tell for myself. Could there still be an alternator problem? I noticed that since I started using more electrical stuff (AC, cell phone charger, etc), the electric gauge (I don't know the real name for it) dips a notch below the midline, whereas during the winter it stayed at or above.

Is this electrical, or maybe fuel related? Or maybe a bad battery? I don't know anything about cars, so I don't know what to try next, but I want to get this resolved.

Thanks. :) If you need more info, let me know.

Edit: I should add - if I turn it off and start it right back up after it does this, it starts fine. It starts fine in the morning. It starts fine everywhere but when it sits out at the store where I work. Puzzling...

[eire1274]

It's your fuel pressure regulator (solenoid). It's bleeding off pressure in the fuel rail (this stays pressurized even when the car is off). The slow start is caused when the system is rebuilding pressure so the injectors will spray correctly.

Just fixed the same thing on my friend's 2001 Cherokee. The part (Holley, #5125045) is $180 at Advanced Auto Parts, about a 30 minute replacement. The local Daimler place wouldn't order that part for us, they wanted to take the Jeep, so the after-market part made sence considering the hourly rate for techs in the shop. The Holley is also considered a "racing" part, and will need a little tweaking as it won't fit exactly like the old one, but it is tough and has a 10-year warranty.

[wazman]

Huh... That makes sense. So do I just get the part myself and take it to any mechanic and have them put it in? Or is this something I have to go to the dealer for?

I know I can get the part easily enough, but I'm just not sure who around my area can do the work.

[CyberGuy]

Huh... That makes sense. So do I just get the part myself and take it to any mechanic and have them put it in? Or is this something I have to go to the dealer for?

I know I can get the part easily enough, but I'm just not sure who around my area can do the work.

Any competent mechanic should be able to do the replacement - it does not have to be a Jeep/Chrysler dealer (they may have a problem working with aftermarket parts that they don't order themselves) . Simply explain to your mechanic that the part is not an oem part and that it is a Holley aftermaket one. Most competent mechanics should have no problem installing it and adjusting the pressure to factory specs. This is something any mechanic that works with modern fuel-injected cars needs to know.

[Maniacmous]

Your mechanic might even be able to get an OEM (or equivalent) replacement via one of their suppliers, for the record.

[wazman]

Forgive me for reviving this, but it's puzzling me.

I still haven't had the cash to get the part or anything, so I'm still having the trouble. Today it took about 10 seconds to start, and then kind of slipped into it.

But what I don't understand is why this only happens in one geographical location - the parking lot of the store I work at. It didn't do it once in Florida. It's done it maybe once at home. It doesn't do it anywhere else.

Just in that one parking lot, and just when I start it after it's sat in that one parking lot for a few hours. Anywhere else, it starts right up. No problems. No hesitation. No soft starts. Just roars into life. But if it sits in that one parking lot - then it gives me trouble.

Why would it happen ONLY there? What is so different about the conditions there? It's always outside, so that's not it. It's just that one parking lot that does it. Otherwise, it's fine.

This confuses the living crap out of me. :What the

Edit: WazLady drove it all week last week and never had a problem with it. She didn't even know it was still doing it. That's how odd this is.

[Kindom934]

Forgive me for reviving this, but it's puzzling me.

I still haven't had the cash to get the part or anything, so I'm still having the trouble. Today it took about 10 seconds to start, and then kind of slipped into it.

But what I don't understand is why this only happens in one geographical location - the parking lot of the store I work at. It didn't do it once in Florida. It's done it maybe once at home. It doesn't do it anywhere else.

Just in that one parking lot, and just when I start it after it's sat in that one parking lot for a few hours. Anywhere else, it starts right up. No problems. No hesitation. No soft starts. Just roars into life. But if it sits in that one parking lot - then it gives me trouble.

Why would it happen ONLY there? What is so different about the conditions there? It's always outside, so that's not it. It's just that one parking lot that does it. Otherwise, it's fine.

This confuses the living crap out of me. :What the

Edit: WazLady drove it all week last week and never had a problem with it. She didn't even know it was still doing it. That's how odd this is.

Maybe it's something to do with the gravatitional pull in that area????

That DOES seem ....(scratch head)....odd...

[Maniacmous]

Ok...that might just be about the oddest thing I've ever heard.

It is, I suppose, theoretically possible that its some sort of localized magnetic field or something, but...that sounds just...wrong.

Is the car parked on some kind of heavily sloped hill or something (something that might stress a dying fuel pump or something of the like)?

I have no idea...but that is def. very very strange.

[nighthawk15]

Ok...that might just be about the oddest thing I've ever heard.

It is, I suppose, theoretically possible that its some sort of localized magnetic field or something, but...that sounds just...wrong.

Is the car parked on some kind of heavily sloped hill or something (something that might stress a dying fuel pump or something of the like)?

I have no idea...but that is def. very very strange.

Not that I have a lot of experience with cars yet but that is the only thing I can think of also.

[Sidebinder]

I don't get how it started up fine for ladywaz all those times, very strange story. :What the

Hey though, my car was doing the samething, however, it was because the timing was off. Once we played with that, everything was normal. I did go a step further and also replaced my starter and solenoid, as my friend suggested, because I am building my 350 up and the car being 20 years old needs some TLC.

I wish you luck. :Thumb

[wazman]

Ok...that might just be about the oddest thing I've ever heard.

It is, I suppose, theoretically possible that its some sort of localized magnetic field or something, but...that sounds just...wrong.

Is the car parked on some kind of heavily sloped hill or something (something that might stress a dying fuel pump or something of the like)?

I have no idea...but that is def. very very strange.

Nope. It's completely flat. Just a regular concrete parking lot.

[Kindom934]

I don't get how it started up fine for ladywaz all those times, very strange story. :What the


Maybe it needs a bit of lovin? :heartbeat

Still yet, very.....

Unless it's something to do with supernature.