Hey @Jpall20 ,

Welcome to the Forum. Which engine does your TH have? The 3.2 or 2.4? Also, any issues before this? Lastly, do you have an OBD2 reader where you can tell if your Cherokee has any codes?

 

Thank you! It has the 2.4. No issues before this. And no unfortunately I do not.

 

Check your engine oil level. I beleive the 2.4l has a low oil sensor that can cause issues.
Welcome from Nevada!

 

Thank you!! I will check it out!

 

Hi all,
New here...as a result of the same problem the original poster stated.

2015 Trailhawk 3.2l

The issue happened shortly after purchase (new) and was taken to the Dealer to diagnose.
No fault code and the technician could not re create the problem.
Since new, it has happened about 1/2 dozen times.

The recall on the transmission sensor was done last year.

Last week it happened again at about 230+k km....
Into the dealer it went.
There was a fault code for the sensor that reads cam rotation... sensor changed, problem continued.

Cam oil phaser(s) were also inspected, with no issue found.

the dealership even went so far as to replace the computer (at their cost)...still no solution.

The Dealership has a theory that possibly an oil galley or part of the oiling system has become blocked, thus not allowing sufficient oil to get to the cam sensor.

I'm at witts end and do not really want to pay for an (exploratory)engine teardown.

Anyone else experience this loss of power, engine light, cam sensor fault code issue??

 

Bet an oil galley bolt is loose and losing oil pressure. Known issue, well documented. What code are you getting?

 

Bet an oil gallery bolt is loose and loosing oil pressure. Known issue, well documented. What code are you getting?

That was my first thought too.

 

Gary,

Holy Cow!! If this is the issue, I can't thank you enough. I'll absolutely pass on all of this to my guy at the dealership who, we trust 100%. Good people there but obviously havnt experienced this previously.
I'm an old school engine guy and know nothing about these new engines. I can diagnose an issue in my 401 Nailhead and tear it down with my eyes closed...this Jeep engine, not so much..lol.
As well, you mentioned the tone wheel...it was checked as well and found ro be ok.

I'm excited that this may solve the issue...as the Trail Hawk is our primary vehicle..and even with the 230+k km...it is in incredibly good condition, both mechanically and cosmetically.

I'll pass on your info and will keep you updated.
Thank you again for taking the time.

Ash...

 

Now worries and of course, this may not be it but it's definitely a known issue to have checked out that fits the symptoms you're experiencing. Good luck and let us know!

 

Gary,

Spoke with my favorite guy at the dealership and shared the information you gave me, unfortunately all those things were done and checked.
Now I'm at a loss..
I did find a very low km 2019 Trailhawk 3.2 engine...just need to check to see if it compatible with our 2015.

I'll keep you updated

A....

 

Gary,

Spoke with my favorite guy at the dealership and shared the information you gave me, unfortunately all those things were done and checked.
Now I'm at a loss..
I did find a very low km 2019 Trailhawk 3.2 engine...just need to check to see if it compatible with our 2015.

I'll keep you updated

A....

Hey @GearHeadDiver ,

Ugh, literally back to square one! Well, at least I feel better that they checked . I would have been really disappointed if they checked your phasers and phaser lock (which entails taking both valve covers off) and didn't even check the galley bolt integrity given then were already in there! OK, so assuming they did those two, then I'm going to assume they check the cam lobes, rocker arms and hydraulic lifters for signs of issues but didn't find anything.

Regarding a blocked oil galley, I find this remote for several reasons the most important being a blocked galley would be evident almost all the time due to low oil pressure. It wouldn't be an intermittent issue. Other reasons.... the oil galley is after the oil filter so unless you've never changed your oil filter and it's all gunked up from 230k+ of old oil sludge(!), then there's little that could actually get in the galley to form a clog (unless a piece of the filter media broke off at some point but never heard of that happening - that seems pretty remote as well).

Just for completeness, can you re-state when the issue happens?

• Is it intermittent or all the time?
• Only on certain road conditions (e.g. going up a hill stepping down on the accelerator) or even on flat roads holding a constant speed with foot steady on the accelerator)
• Only after filling up with gas or has no relationship with adding fuel?
• etc. Anything other clues when it happens vs. when it doesn't? And, is it always cleared by turning the car on/off? And if so, does it go away or immediately come back?

