258 Stuttering/Stumbling

[khsjeepr]

Yesterday, I went and washed off my Jeep (just the exterior, not the engine). Well, while driving around yesterday, the Jeep starting stuttering/ stumbling really bad. It would idle just fine, smooth as a whistle and when I revved the engine it would rev up just fine. However, whenever the jeep was under load (moving) it would stumble all over itself. I had a really tough time making it to Autozone. When I got there, I bought some carb cleaner and cleaned it out pretty intensively and also replaced the air filter. I also made sure my distributor cap didn't have any resin or deposits on the tip and rotor. I began to drive off and the same problem happened. So I went back inside and bought some "Gumout" fuel system cleaner. Went to the gas station and filled up and inserted the cleaner. Still had the same problems. Whenever I drove to work this morning, it started running better. However, it still felt very sluggish and didn't want to accelerate like it should. I feel like I have had some of these problems before however never this bad. On occasion, my Jeep would get very sluggish and not want to run like it should. I always just attributed the problem to the carb dumping too much fuel. At least that's what it felt like. Now I don't believe it is that. Have any idea what would be causing this? Like I said, it is running better today but not up to full potential.

[MossMan]

did you check the timing and/or vac. advance? is there any way this might have been thrown off?

[khsjeepr]

I'll take a look at it

[Murfman]

is the dist cap cracked and letting moisture in?

[khsjeepr]

No, the distributor cap is good. First thing I did was check the distributor.

[rockr]

even though the carter carb has many probs---mostly an idle prob..........i don't think you have a fuel prob. sounds like spark/timing. if a plug wire is bad/off a plug that would show up under load.

check all plug wires and check all spark plugs while you are at it.

as mentioned, check timing but i would do the wires/plugs first.

if one cylinder is not firing you may not notice it much at idle but under load it will show. you can also pull one plug wire at a time while idling and see if it makes a difference. if it doesn't then that can be the bad cylinder.

also check for any vacuum leaks.

trial and error is what i have to do

[khsjeepr]

Yeah, I don't think it is fuel related. Here are the mods that I have completed to the engine. Motorcraft 2100 carburetor (no longer using the carter), TFI upgrade w/ 8 mm plug wires and new plugs (installed January 2003). Nutter bypass. Semi new fuel pump. New ignition module. That pretty much sums it up. I checked the plug wires yesterday and all the plugs were making good contact. No imperfections on any of the plug wires. Could a plug wire still be bad? Could it be something related to the spark plugs?
While driving my Jeep today, it ran okay but it would still stumble for a second and then it would take off like it should. I have the motorcraft with the 1.08 venturi so I don't think it is dumping too much fuel. Any more thoughts as to what I should check?

[rockr]

it ran okay but it would still stumble for a second and then it would take off like it should.



now that sounds like fuel

if it were timing/plugs/wires...............it would run like shit all the time right?

[bluesman2a]

I vote for blocked PCV. Had that happen to me once. Same symptoms, cheap fix/check.

I would start working back from there, check your plug wires then back towards ignition module.

[sceep]

water in the tank. from car wash. $1 bet.

[rockr]

Originally posted by sceep
water in the tank. from car wash. $1 bet.

and how would water get into the gas tank, short of opening the cap and pouring it in

[sceep]

Originally posted by rockr



and how would water get into the gas tank, short of opening the cap and pouring it in

cracked filler hose,

"oops" accidental unknown hole drilled thru bed thru poly tank,

bas seal on gas cap where filler hole was caked full of mud and heavily doused to get the mud out.


I have seen all 3 of these scenarios in person.

[khsjeepr]

Well if I got water in my tank, would fuel system cleaner burn it out? I really don't think this is likely though. There are only four small screw holes in the back and I'm 99.9% sure I didn't get too close to the tank. Plus, don't you think it would have gotten water in it whenever I got in the mud, etc. on the trails? It's not like I could have exactly put the power washer on top of the tank to really force water in there (assuming I knocked a hole in it from the top). Please keep the suggestions coming.

[khsjeepr]

Hey bluesman2a. Are your referring to the PCV valve or the PCV vacuum on the rear of the valve cover?

[rockr]

Originally posted by sceep


cracked filler hose,

"oops" accidental unknown hole drilled thru bed thru poly tank,

bas seal on gas cap where filler hole was caked full of mud and heavily doused to get the mud out.


I have seen all 3 of these scenarios in person.

ok, all 3 are good points

BUT....how much water would have to be shoved right into these holes at a car wash to produce these running conditions?

i don't know......just searching

[rockr]

Originally posted by khsjeepr
Well if I got water in my tank, would fuel system cleaner burn it out? I really don't think this is likely though. There are only four small screw holes in the back and I'm 99.9% sure I didn't get too close to the tank. Plus, don't you think it would have gotten water in it whenever I got in the mud, etc. on the trails? It's not like I could have exactly put the power washer on top of the tank to really force water in there (assuming I knocked a hole in it from the top).

i agree, but it's a thought

Originally posted by khsjeepr
Please keep the suggestions coming.

ok, we will....but ya gotta get out in the garage and try em as we think of em

[sceep]

checking for water in the tank is easy.

pull a fuel line and turn the pump on.. pump some into a clear container (not plastic), or onto the ground. all you need is about a cup worth to tell/

If you pump into a container it should be very obvious if there is water in it.. the gas should be floating

If you pump some onto the floor, again, the water should be easy to spot. It'll "bead" on the gas.