Jeep wrangler sudden loss of power while driving

As soon as you drive with your jeep wrangler you have power losses ? It's like an impression of a car that grazes or jerks when you accelerate. And this is particularly worrying because on a ring road or a highway it quickly becomes risky. But also it indicates that components of your engine are deteriorated and that you could be stranded rather quickly.

However, it is complicated to know the exact reason for a loss of power without analyzing the problem a little. Indeed the engine is a complex system which involves different parts, almost all dependent on each other. Therefore when a part is damaged, it can have an impact on the whole mechanism but also it can damage other parts. This is why we are going to help you identify the origins of power losses.

In this tutorial we will start by telling you how identify the symptoms of a loss of power on a jeep wrangler . Thereafter we will detail the reasons for a loss of power on a jeep wrangler .

Jeep wrangler sudden loss of power while driving

1- Identify the symptoms of a loss of power on a jeep wrangler

1. 1-Understand how a jeep wrangler engine works

If you want to understand why you are experiencing power losses on your jeep wrangler, it is necessary to understand how the engine works.

On jeep wrangler there may be diesel or petrol engines. These are different for fuel combustion, but the general principle is the same.

Once the engine started by the starter, it will work with cylinders, 4 in general, but it will depend on the power of your engine.

The injectors will supply an air fuel mixture as a gas to the cylinder. The latter will compress the gas. Regarding diesel only the compression of the gas will cause the explosion. On the other hand for gasoline, it will be essential to have a spark emitted by the spark plugs. Anyway this explosion will push on the cylinder which will generate the energy. Then the gas will escape through the exhaust duct.

Therefore when your engine is not sufficiently supplied with fuel this could be the cause of a loss of engine power. However, we will detail everything for you below. First we will allow you to study the symptoms of a loss of engine power on a jeep wrangler.

1. 2-Analyze the power losses on jeep wrangler

You should know that on vehicles there are a degraded mode . The latter will protect your engine. It will be triggered according to the data sent by the computer. Indeed if the latter identifies abnormal figures, in this case it will put the engine in degraded mode.

Therefore if this happens, the engine warning light will appear on your dashboard and you won't be able to go any faster. We recommend that you go to a garage as quickly as possible because the more you drive with the engine in this condition, the more you risk damaging the mechanical device and you may have more repair costs.

Otherwise, it is likely that an engine component is damaged even though the engine has not activated degraded mode.

It is therefore necessary to analyze all the symptoms of your jeep wrangler.

  • For example in the event that as soon as you step on the accelerator, your car does not accelerate.
    • The low engine power could be related to flowmeter
  • You hear a hissing sound or an air leak when you accelerate.
    • Therefore the turbo might have concerns. Attention this component is rather expensive therefore at the first signs, we advise you to go to a garage.
  • When you feel jerks or chatter from your jeep wrangler and a strong smell of fuel while driving.
    • Injector could be the source of the concern.
  • When you only feel jerks when you accelerate.
    • Spark plugs may be the culprits.
  • When your car gives off black smoke coming out of the exhaust when you are driving.
    • So it is possible that the EGR valve is at issue.

2-The causes of a loss of power on a jeep wrangler

Once you have examined the symptoms of loss of engine power on your jeep wrangler, you will then have to identify the problem on your jeep wrangler.

2. 1-Jeep wrangler power loss: Flow meter problem

To run the engine must receive an air fuel mixture. The function of the flow meter will be to transmit to the computer the right proportion of fuel air. This will allow the cylinders of the engine to operate at their best. In the event that the flow meter fails, the engine will not receive the sufficient amount of fuel and its power will be reduced.

2. 2-Jeep wrangler power loss: Turbo concern

In the same way, to give power to your car, it is generally equipped with a turbo. Its role is to inject pressurized air, essential for the air fuel mixture.

To do this, the turbo will recover the exhaust gas, which it will filter and then it will compress the air to reinject it into the engine.

So when the air pressure emitted by the turbo is not strong enough, possibly due to a clogged air filter or a faulty turbine, your engine will also have less power.

Note that the turbo is greased by engine oil to ensure good rotation. So, make sure that you always have a good level of oil so as not to deteriorate it faster.

2-Jeep wrangler power loss: Injector problem

When you only make small trips in town, it is possible that injector is clogged. As a result, it is not delivering enough fuel to your engine, which could be the reason for loss of power.

So as to preserve your injection mechanism we recommend that you check your diesel filter regularly. Indeed, the diesel filter makes it possible to filter the particles in order to avoid their insertion into the injection system. If the latter is worn it will lose its effectiveness.
Likewise, avoid driving with the tank almost empty, as this could create corrosion and collect deposits at the bottom of the pump. This will damage your engine more quickly.

2. 4- Jeep wrangler loss of power: Concern about spark plugs on gasoline

As indicated above, gasoline-powered cars require spark plugs to create fuel combustion. Therefore if they are damaged and this pushes combustion back, in this case it will de-synchronize the engine which will no longer be able to run at full power. You should therefore feel these jerking and chattering sensations.

2. 5- Jeep wrangler power loss: EGR valve problem

EGR valve aims to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from our cars by re-using them. It actually works in conjunction with the turbo to redirect part of the gas inside the injector.

The concern is that this mechanism can over time foul the valve but also the injector because this gas generates soot deposits inside the system.

To conclude: A concern with engine power loss on a jeep wrangler could have various reasons. However in all cases this is not a concern to be taken lightly . We therefore advise you to go to a garage for a complete diagnosis of the engine. Especially since the damaged element probably damaged other engine components. Know that a electronic diagnostic will cost around 20 and 50 €.

To go further in the maintenance of your jeep wrangler, we invite you to consult the other articles on the Jeep wrangler.

What causes lose power while driving?

The most common reason a car is losing power when accelerating is due to a clogged fuel filter or engine air filter. It can also be caused by a damaged sensor disturbing the air-fuel mixture like the MAF sensor or O2 sensor.

Why is my Jeep struggling accelerating?

Fuel injectors may become dirty over time and not be able to provide as much fuel to the cylinder as is needed. Dirty fuel injectors may cause the engine to run lean which will in turn, cause hesitation when accelerating.

Why is my Jeep sluggish when I accelerate?

Defective Fuel Pump: The fuel pump pulls the fuel from the gas tank to the engine via the fuel lines. If the pump stops working, malfunctions, or becomes clogged, it will not supply enough fuel to the injectors. This can cause the vehicle to accelerate slowly, or even sputter and stall, especially at high speeds.

What causes loss of power while accelerating?

A loss of power is most apparent when you're accelerating, and can be due to a number of reasons including air flow into the engine, fuel flow and even faults with the exhaust system.