# SOS EMERGENCY: 2004 Cherokee Burning Unidentified Substance **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 27, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093 "2013-08-27T02:58:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/21 "2013-08-27T22:53:52Z")
Re check for an exhaust leak near the front of the system. The manifold work is relatively new, but that doesn’t mean a gasket couldn’t be leaking. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/22 "2013-08-27T23:19:00Z")
Check the breather hoses from the rear of the valve covers to the air cleaner. I am guessing your GC has the 4.7 L, you haven’t revealed which engine you have. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/23 "2013-08-28T02:57:45Z")
And if you can’t find the exhaust leak yourself, have a mechanic use an emissions tester probe to sniff around the engine compartment. The sulfur smell should register on the emissions tester, I would think. ---
**Author:** ![sautscheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sautscheck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sautscheck)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/24 "2013-08-28T03:28:46Z")
to Jesmed: it is impossible to find an old-style emissions tester in my town. I haven’t seen one in 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![sautscheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sautscheck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sautscheck)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/25 "2013-08-28T03:29:55Z")
to Nevada: that is correct. will check them breathers. ---
**Author:** ![sautscheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sautscheck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sautscheck)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/26 "2013-08-28T03:31:35Z")
to Circuitsmith: the manifold is 3 days old, as is its gasket. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/27 "2013-08-28T04:03:03Z")
When you smell it inside the car with the AC on, then if you get out of the car & pop the hood, can you smell the odor in the engine compartment area? Do you see any visible smoke or vapor trails coming from the engine compartment? ---
**Author:** ![sautscheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sautscheck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sautscheck)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/28 "2013-08-28T04:10:56Z")
to George: the smell dissipates when I come to a stop, and it is gone by the time I open the hood. no visual evidence whatsoever. revving it up idling produces nothing. ---
**Author:** ![sautscheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sautscheck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sautscheck)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/29 "2013-09-02T16:54:58Z")
seems to be the worst when accelerating on an upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/30 "2013-09-02T17:42:39Z")
How about checking the oil pressure sending unit. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/31 "2013-09-02T18:47:05Z")
All of your symptoms point to an exhaust leak. A leak could be anywhere in the system, including the manifolds, pipes, and any joints. A leak could also be in the EGR system, including the riser pipe, crossover, and EGR valve itself. ---
**Author:** ![sautscheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sautscheck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sautscheck)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/32 "2013-09-03T16:05:06Z")
the problem is that it smells different from the exhaust. being more sour, it only occurs when rolling, being the worst on an upgrade, and dissipates when slowing down. revving it up in park or neutral produces no smell. however after it dissipates, I’ve noticed that it lingers for a minute out of tail-lights. ---
**Author:** ![sautscheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sautscheck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sautscheck)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/33 "2013-09-29T16:41:00Z")
There is also a thin sticky film that accumulates on the windshield, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, every 3-4 days, REGARDLESS WHETHER AC IS RUN OR NOT. It also accumulates when the truck is parked overnight. I’ve been trying to sell the truck, but all the potential buyers smelled the problem. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/34 "2013-09-29T19:53:07Z")
@sautscheck Any chance the “thin sticky film” is coolant? ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 6:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/35 "2013-09-30T06:55:14Z")
I think you have coolant leaking out the ends of the heater hoses where they attach to the heater core at the firewall. Probably doing that ever since they replaced the heater core. ---
**Author:** ![OM1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e95f7d/32.png) [@OM1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/OM1)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 6:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/36 "2017-01-06T06:24:05Z")
sautscheck Did you figure out the problem with car fumes? I think I have same problem. ---
**Author:** ![sautscheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sautscheck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sautscheck)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 6:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/37 "2017-01-06T06:59:08Z")
Yes. Unfixable. Exhaust manifold gasket couldn’t be sealed due to rust on the engine surface under the gasket. Manifold separated when the engine got hot. ---
**Author:** ![OM1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e95f7d/32.png) [@OM1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/OM1)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 7:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/38 "2017-01-06T07:26:53Z")
How did you test and detect manifold problem? So what happened to car? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![sautscheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sautscheck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sautscheck)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 10:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/39 "2017-01-06T10:41:11Z")
Traded it in for complaint-free Kia Sorrento. A couple of colleagues in film industry (picture car specialists) told me it has been was a common Jeep problem for at least 20 years that Chrysler refused to acknowledge. It only becomes detectable when engine warms up sufficiently at cruising speeds. Idling in the shop is not sufficient to crack the manifold away from the engine. Get rid or yours ASAP. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![sautscheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sautscheck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sautscheck)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093/40 "2017-01-06T10:43:52Z")
My mechanic DID TRY fixing this early on “the best he could”. It was a mistake to think it was fixed (or even fixable). [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sos-emergency-2004-cherokee-burning-unidentified-substance/81093.md?page=3)