Why does your 97 jeep grand Cherokee stall while driving sometimes or die when idling and doesnt always start on first try?

Answer 1

This is most common to be the Crankshaft Position Sensor, it is located on the top of the bell housing.

This is the fix. I have a 1996 Grand Cherokee (4.0L) with all the stalling problems that everyone else is having. My main problem seemed to be centered around the middle plug-in connection at the ECU. My son could wiggle the wires and duplicate the stalling. My son started by spraying electrical cleaner on the connections (No Luck). Tried the screw fix (No Luck). Changed fuel filters (No Luck). Tried stabilizing wires with zip ties (No Luck). Out of desperation and the fact that my son used a whole can of electrical contact cleaner trying to clean the terminals I told him to spray some brake cleaner on the terminals (Middle terminal from the ECU) and black gunk flowed out as the pins and female connecters were cleaned (They are bright and shinny now). Have not had any problems since. Looks like regular electrical contact cleaner is not strong enough for the job. Lets just hope that the brake cleaner doesn't eat my plastic connecters away.