Stalling on hard left turns

brightdog · 01-06-2003, 01:06 PM

Hi All,

I've got a 97 ZJ 4.0L with 126k miles.

Recently I've noticed that when I've got anything under 1/4 tank of fuel and take a hard left turn, then engine will stall.

For example, sitting at a stop sign, hit the gas and turn left somewhat aggressively (ie, traffic is coming and I want to get moving) the engine stalls for 2-3 seconds and has no power at all, then it comes right back to life as if nothing happened.

This only happens on hard left turns, I've tried to reproduce with hard right hand turns, but that doesn't do it.

Then after filling the tank (it took about 17-18 gallons so it still had over 5 gallons in the tank), the problem no longer occurs.

Based on all of this, it would appear that the fuel pickup tube is sucking air during these hard turns.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was the problem, but I would have expected it to take a lot less fuel in the tank to do it.

This is a rather dangerous problem in my opinion (having the engine die when turning into traffic is NOT good) and running below 1/4 tank of fuel is not uncommon for me.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? Any thoughts?

Thanks,
-Matt

KRAMMY · 01-06-2003, 02:07 PM

Mine did the exact same thing right after I did a cumbustion cleaner, replaced the upstream 02 sensor . It did it 3 times and has not done it since, so I never got to diagnose the problem. Sorry for the no help. mark

qmike0 · 01-06-2003, 02:19 PM

ive got a 5.2, and i have the EXACT same problem... i had the dealer look at it at my last checkup and they said they could find nothing wrong... figures!! anyone with any ideas please respond....

Mike

armax1980 · 01-06-2003, 03:33 PM

I've experience something like this but never a stall out, instead the fuel gauge will take a nose dive to empty causing the low gas light to come on whenever I make a sharp turn, hard stop and heavy acceleration. With a 23 or so gal. tank its not uncommon for as little as 5 gal. to move around and away from the fuel pump when making erratic manuevers.

Savage ZJ · 01-06-2003, 03:46 PM

Exact same problem here - 98 ZJ 5.2. I've been living with it for 6 months now. Someone here suggested a bad fuel pump, but I've not had the $$ to try replacing it yet.

HostileZJ · 01-06-2003, 04:58 PM

Mine has done this for the last year 1/2 so if it is the pump it's dieing slow

anestech* · 01-06-2003, 05:10 PM

Search for "stalling" and "fuel pump" you will find that lots of 5.2s seem to have this problem. Mine did that at 30K, they replaced the fuel pump and I have had no issues since (64K).

Hideyoshi1 · 01-06-2003, 07:43 PM

have the same problem here with a 5.9. Had the fuel pump changed at dealer and the problem weas still there. So i just fill it up more often now. I read in the arch that there is a baffle in the fuel tank which gets messed up and allows the fuel to swish to one side making it think there is no gas on the hard turn. haven't tried to fix it thoguh
HTH

01-06-2003, 01:06 PM	#1
brightdog Registered Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Foxboro, Mass Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Stalling on hard left turns Hi All, I've got a 97 ZJ 4.0L with 126k miles. Recently I've noticed that when I've got anything under 1/4 tank of fuel and take a hard left turn, then engine will stall. For example, sitting at a stop sign, hit the gas and turn left somewhat aggressively (ie, traffic is coming and I want to get moving) the engine stalls for 2-3 seconds and has no power at all, then it comes right back to life as if nothing happened. This only happens on hard left turns, I've tried to reproduce with hard right hand turns, but that doesn't do it. Then after filling the tank (it took about 17-18 gallons so it still had over 5 gallons in the tank), the problem no longer occurs. Based on all of this, it would appear that the fuel pickup tube is sucking air during these hard turns. I wouldn't be surprised if this was the problem, but I would have expected it to take a lot less fuel in the tank to do it. This is a rather dangerous problem in my opinion (having the engine die when turning into traffic is NOT good) and running below 1/4 tank of fuel is not uncommon for me. Has anyone else experienced something like this? Any thoughts? Thanks, -Matt

01-06-2003, 02:07 PM	#2
KRAMMY Registered Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 308 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mine did the exact same thing right after I did a cumbustion cleaner, replaced the upstream 02 sensor . It did it 3 times and has not done it since, so I never got to diagnose the problem. Sorry for the no help. mark __________________ SOLD98 5.9limited Turbo city dual air intake,Mopar Performance ECU, KOLAK exhaust(Mike Leach headers, car-sound cat and Flowmaster70),180 t-stat, Eclipse EA3422 amp, 6 1/2" eclipse and 6 3/4"Infinity kappas, 200w Infinity Bass Link, Monroe Sensor-Tracs, OME SD-40,225/70 BFG LongTrails,Autolite Platinum plugs, Accel wires, and one Bad Ass German Shepherd Named Jager Special 5.9 fluids, Additives and Lubricants: Mopar approved 5.9 window washer fluid Mopar Extra oxygenated air for tires Mopar hi gloss 5.9 polish Mopar approved h2o for coolant system FOR SALE 94XJ, 2 1/2" catback . 2" Rustys off road BB. 30 x 9.5 Bfg KO's

01-06-2003, 03:33 PM	#4
armax1980 Registered Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: NYC,NY, USA Posts: 1,859 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I've experience something like this but never a stall out, instead the fuel gauge will take a nose dive to empty causing the low gas light to come on whenever I make a sharp turn, hard stop and heavy acceleration. With a 23 or so gal. tank its not uncommon for as little as 5 gal. to move around and away from the fuel pump when making erratic manuevers. __________________ 1994 Hunter Green ZJ, 5.2L(Retired) 2006 Commander Steel Blue Metallic 4.7 V8

01-06-2003, 05:10 PM	#7
anestech* My SO has a great ass Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Las Vegas, eNVy Posts: 7,511 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Search for "stalling" and "fuel pump" you will find that lots of 5.2s seem to have this problem. Mine did that at 30K, they replaced the fuel pump and I have had no issues since (64K). __________________ YOU'LL BE SO FAST, MOTHER NATURE WILL BE LIKE "SLOOOOOW DOWWWWWN" WHEN GOD GIVES YOU LEMONS, YOU FIND A NEW GOD! 07 Taco, Indigo Ink over gray, DC, long bed, 4x4, TRD Sport, JBL, side airbags, tow, drls 05 RM-Z250, desert race prepped 2001 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, GMMG exhaust, 313 RWHP, 324 RWTQ

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01-06-2003, 02:19 PM	#3
qmike0 Registered Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: mountain house, ca Posts: 326 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ive got a 5.2, and i have the EXACT same problem... i had the dealer look at it at my last checkup and they said they could find nothing wrong... figures!! anyone with any ideas please respond.... Mike

01-06-2003, 03:46 PM	#5
Savage ZJ Registered Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Mpls. MN Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Exact same problem here - 98 ZJ 5.2. I've been living with it for 6 months now. Someone here suggested a bad fuel pump, but I've not had the $$ to try replacing it yet.

01-06-2003, 04:58 PM	#6
HostileZJ Registered Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Around NW Iowa.. Posts: 4Gazillion Posts: 366 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mine has done this for the last year 1/2 so if it is the pump it's dieing slow

01-06-2003, 07:43 PM	#8
Hideyoshi1 Registered Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 281 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	have the same problem here with a 5.9. Had the fuel pump changed at dealer and the problem weas still there. So i just fill it up more often now. I read in the arch that there is a baffle in the fuel tank which gets messed up and allows the fuel to swish to one side making it think there is no gas on the hard turn. haven't tried to fix it thoguh HTH