Engine miss behaving, need help
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 87
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From: San Antonio, TX
Year: 87
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
87 4.0 Liter 6cyl.
Yesterday the engine would crank but not start first thing in the morning. After about 9 tries cranking the engine just started normal. Drove the jeep all day starting and shutting off fine, no problems. This morning started fine, while driving felt like it occasionally it would bog down when trying to accelerate, almost like plugged exhaust. Recently had a problem where the catayltic converter was plugged and doing a similar thing but that has been fixed. Now I am not sure what might be causing this issue.
Has anyone had a similar experience with their 4.0 liter?
Yesterday the engine would crank but not start first thing in the morning. After about 9 tries cranking the engine just started normal. Drove the jeep all day starting and shutting off fine, no problems. This morning started fine, while driving felt like it occasionally it would bog down when trying to accelerate, almost like plugged exhaust. Recently had a problem where the catayltic converter was plugged and doing a similar thing but that has been fixed. Now I am not sure what might be causing this issue.
Has anyone had a similar experience with their 4.0 liter?
CF Veteran




Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,839
Likes: 116
From: In the middle of Minnesota!
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I always ask about the condition of tuneup hardware before looking into more complex possibilities. Failure to do so often results in the chasing of ones tail.
Plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, air filter, fuel filter.
Plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, air filter, fuel filter.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
Year: 87
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I have replaced all the tuneup parts, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, fuel filter, and ignition coil. Fuel pump is running and there is fuel pressure in the fuel injector rail.
Whats strange now is the engine wont start and there is no spark from the coil & distributor.
Whats strange now is the engine wont start and there is no spark from the coil & distributor.
CF Veteran




Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,839
Likes: 116
From: In the middle of Minnesota!
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
For an 87, the #1 and #2 suspects for a no-spark condition are (in this order) a failing crankshaft position sensor and a failing (or bad contacts) on the ignition control module which is directly UNDER your ignition coil.
I would recommend testing of both of these and ensure the contacts aren't corroded on the ignition control module.
I would recommend testing of both of these and ensure the contacts aren't corroded on the ignition control module.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
Year: 87
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thank you for the information.
I will test the CPS and on the ignition control module connections are you referring to the 2 spring type connections where the coil connects or the actual wire connections to the wiring harness?
When I replaced the coil I cleaned the 2 connectors where the coil connects with some sand paper the best I could.
I will test the CPS and on the ignition control module connections are you referring to the 2 spring type connections where the coil connects or the actual wire connections to the wiring harness?
When I replaced the coil I cleaned the 2 connectors where the coil connects with some sand paper the best I could.
CF Veteran




Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,839
Likes: 116
From: In the middle of Minnesota!
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Here is a link to a good thread that gets into details on testing the crank sensor.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/c...ailing-639123/
I was referring to the ICM to coil connections that you already cleaned...........
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/c...ailing-639123/
I was referring to the ICM to coil connections that you already cleaned...........
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