Sorry that this is my first post and it's to ask help for a problem If it's any excuse, I just bought my 96 4.0L Sport two weeks ago and just found this forum today. It seems like a friendly place with lots of knowledge and experience floating around.

Well, my "new" Jeep is pretty spotless inside and out...previously owned by an 85 year-old man who was meticulous about keeping it clean and waxed with Rain-X on the windows if you get the picture. The ONLY area that he neglected was under the hood, so of course I thought it would be fine to spray it off a little at the car wash knowing that there's always the risk of getting the distributor wet. So you guessed it, me and two of my kids stranded at the car wash...engine wouldn't fire at all. Turned over just fine, but no sign of fire. Walked to Subway for lunch, came back, no change. Walked to AutoZone to get wire dryer, took off cap and rotor, dried, no change. Back to AutoZone for new cap and rotor, installed, no change. AAA towed it home

What else could I have screwed up? Thanks for any advice on what to check. I'm semi-mechanically inclined, but not great at electrical, obviously!

 

welcome and i'm not sure.

 

Hey neighbor in Bowling Green. Nice XJ...solid red with black wheels looks sweet!

I was just doing some more searching and apparently the crank position sensor is a common problem. I'm sure it doesn't like water, so once I figure out where it is, I'll unplug and replug as some have suggested.

 

You would have to REALLY spray down in the engine to get a CPS messed up.. Its mounted on the top of the transmission bellhousing on the driver's side rear of the engine.

Getting water into the plug is a possibility.. but not real likely. Those weather-pak connectors usually seal fairly well.

The TPS however does not like being wet at all. It is on the side of the throttle body with the arm that the throttle plate moves.

 

Let it dry out for a few days.

 

Thanks guys. Good point on the location of the CPS which makes it unlikely. I'll take a look at the TPS tomorrow. I don't need to drive it for a few days, so patience is in order while it dries out. Oh well, it sure is clean under there now

 

Leave the hood open let the sun shine in on it to speed things along good luck. Oh did you leave it running when you washed the engine? i always do never any trouble...............

 

In the future WD40 works great when you get an electrical connection wet. As you may know already the "WD" in WD 40 stands for Water Displacement. So that is what it does.
Spray a little on the TPS connections. That may get you started.
Do you hear the fuel pump come on before you try to crank it. Just turn the key on and listen. If you don't hear it then you may have displaced or shorted the fuel pump relay on the passenger side inner fender well. There are 3 or more relays there one is the fuel pump one. It may have gotten wet and shorted across when it was sprayed.
You can put a little bit of WD40 there as well. HTH.
Blue

 

I will try some WD, too. Is it OK to spray it in the connectors when unplugged...I'm guessing so, but don't want to do anything else stupid. I'll have to wait a little bit while the battery recharges...oh well, she needs time to sun anyway.

 

Nice clean XJ. I would do the same thing to the CPS connector as you did to the TPS connector. Just my .02 But CPS connector failure is very common. TPS does HATE water and I always wrap mine up when i clean it.

 

Well, after a few hours of sunbathing with the TPS connector unplugged, it started right up before I even hit it with the WD-40, but then it died after a couple of minutes. Did this 4 or 5 times before I finally unplugged TPS and 2 other connectors near the TB and doused them with the WD. Now has been idling for about 15 minutes straight, so I trust it enough to run down the road.

Looks like I'm all set. Lesson learned...cover TPS when washing engine or bring WD and a bucket full of patience! Thanks for everyone's help!