Why is My Jeep Revving On Its Own? (And How to Fix It!)

Owning a Jeep is handy for driving on various terrains both on and off the road. But like any vehicle, it’s not free from its own share of mechanical issues. For example, what should you do when your Jeep starts revving on its own?

A Jeep revving on its own can be caused by fuel pressure issues or ignition system malfunctions. You might be able to fix it yourself by replacing the spark plugs or fuel pump, but it’s usually better for a mechanic to take a look. The best way to avoid revving is to regularly maintain your Jeep.

Revving in a Jeep should be checked out as soon as possible to discover the cause. But there’s ways that you can both fix and prevent it. Let’s look at some of the possible causes and ways that you can do to stop it.

What is Revving?

Revving is when the RPMs, or revolutions per minute, in your Jeep increase even when you are not pressing on the accelerator.

This is common when you start your vehicle for the first time and the engine is cold. But what happens when the engine continues to rev once it is warmed up, or worse — when you’re driving?

Having your Jeep’s engine rev up out of the blue can be a scary experience, especially if you have never had it happen before. While most people are likely used to the higher RPMs when the car is cold, having this happen at other times can lead you to believe that something is wrong with your Jeep.

Overall, when your Jeep’s engine seems to speed up without you pressing on the gas, you may have issues that have to be dealt with right away. Fixing these problems can take care of the revving and give you peace of mind.

What Causes a Vehicle to Rev on Its Own?

It can be both frustrating and scary to hear your vehicle rev up when you don’t have your foot on the gas. This is typically the result of an issue with the fuel pressure, or a fault in your ignition system.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of these causes:

Fuel Pressure Issues

Oftentimes, when the engine is revving uncontrollably in your Jeep, it is indicative of something wrong with the fuel pressure. In some cases, this may mean that the fuel line has malfunctioned; in other cases, the fuel pump may have gone out.

When the fuel line has malfunctioned, the gas cannot go in and out of the engine properly causing your engine to rev to try to accommodate. This can, in turn, wreak havoc in other parts of the fuel system causing them to fail.

The fuel pump is another issue that can be causing your engine to rev when you are not pressing the accelerator pedal. When this part fails, the Jeep engine will lose pressure and not function properly, causing the RPMs to increase without any input from you.

The bottom line is that if you notice that your engine is revving more often than not when it is warmed up, this could mean that you have a problem with the fuel system. Getting to the cause of the problem will help you to get it fixed so your engine does not continue to rev uncontrollably.

Ignition System Malfunction

Another cause for your Jeep engine to be revving without you pressing the gas pedal is a problem with your ignition system. Because this system has several factors that could malfunction, it’s important to determine which one is causing the issue.

In many cases, the problem with the ignition system is an issue with the spark plugs. When they don’t work properly, the engine can begin to rev without any input from you or can cause the Jeep not to start at all.

Other issues that could cause unexpected revving in your Jeep engine are the ignition coils that help keep the vehicle running smoothly. When they go bad, one of the things you may experience is an engine that revs on its own.

Diagnosing the issue with your ignition system will likely result in you discovering what is causing the current problem you are experiencing. Once you know the problem, you can then move on to fixing it so your engine does not continue to rev on its own.

How to Stop Your Car From Revving

Although you cannot prevent everything that could go wrong with your Jeep’s engine from happening, there are things you can do to help. Keeping your Jeep serviced regularly can go a long way to keeping your vehicle in the best condition possible.

Here’s a few possible solutions for the revving problem:

Replace the Fuel Pump

When you notice that your vehicle is not functioning as well as it should be, you may want to either check it out yourself or have a professional mechanic take a look. Doing this at the first sign of trouble can help prevent major issues from occurring unexpectedly.

If you determine that the revving is caused by your fuel pump, you may be able to fix yourself. This, of course, depends on how handy you are with car repair issues.

Keep in mind that several components surround the fuel pump and could easily cause issues to occur. You will want to ensure that the problem is with the pump and not just the fuel filter or something else.

If you need to replace the fuel filter and feel comfortable doing so, you can find helpful guides either in your owner’s manual or online. The internet is full of helpful information that can walk you through replacing your filter. However, you can always take the car to a professional to be fixed.

Check the Spark Plugs

Another way to prevent your Jeep from revving on its own is to check the spark plugs to ensure they are working properly. When there is a malfunction of the spark plugs, it can cause your car to rev uncontrollably or even misfire when trying to start the engine.

In most cases, checking the spark plugs and even changing them out is an easy fix that you will most likely be able to do on your own. If you are handy with car repairs, the job should take you about an hour or less.

Keep in mind, however, if you do not feel comfortable doing this, you should seek the help of a professional mechanic. In some cases, you can end up causing more harm than good if you are not sure what you are doing.

Look For Lights on the Panel 

In most cases, if your Jeep is revving on its own because of a specific engine malfunction, you’ll most likely see a service light come on. This light will give you an insight into where the problem is coming from so you can fix it.

As you are driving, you should always take note of any lights that light up on the panel to ensure that everything is running properly. While sometimes the issue is an easy fix, others may require more extensive work.

Keep in mind that the light panel on your vehicle is designed to let you know if anything is wrong with the engine. Paying attention to these lights can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Take It In For Regular Service

An important part of car ownership is having your vehicle serviced regularly. Whether you take it to the dealership or your favorite service shop, you should always keep your Jeep well-maintained.

When you take it in for service, the mechanics will likely ask you if you are having any trouble with the vehicle. If you have been having problems with it revving on its own, they can typically diagnose the problem and fix it in no time.