a bit of history:
I got a 91 xj off of craigslist for $350 with blown head gasket issue.
I replaced the head and a lot of other parts that needed replacing.
Jeep is oiled up and coolant is filled.
New plugs and distributor cap.

The battery is dead. I tried to charge it up but no go.
I hooked up my jumper cables on my other Jeep to this jeep and when it tries to crank.. it wont start.

Heres a wierd thing: when i turn the key to crank it.. i hear the starter go and then i feel the "juice" slow down so i back the key to off but the starter is still trying to go? what would cause that?

When the jeep was in the blown gasket stage.. it started up and ran.
Any ideas? is it as simple as replaceing the battery?

Thanks
Mark

 

Try the battery out of the good jeep and see what happens.

 

bad starter or starter sol. maybe? could have shorted out and now it wont get enough power. just a guess

 

try battery if that aint it then i would check out the cps

 

i tried that.. it wont even crank.. i dont understand.. i took it out of the CL jeep and back in the other jeep and it cranks right up... does that make any sense?

Mark

 

Check your grounds and the battery cables then go from there...Tj

 

couple things could cause a no start:
Timing
Firing order
Sensors Unhooked
CPS
Fuel
Spark

Check the sensors you replaced and any sensors you had to unplug to take the head off. You could also try resetting the computer, unhook the battery for about half an hour and try it again. Sometimes a bad battery will screw with the computer.
Also, It sounds like your ignition switch is bad. Maybe it isnt sending the "run" signal to the computer, but still turning the engine?

 

What about the ground on the back of the head to the firewall? Double check everything, i'm sure it is something simple that you have overlooked.

 

i just thought of something.. brb..

Mark

 

I just checked the plugs on the cap to engine..
engine layout if you re standing infront of it..
654321

on cap clock wise from 1...
153624

now should i put some gas in the plug holes to start it?

mark

 

yep just check it. its bolted down to the bolt on the block..
all the vacuum lines i disconnected are connected..
the 3 plugs to the tb are connected too

anything else?

mark

 

no gas in holes.

 

The order of plug fire should be imprinted on the intake, look for that and see if that is right.

 

i did...
so no on the gas in holes...

mark

 

You have spark?
If you have spark, spray some Ether into the intake and see if itll run.
Not alot though, It washes the oil off teh cylinder walls if you use too much