Two problems related to crankshaft position sensor have been reported for the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee ltd. , 4. 0/6cyl. /auto trans. Random intermittent stalling and/or bucking while driving, stalling at stop signs, restarts immediatley sometimes (or not). Stalling and/or bucking may occur at 70 mph or 35 mph. Jeep will be running perfectly for miles and then just stall (at 70 mph on interstate while merging with another interstate is very stressful and dangerous. . Ie. I75 at knoxville, tenn. Or i71 at I 270 in columbus, ohio. Many times it will stall while crossing a state highway from a stop sign on a county road. Also occurs on county roads while cruising along at 45 to 55 mph. It is truly a random and intermittent problem . . . And very dangerous. I have been honked at, cursed at, nearly broadsided,/rearended too many times to even begin to count. Problem has been ongoing for 4 years. Replacing the pcm works for maybe 2 months then problem returns sometimes worse than before (have replaced at least 4-5 times. . . Or more!! Jeep dealer can comfirm) have replaced crank sensors, 02 sensors, speed sensors, wiring harness plugs, mufffler, catalytic converter, disributer, plug wires and misc. Wire jumps and repairs, rebuilt transmission, battery. Problem is sometimes not even made any better and "always" returns in a few days or months if better at all. I believe it to be a poor pcm design, but admittedly am not a mechanic but an engineer and surveyor. Many other 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners share my stress and agrivation. Some think it the 2 torx screws wearing thuough and shorting out on the pcm housing at the plugs (too long). I have spent, "literally" thousands of dollars over the past 4-5 years. Runs great 75-85 percent of the time. . . But when it decides to stall it just does it. . . Stopped, accelerating from stop, slowing down from 55 to 35 mph, cruising along at 50 to 75 mph. I do not understand why you do not make Jeep fix this problem (whatever it is) before someone gets killed. . . Like me. Is it about the money? how many millions is one life?.
Vehicle stalls while driving with foot on gas causing potential accident without warning. Crankshaft sensor was replaced to correct problem. This also ocurred in March, 2003. The same sensor was replaced to correct problem. Vehicle will not run without this sensor, and there is no saftey default mode provided to the computer to keep vehicle running if crank sensor circuit fails.