1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee Orvis 5.2 V8

My idiot nephew took his 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee Orvis mudding, thoroughly bogged it down, had to be towed home. Thereafter, the vehicle suffered intermittent starting problems, finally wouldn't even turn over.

He knows nothing about automotive maintenance (or responsibility), so he wanted me to take a look at it.

I cleaned under the hood with an airhose, got rid of all the caked mud and sand, then installed new plugs and wires, new gas filter, and gave it an oil and filter change.

The old oil wasn't gritty.

After recharging the battery, I tried starting it. Engine turned over like brand new, but it never cranked up, as though it wasn't getting fire to the plugs.

To confirm this, I sprayed a little starter fluid (ether) into the carburetor during start, to no avail. It wasn't even firing the starter fluid.

So I'm pretty sure the plugs aren't firing at all.

I checked the coil and plug wires, and they're all seated correctly, in the correct order. I'm still not getting fire at all.

Ideas?

Thanks!

CAM

 

Have you checked the codes?

 

No, haven't checked the codes. It's getting a "check engine" light on the dash, but that could mean anything, and I don't have a diagnostic.