Tyler89xj

i have an 89 xj that i just bought....it's showing 130,000...
it always takes 2-3 times for me to turn the key over before it starts...what could that be?....i know it may sound stupid but im new to working on vehicles
Thanks

miglia-spyder

To be honest man, Its an old truck! That kinda thing happens. Ive seen alot older jeeps do that. It could be multiple things. I would go through the fuel system first. IE: pump, filter, injecters....

BillyBoy

Do you mean that it doesn't turn over and all?
Or it turns and doesn't start running?
Might want to start with the cheap easy stuff...
Plugs, wires, cap and rotor.
When i got mine, i pulled off the distributer and the rotor and distributer cap had a BUNCH of corrosion on them.
Once I changed them, it fired right up.

A basic tune up, pulling the plugs, wires, cap rotor, air filter, oil change, these are all the bassics that usually haven't been done for a while when you get a vechicle from someone.

Worth the time to look up online (usually with pictures) to save 100$ and do it yourself.

If I had only ONE thing to check though, it would be the cap and rotor. Take out the 2 screws holding it in place and look at the inside.
Cheap and easy to fix, might solve all your problems instantly.

Good luck, have fun!

BillyBoy

Further, being 'new to you' it's always a good idea to start with a tune-up before looking for deeper issues like the fuel system. Clean your terminal heads (battery posts) also.

CodeXJ

Put a splash of fuel into the throttle body directly and see if that helps. If so, it's a lack of fuel that's keeping her from firing right up. My '94 does the same thing, it's got a dodgy fuel pump that takes a bit to build pressure. Once it's running it's fine.

BillyBoy's suggestion of a general tuneup is always a good idea, too. A lot of people will throw cash at a problem like crazy, get frustrated, then find out all they needed was new spark plugs or a cap and rotor.

BillyBoy

You can eeven try running it on starting fluid to test the fuel issue.