89 Cherokee crank no start.
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 2
From: Roanoke, VA
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Still a no spark scenario? Run through cruisers pink links like you have planned, then go to the local pick and pull yard and grab about 5 Cps 's for renix era cherokees. Reason why I say that is most of the time you can find a few dealership Cps in the jy and they are only a few dollars each, so you can nab a few for less than parts store price for one. Next, what was the history prior to this issue? Any weird shut downs, hard starts?
For kicks and giggles, are you testing spark from the distributor cap or the coil? I would test off both just for khits and siggles, make sure there's no issue there.
Last but not least, I'm assuming you tried starting it with all of the aforementioned "failed" Cps installed? I know they may not pass the test, but there's always the chance the meter is acting up.
Post script- check all connections, make sure you didn't do something funny like disconnect the dizzy, or the icm.
For kicks and giggles, are you testing spark from the distributor cap or the coil? I would test off both just for khits and siggles, make sure there's no issue there.
Last but not least, I'm assuming you tried starting it with all of the aforementioned "failed" Cps installed? I know they may not pass the test, but there's always the chance the meter is acting up.
Post script- check all connections, make sure you didn't do something funny like disconnect the dizzy, or the icm.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,489
Likes: 24
From: Nor-Cal Coast
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
Video: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
In your vid it REALLY sounds like at least one cyl is firing way advanced.
>>When you have the CPS unplugged to test ACV, does it still stall while cranking, (like in the vid), or spin more evenly? << If it's not cranking smooth and even, maybe see if it does with the plugs out. There is a small chance coolant is getting in a cylinder causing that stall. Also, the meter might have a tough time registering a reading with that syncopated cranking. The spendy meters have a faster 'sample rate" then the cheaper. Meters like most of mine might not be able to "lock on" to a signal that is changing too often.
Not to disagree with Cruiser, (who I've learned loads from about "this new stuff"), but that CPS signal is really independent of the rest of the mess. (in our Renix Jeeps) As long as that two wire Hall Effect transducer has the gaps going past, it, it should create a signal if it's close enough.
In your vid it REALLY sounds like at least one cyl is firing way advanced.
>>When you have the CPS unplugged to test ACV, does it still stall while cranking, (like in the vid), or spin more evenly? << If it's not cranking smooth and even, maybe see if it does with the plugs out. There is a small chance coolant is getting in a cylinder causing that stall. Also, the meter might have a tough time registering a reading with that syncopated cranking. The spendy meters have a faster 'sample rate" then the cheaper. Meters like most of mine might not be able to "lock on" to a signal that is changing too often.
Not to disagree with Cruiser, (who I've learned loads from about "this new stuff"), but that CPS signal is really independent of the rest of the mess. (in our Renix Jeeps) As long as that two wire Hall Effect transducer has the gaps going past, it, it should create a signal if it's close enough.
Last edited by DFlintstone; Jan 31, 2015 at 04:01 AM.
After finishing the ground and coil refreshing we have spark! But still no change. I'm thinking it is some kind of timing issue based on the video. I've taken a new one which is below. When we were trying to start it there were a few times it sounded like it was going to take, but then bogged out. Also below are 2 photos. One showing the map sensor and the vacuum line path. The other is a vacuum line I found close to the firewall on the passenger side. Any idea what it is or where it goes?
Video
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
MAP sensor
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
Vacuum line
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
Video
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
MAP sensor
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
Vacuum line
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
After finishing the ground and coil refreshing we have spark! But still no change. I'm thinking it is some kind of timing issue based on the video. I've taken a new one which is below. When we were trying to start it there were a few times it sounded like it was going to take, but then bogged out. Also below are 2 photos. One showing the map sensor and the vacuum line path. The other is a vacuum line I found close to the firewall on the passenger side. Any idea what it is or where it goes?
Video
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
MAP sensor
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
Vacuum line
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
Video
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
MAP sensor
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
Vacuum line
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rH...p=docslist_api
The one on the passenger side is a vent for another system and will not affect running at all.
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 47,923
Likes: 38
From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
To me having wet spark plugs is flooding from trying to start so much .And its turning over way to slow . That cable in the pictures the main ground cable if im seeing it correctly .
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 47,923
Likes: 38
From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,489
Likes: 24
From: Nor-Cal Coast
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
Please double check Cruisers post #31. Renix won't fire until it does a couple revs. What is almost surely happening is it's turning fine until it gets spark, then it starts fighting it's self because the spark is goofy.
Following the plug wire diagrams might cause that. They are about all wrong. #1 is at 5:00 viewed from the side, 153624 clockwise.
The dizy cap screws should be lined up so a line through them would be center on the valve cover, a tad less than 4" from the top end of the valve cover. (that is where they are, unless someone cut the alignment pin)(or something) In your shoes I might find compression on #1 with my finger, line up the timing marks, and see that the rotor is pointing to 5:00...
Following the plug wire diagrams might cause that. They are about all wrong. #1 is at 5:00 viewed from the side, 153624 clockwise.
The dizy cap screws should be lined up so a line through them would be center on the valve cover, a tad less than 4" from the top end of the valve cover. (that is where they are, unless someone cut the alignment pin)(or something) In your shoes I might find compression on #1 with my finger, line up the timing marks, and see that the rotor is pointing to 5:00...
Last edited by DFlintstone; Feb 4, 2015 at 08:37 PM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,489
Likes: 24
From: Nor-Cal Coast
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
YES! But that swap is OK if you keep everything from the 87-90 engine. He says they had it running before, so we are assuming the flex plate, dizy and sensors were kept from the pre 91 engine, and the 93 was just used as a "long block".



