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1990 xj long crank time and hard starting

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Old 10-04-2011, 09:02 PM
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Default 1990 xj long crank time and hard starting

im banging my head on this one... sometimes it starts up fine other days not so much and hot or cold makes no difference changed the IAC TPS and CPS sensors started better for a while but now it has seemed to get worse.. also just replaced the alternator and cleaned battery posts, terminals and ground running out of idea's. could it be fuel check valve?
Old 10-04-2011, 09:32 PM
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Plugs ,wires ,cap.& rotor.
Old 10-04-2011, 09:35 PM
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forgot to put that in there plugs, cap, rotor and wires new too
Old 10-04-2011, 09:36 PM
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Could have jumped time.
Old 10-04-2011, 09:43 PM
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i'll check but i dont think its the timing unless its advanced cause the jeep runs great after its started
any other suggestions?
Old 10-05-2011, 06:01 AM
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You have a Renix XJ (87-90) By design, the engine is not going to fire until the computer (ECU) gets a signal from the crankshaft position sensor and measures that signal to indicate that 300 rpms while cranking has been met/exceeded.

Somewhat extended crank times should be considered a “characteristic” of your engine, rather than a problem.

You can upgrade the battery and battery cables--at least 4 ga., 2 ga. better--and buy a high-torque starter.

Be sure that all grounds are good. Remove them and freshen them. You cannot tell if the grounds are electrically good by looking at them! Renix vehicles are very sensitive to ground issues.

Other than that, performing basic tune-ups on a regular basis is important, (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter)

The above suggestions are things that will help optimize start times on a Renix engine.
Old 10-05-2011, 06:21 AM
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Mr. Walker offers excellent advice.

Your CPS can be a bit weak, too. Unplug it and probe the two wires with your meter set on AC volts. You should get .5 as a reading. Anything down around .35 will cause long crank times and possible intermittent no-starts.

Did you adjust your new TPS? If you need instructions on how to do this, I'll bet Mr. Walker would post them in this thread for you.

A good throttle body cleaning is never a bad idea and shold be done before adjusting your TPS.

As stated, ground refreshing at the dipstick tube stud is super important. Don't ASSume anything. Remove, clean, scrape, polish til shiny all contact points there. Do the same with the braided strap where it attaches to the firewall. I recommend ADDING a battery cable from the firewall attaching point to the rearmost bolt of the fuel injection rail.
Old 10-05-2011, 11:31 AM
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My 91 did the same thing, camshaft position sensor under the rotor in the distributor cap. Clean the rust off the metal cup too, that will make more sense when you take it apart.
Old 10-05-2011, 11:35 AM
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Curious- I may have missed it, sorry if I did... Have you load tested the battery?
Old 10-05-2011, 12:05 PM
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Inside dizzy is different on 91 from 90. Look elsewhere.
Old 10-05-2011, 12:09 PM
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great info for my also slow starting great running Renix XJ. thanks guys
Old 10-05-2011, 12:11 PM
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mine was doing same thing i've just been priming the fuel pump, everytime i key on 3 times then it starts, i have yet to replace the fuel pump
Old 10-05-2011, 12:23 PM
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Great advise /\.. My fuel check valve is bad/toast. If you turn Ign on you hear the pump run for the count of three. Turn off, then on again, it runs again. Third time it runs a second. THEN the pressure is up and my Jeep will start in a three count instead of double that or a little more. Easy enough to check.

(I learned how to do this from slick761 last month)

Last edited by DFlintstone; 10-05-2011 at 01:53 PM.
Old 10-05-2011, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by VTJeep
Curious- I may have missed it, sorry if I did... Have you load tested the battery?
yes battery is fine that was my first thought because its reconditioned

Originally Posted by cruiser54
Mr. Walker offers excellent advice.

Your CPS can be a bit weak, too. Unplug it and probe the two wires with your meter set on AC volts. You should get .5 as a reading. Anything down around .35 will cause long crank times and possible intermittent no-starts.

Did you adjust your new TPS? If you need instructions on how to do this, I'll bet Mr. Walker would post them in this thread for you.

A good throttle body cleaning is never a bad idea and shold be done before adjusting your TPS.

As stated, ground refreshing at the dipstick tube stud is super important. Don't ASSume anything. Remove, clean, scrape, polish til shiny all contact points there. Do the same with the braided strap where it attaches to the firewall. I recommend ADDING a battery cable from the firewall attaching point to the rearmost bolt of the fuel injection rail.
i havent actually adjusted the tps sensor unless it has something with it having the two slotted holes then ive kinda fiddled with it until it ran better
cps sensor is new and seems to be working properly also cleaned the ground at the dipstick and fire wall

Originally Posted by tjwalker
You have a Renix XJ (87-90) By design, the engine is not going to fire until the computer (ECU) gets a signal from the crankshaft position sensor and measures that signal to indicate that 300 rpms while cranking has been met/exceeded.

Somewhat extended crank times should be considered a “characteristic” of your engine, rather than a problem.

You can upgrade the battery and battery cables--at least 4 ga., 2 ga. better--and buy a high-torque starter.

Be sure that all grounds are good. Remove them and freshen them. You cannot tell if the grounds are electrically good by looking at them! Renix vehicles are very sensitive to ground issues.

Other than that, performing basic tune-ups on a regular basis is important, (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter)

The above suggestions are things that will help optimize start times on a Renix engine.
grounds have all been freshened i have been thinking about a high torque starter just for hell of it because my starter cranks fine but faster seems to be better for the renix

cruiser54 said you might have a right up for adjusting the tps that would be much appreciated
Old 10-05-2011, 02:14 PM
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also have been doing the key cycling seemed to help but figures when i want it to give me the issue it wont do it for me......gonna try this for the nxt couple of days

also would there be any benefit to changing the cam position sensor even if it doesnt have an issue with the starting?

Last edited by 1990xj2d; 10-05-2011 at 02:18 PM.


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