Question:

a. Did they run a compression test (and/or leak-down test) to make sure all your cylinders are within spec? (just asking since you're at high mileage).

b. Depending on the answer to the second bullet above, if it only happens when stepping on the accelerator, it could possibly be a throttle issue (e.g. dirty throttle body that's getting physically stuck) and needs a cleaning... (I'm trying to think of mechanical conditions that could occur to cause the loss of power BUT ALSO not register to your PCM to throw an error condition since you're just getting the cam sensor code (which is probably symptom/reactionary vs. root cause).

c. And to rule out injectors, you're not getting any misfire codes correct? Do you have an OBD2 adapter? If so, and you hook up to your Cherokee using an app that has Mode$06 data (such as inCarDoc available on both Android and iOS), do you see any misfires in the counters under the Diagnostics-Mode$06? (ps: Also, with 230k km on the odometer, it wouldn't hurt to put a bottle or two's treatment of fuel system/injector cleaner in the tank as preventative maintenance).

Thinking out loud...

 

G,

Absolutely intermittent but since the techs started searching, apparently throws the cam sensor code every 70-100 km.
Has happened once or twice a year for the past few years and the dealership was never (in the past) been able to find any issue.
No relation to terrain or other road conditions..once or twice up hill and on level roads.
When the Jeep went in last week, they did an oil change and did notice that there was a small section of filter material absent...hence the thought of blocked oil galley. But... not NY thought as this was an issue before this recent oil change/filter issue, before that the oil was changed faithfully at 5000-6000km.

There was no mention of any compression or leak-down test that was performed.

No relation to fueling up and the only code that is displayed is that of the cam sensor code.
The issue does go away (as well as the check engine light, when the vehicle is turned off and re-started...and drives/behaves as normal.

A....

 

The Trail Hawk continues to exhibit the same issues as well as the ABS and Traction Control lights, both of which do turn off when the ignition is turned off and on again.
The loss of power now happens a few times while driving..and the check engine light is always on.

I'm absolutely willing to swap out the engine with the 2019 one that I found, hoping that the issue is in fact engine related and not an electrical issue.

Shame there isn't some way to flush the engine/oil gallys.

 

Hey @GearHeadDiver ,

I understand what you're saying about flushing your oil galley's but I really don't see that as a possible cause. If you had a clogged galley (which I'm not aware anyone has ever reported), the thought that paper-based oil filter material could withstand the 30-60psi pressure of the oil pump over time is just a hard thought to get my head around.) If it were in the oil galley's it would be happening all the time, not just once in a while.

I'm looking over your earlier posts and something struck me odd....

#1. You're saying this issue has been happening since new? That was back in or around 2015 and now you're at 230+k KM's? If so, what was the dealer's explanation? Do you have service orders from all this time showing the car brought in for this problem? Did they keep replacing things or what has been all the diagnoses/determinations?

#2. What recall on the transmission sensor are you referring to below?

#3. Do you have an extended warranty? (e.g. MaxCare) Getting a dealer to replace the computer for free on a 2015 Cherokee with 230k+ on the odometer doesn't happen easily. Was this because you have a 'case' of this being a long running issue?


I guess the main thought though is that if this has been happening since you got the Cherokee back in 2015, this is something inherent that existed at that time and not something recent (like a clogged oil galley from an oil filter change) or anything that's occurred from wear n' tear....

​

 

Gary,

The issues with loss of power while driving did start shortly after purchase but I cannot recall if it ever activated the check engine light.
When the issue happened, it was taken to the dealership but the technicians were never able to replicate the issue.
My mistake on the transmission recall...it was for the PTU Input Spline.
The other transmission repair was for a vacuum pressure sensor that failed and wouldn't allow for the transmission to go into gear.
We have no extended warranty plan, the recent work that included the new computer ($3000+) was done and not charged to us because we have been customers(and friends) of the Dealersip for 18 or so years. Super, honest and very accommodating people.

 

You have a good relationship with this dealer !

 

The Check engine light was happening once every few months but now that as well as the ABS and Traction Control faults_lights are a new thing, since the recent exploratory searching for the cam sensor fault cause.

 

Hmmm. A CEL really should never just come on/go off unless there's an actual underlying issue and if this power loss has been happening since you got the Cherokee back in 2015, then it sounds like something long-standing is at play. I'm not certain anything I could suggest at this point would be a particular pointer since I usually focus on 'what's changed' or common age/issues on Cherokees as they older.

Just to confirm again, your battery has been tested, correct? Do you know how to check your primary ground strap (the one to the side transmission casing). There's a procedure here on the Forum called "ground strap DIY" (they get corroded over time and on a 2015, it's probably time for replacement) but that wouldn't account for the issue in a NEW Cherokee (back in 2015).

Need to think about this one more...

 

Gary,

I started looking a little closer to some connections because I'm convinced it's an electrical issue...
I noticed heavy corrosion on the ground strap from the computer to the frame and replaced it with a heavier gauge wire/ring terminals.
I was sure I had it beat...turned on the jeep, no warning lights.
I drove for about 70 km with no.issues or power loss, then it happened again.

