I swapped an engine into a 2000 cherokee and I can't get it to start. I used all sensors from the 2000, as well as the flexplate and manifolds. Here's what I know...
-I have good spark

-Fuel pressure is 50 psi cranking and 45 with key off(within spec)

-Engine compression at least 100 psi on all cylinders(should go up once rings and valves seat properly)

-Airbox isn't plugged.

-I've tested every sensor on the jeep, replaced the crank sensor, and have no engine codes.

-I've aligned the cam sensor a few times now.

-Engine cranks healthy and pops once in a while, but won't even start on starting fluid. Makes me think it is a spark timing issue, but without a distributor I can't check.

Any suggestions? I bought this to replace my fiance's car, with money that we need back once we sell her car. It's going on a month for the swap and we need it running and her car sold. Thanks.

 

did ya hear this motor run b4 buying?

 

.

 

Motor ran when I pulled it out of the donor jeep, but that was a few years ago. I put a different head on it, new timing chain and gears, went through all the seals and everything before dropping it in this jeep. Timing chain was installed correctly, I made very sure of that. I've got compression so the cam, lifters, and valves are working.
Cam sensor on 2000+ jeeps has a special method of synchronizing because there is no distributor on these engines. It's called the "toothpick method".

 

setting on tdc compression stroke correct?

 

Yes sir. Had the valve cover off to make sure I was on TDC of compression stroke. After a day or two I also put in in 180 out just for the heck of it. Also dropped it in one spline to the right and left of the proper location and 180 out. Nothing much anywhere.
If I rotate it 15 degrees clockwise from what is supposed to be its proper location I can get a few cylinders to pop while cranking, so it sounds like it wants to start, but doesn't get all the way there.

 

100 percent sure timing chain marks were facing each other had compression come out of no 1cyl then brought up to tdc then index dist like this shows...http://www.jeep4x4center.com/knowledge-base/index.htm

 

hello!!!

 

I did follow the proper procedure for the 2000. Thanks for that link, I'll be looking it over to see if it has anything else that might be causing the problem.

 

That's really an awesome site. The wiring diagrams are amazing.

 

no prob hope it helps double check everthing gonna be some thing simple

 

I hope I find it soon I've got about 4 days into checking, double checking, and triple checking sensors, grounds, relays, fuses, spark, and anything else you can think of. Well, maybe someone can think of something I can't cuz obviously I haven't found it yet.

 

how many coil pack plug are there ?

 

Have you tried pulling the coil pack to see if you have spark in free air? Yes I know this is a PITA, and I am not entirely sure it is possible, you will have to provide a ground to the plugs (one at a time, or all) and see if the coil pack is even putting out.

You could check to see if you have ignition signals going into the coil pack, but I don't know what to look for. The FSM just says that power to the the three packs is controlled by the "ASM" relay, and the PCM grounds the coil wire to make spark. Spark is on 1-6, 2-5, 3-4 in dual cylinders firing at once. There is not information in the FSM for testing the coil pack, sorry.

 

think it could be flooded by chance? random guess, hold gas pedal down and try to start...