Long crank and stalling

B

Barista210

New Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2022
Messages
6
Location
San Antonio, TX
Hello everyone,

My 2008 3.8l JK has been giving me long crank issues for about a week and just started sounding like it's about to stall. I've already tested the battery, alternator, and camshaft sensor. Any other suggestions?

The long cranking happens about 10% of the time and it doesn't matter whether the Jeep is cold or hot. It's happened first thing in the morning and also in the middle of running errands. It always eventually starts though. The sounding like it's going to stall just started.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vaffanculo
Did you put any gas in it just before it started having the hard start?

Sounds like it's fuel related since there's no CEL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barista210
Barista210 said:
I'd imagine I did. It just became my daily driver about a month ago. Before that it was driven once every few weeks. I'll go to that direction. Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...


Also when it's cranking and not starting is there a small red dot in the upper right corner of the dash?

I'm pretty sure there's a relay and or fuse for the fuel pump maybe swap the relay with a different one. Check the fuses blades for corrosion and clean if necessary.

Do you still have the junk Factory battery clamps on? If so replace with some HD ones.

Clean any grounds you find in the engine bay.

Bad grounds are the cause for the most electrical issues.
 
Barista210 said:
Hello everyone,

My 2008 3.8l JK has been giving me long crank issues for about a week and just started sounding like it's about to stall. I've already tested the battery, alternator, and camshaft sensor. Any other suggestions?

The long cranking happens about 10% of the time and it doesn't matter whether the Jeep is cold or hot. It's happened first thing in the morning and also in the middle of running errands. It always eventually starts though. The sounding like it's going to stall just started.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a weak or ready to fail fuel pump...do I quick cheap test spray about a 5 second spray of starting fluid in your air filter dam and immediately try starting ..if it fires up that's a good sign of the pump failing..also you can turn the key to the on position and tap the fuel injection rail line at the stem valve( it looks like a tire valve stem) a good amount of fuel should spray out keep rags around the stem and DO NOT do the stem test with a hot engine
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barista210
I would of leaned towards a mass airflow sensor or an IDLE air control sensor but the long cranking issue is making me feel it's the fuel pump ..do the starting fluid test first...good luck let me know
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barista210
Before I started anything major I double checked everything including the camshaft sensor. Only after unplugging and plugging back in the camshaft did I finally get a CEL for camshaft. After replacement the Jeep starts up perfectly. No idea why the CEL didn't come up initially. Thanks everyone for the help.
 
Top Bottom