First, check engine light...no change in.driving or throttle.

Second, ABS light (where low fuel light generally is)....

Third, after about 5 minutes of the ABS light coming on, the Traction Control light came on.
Then no throttle control, 3200 rpm at around 68km/hr.

If I pull over, keep the vehicle running but put transmission into park...then Drive, the throttle comes back.

 

Gary,

I started looking a little closer to some connections because I'm convinced it's an electrical issue...
I noticed heavy corrosion on the ground strap from the computer to the frame and replaced it with a heavier gauge wire/ring terminals.
I was sure I had it beat...turned on the jeep, no warning lights.
I drove for about 70 km with no.issues or power loss, then it happened again.

First, check engine light...no change in.driving or throttle.

Second, ABS light (where low fuel light generally is)....

Third, after about 5 minutes of the ABS light coming on, the Traction Control light came on.
Then no throttle control, 3200 rpm at around 68km/hr.

If I pull over, keep the vehicle running but put transmission into park...then Drive, the throttle comes back.

If this isn't a prime example of "voltage related", then I don't know what is...🤔🫤

 

I have not checked the primary ground strap yet... or the battery.

 

See the instructions/procedure I mentioned and check that main ground strap. Also, when you mention no throttle control, you mean you press on the accelerator and it doesn't do anything, correct?

 

Gary,

I'll check the ground strap tomorrow...not my favorite activity at -15°C... lol

Yes, when this happens there is no response when pressing the accelerator.

 

 

If those look like that, these probably look like this...Green ain't good...🫤🤔😁

 

Although I was told a continuity check was done, not sure to what extent.
I may take a close look at all the connector blocks and maybe take the loom off the accessible harness to get a good look.
I doesn't seem like any of the loom/covering has been inspected.

This is seriously driving me insane!!

 

I'll be checking tomorrow...
I understand the issues that can be caused by corrosion and bad contacts but difficult to imagine this may be the cause of the TH issues.
Although, if it's like what you showed...needs to be replaced, regardless.

 

Yes, your ground looks like it could use replacing (the grounds are absolutely critical in the Cherokee) but question, using that scan tool, does your throttle temp sensor always show at the bottom of its range like that? (even though it says outlet temp, I assume that's the throttle body temp sensor. On the V6 it's in the resonator box right before the throttle).

 

G,

That, unfortunately I cannot answer...other than it was very cold the day this was scanned.

After replacing the small ground wire from the computer to the frame, the CEL is still illuminated but in the past 3 days, the Jeep has not gone into limp mode again nor has it lost power since.

My description of the warning lights was incorrect...NO ABS light but there are 2 traction control lights (but not in the past 3 days).
What I thought was the ABS light is the Service Stop Start System

light....one with the vehicle/wavy lines and the other is the circle arrow with A on the center....NOT the ABS light.

Hoping to get to the main (battery)ground strap tomorrow or Monday.

 

Well,
There was a break in the weather today, nice and mild.
Finally got to the ground cables today. Removed the cable and cleaned all contact points, applied some dialectic grease and tightened it up.
Also cleaned and greased 2 other small ground cables that are beside the battery.

Started her up... no CEL or traction control lights illuminated.
Drove for approximately 100km and the dash remained clear of any warning lights.

Fingers crossed...

I'll post an update in a few days after some more kilometers get driven.

 

NUTZ!!

Driving today, CEL stop/start light and traction control all on again.

Agggggghhhhh!!!!!

 

Question, those corroded wires a couple posts above... where were those? Was that the PCM computer? Also, so is the issue now just the traction control light (car with wavy lines)

 

Hi, did you found a resolution?

 

G,

Yes...the smaller ring terminal wire was from the PCM to the frame. I find it curious that after all the "exploratory" work that was done to locate the issue(s) and especially the fact that the PCM was replaced, that corroded ground wires were obviously overlooked.

The past week and a bit, the CEL is still on as is the Auto Start/Stop light....but not the traction control light, and no recent power loss (limp mode).
With the exception of the error lights, the Jeep operates "normally".

For someone with a very good automotive mechanical background, this is driving me nuts!

 

Gary,

A quick update (hoping it won't jinx me).

After replacing/cleaning the 2 ground straps (PCM to frame & battery to frame/transmission) we continued to drive while dealing with all the same lights/errors.

About 3 weeks ago, I stopped for fuel...filled up and started the Jeep and the CEL was off...
NO DASH LIGHTS (error lights) at all.

It's been 3 weeks and everything is operating normally... no warning lights at all.

Funny thing is that the Start/Stop function started working again... before all the other issues started, it would work intermittently.

Fingers crossed