Jeep Electrical Issue, help?

[cavemann]

My daughter has 2004 2.4L wrangler.  Alternator failed a couple years ago.  It failed again.  I put another one in, jumped it and got battery to charge again.  She drove it around block, turned off/back on a couple times and we assumed all good.  I told her to let it run for 5 mins or so to get a good charge.  a couple mins in it just died.  No shutter, miss or anything.  just died.  Now it will not turn over.  Starter does its thing, battery has plenty juice, just won't fire up almost like it has no fuel.  Has 3/4 tank.  The other issue now, gauges don't engage or move at all when key is in on position or while ignition is engaged.

Do these things have a master computer module??  It doesn't seem like it does.  There are only about 6-7 relays and 10 fuses.  Any suggestions, I know electrical issues can be chasing ghost.

[Sandberm]

Would anything in this video help? Bad relay? Or what he finally figured out his problem was, ignition actuator pin?

[cavemann]

thanks!!  Plenty to try from there

It turns over and cranks, just wont fire up

[Sutherland]

To see if it's a fuel issue buy a can of starting fluid. Take out your air filter and spray it up into the throttle body. At the same time have your daughter try to start the Jeep. If it starts and runs for a few seconds that way you know it's a fuel issue. Could be a clogged fuel filter, a bad fuel relay or a failed fuel pump. I just replaced my fuel pump on my Honda Accord. But at least this way you will determine weather it's an electrical issue or a fuel issue. Hope this helps and good luck!

[cavemann]

thanks guys, I'll try both

[Buckhunter24]

Is it a chipped key on a jeep that old? If it is, try unhooking the battery, leave unhooked for 20 minutes then hook back up and try to start. We had a similar issue with a rav4 and this fixed it. It was a one time deal, never have had the issue sonce

[Jonathan_S]

Start with electrical connections. Sounds similar to a coil problem I had

[cavemann]

no chip, its 2004 wrangler..  basically mid 80's technology.  It's looking more and more like possible PCM

[92xj]

Can you pull a plug and see if it is sparking?
Also, is there a fuel rail with a valve at the end you can push in and get sprayed with fuel?
Does that year have a distributor for the spark plugs?

[callturner]

Cam sensor

[Jonathan_S]

no chip, its 2004 wrangler..  basically mid 80's technology.  It's looking more and more like possible PCM

Rgr. Thought those TJs had coils.

Fuel pressure would a suspect

[jackelope]

no chip, its 2004 wrangler..  basically mid 80's technology.  It's looking more and more like possible PCM

It's OBD2, not mid 80's technology. Mid 80's seats, but modern electronics.  Chrysler calls the security keys "SKIM" keys(security key interface module) and plenty of Wranglers of that vintage have SKIM keys. Is the key black or gray? I will virtually guarantee you it's not a key problem, even if it does have a SKIM key.

What makes you think it's a bad PCM?

Also it should be a 2.5, right? Not a 2.4.

Does it have fuel pressure? You can see if you have fuel at the rail by depressing the schrader valve at the test port, but you won't be able to tell if it's adequate fuel pressure without a fuel pressure gauge.

Crank sensors are common issues. Might have a bad crank sensor.

If you're going to throw parts at it, I'd throw a crank sensor at it as a guess. Really without being able to check fuel pressure and/or check for fault codes, you're guessing.

[bustedoldman]

Crank sensor issues are pretty common...Happened in mine!

[cavemann]

thanks guys..  I have some issues to look into

[cavemann]

no chip, its 2004 wrangler..  basically mid 80's technology.  It's looking more and more like possible PCM

It's OBD2, not mid 80's technology. Mid 80's seats, but modern electronics.  Chrysler calls the security keys "SKIM" keys(security key interface module) and plenty of Wranglers of that vintage have SKIM keys. Is the key black or gray? I will virtually guarantee you it's not a key problem, even if it does have a SKIM key.

What makes you think it's a bad PCM?

Also it should be a 2.5, right? Not a 2.4.

Does it have fuel pressure? You can see if you have fuel at the rail by depressing the schrader valve at the test port, but you won't be able to tell if it's adequate fuel pressure without a fuel pressure gauge.

Crank sensors are common issues. Might have a bad crank sensor.

If you're going to throw parts at it, I'd throw a crank sensor at it as a guess. Really without being able to check fuel pressure and/or check for fault codes, you're guessing.

Thanks Jackelope.  I was tongue in cheek about 80's tech.  The key is not chipped, it's old school all metal key.  Fuel issues seem to be what I need to confirm before anything else.  I suspected the PCM because gauges don't work now even with key on and engine cranking.  But, I'm not good with cars at all and going off of some youtube stuff with similar issues.  We don't want to throw money at it but was thinking about seeing if I could find a PCM at junkyard for cheap as a hail Mary.  I found some that can ship for $75.  Going to give it my college try with all the suggestions on here so far.

Thanks again to you and everyone's ideas.  Need to try these and see if I can narrow down a bit.