Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

fresh engine swap....but not starting.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-15-2011, 06:12 PM
  #1  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
chefeagles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ny (not the city)
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default fresh engine swap....but not starting.

I can smell gas so assume that spark is the problem. All existing part worked before the swap. So maybe the distributor is in wrong?? I really dont know...any help would be great.
Old 05-15-2011, 07:08 PM
  #2  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
chefeagles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ny (not the city)
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Getting trouble code 54 distributor sync pick up.

What's that?
Old 05-15-2011, 07:15 PM
  #3  
Member
 
XtremeJeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Georgia
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

did you time it up right when you put it all back together
Old 05-15-2011, 07:16 PM
  #4  
CF Veteran
 
ol"blue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Tenn. and Mich.
Posts: 28,068
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7L V8
Default

That's the cam sensor inside the distributor, under the rotor. Recheck the connector.
Old 05-15-2011, 07:19 PM
  #5  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
chefeagles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ny (not the city)
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by XtremeJeep
did you time it up right when you put it all back together
I dont know..
Old 05-15-2011, 07:23 PM
  #6  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
chefeagles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ny (not the city)
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by ol"blue
That's the cam sensor inside the distributor, under the rotor. Recheck the connector.
I put in the one from the 95 donor to see and still nothing.
Old 05-15-2011, 07:49 PM
  #7  
CF Veteran
 
MallCrawlXJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2001 4.0L
Default

you have to put the distributor in the correct position, or you jeep will not start. it may start if you get it close, but it will misfire.

here is the correct procedure

By hand, turn the engine to top dead center on #1 cylinder
Remove spark plug wires (or just remove distributor cap and move it out of the way)
Make a mark with a sharpie, or a scribe, at the point on the base of the distributor where the rotor is pointing.
Remove the bolt and hold-down from the base of the distributor.
Carefully, without rotating the distributor, remove it from the engine block.
Rotate the shaft on the new distributor until it is aligned the same as the old one.
Insert new distributor, make sure it's seated completely in the block, visually check to make sure the rotor is still pointing in the same direction as the old one.
Add a new distributor cap and wires, and you're done.
Old 05-15-2011, 07:51 PM
  #8  
CF Veteran
 
MallCrawlXJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2001 4.0L
Default

if you have a buddy with a cherokee, try and have them let you do the first part to see where the rototr should be pointing. that should get you a good starting point now that you already uninstalled the old one without marking it.
Old 05-15-2011, 08:02 PM
  #9  
CF Veteran
 
SeriousOffroad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,952
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

Post #15 of the following thread:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/col...e-4-0-a-23233/
Old 05-15-2011, 08:54 PM
  #10  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
chefeagles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ny (not the city)
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

ok thanks guys. battery died so i gotta wait till tomorrow to play more.

heres what i did, I lined up the mark on the balancer with the 0 on the gauge on timing cover. For some reason I thought the rotor should be pointing at at 1 oclock but im reading it shoulda been 5 oclock. so ill try that. but its not like it started and ran like crap. it didnt start at all. i thought maybe one time i heard a backfire tho.
Old 05-15-2011, 09:11 PM
  #11  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
chefeagles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ny (not the city)
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

is it completely necessery to pull spark plug #1 and feel for pressure to find tdc? lineing up the balancer isnt good enough?
Old 05-15-2011, 09:12 PM
  #12  
CF Veteran
 
SeriousOffroad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,952
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by chefeagles
is it completely necessery to pull spark plug #1 and feel for pressure to find tdc?
Yes it is.
Old 05-15-2011, 09:19 PM
  #13  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
chefeagles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ny (not the city)
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by FrankZ
Yes it is.
ok. after reading again it needs to be tbc on compression stroke so if i rotate the engine 360 will that be right? cause i have it tdc but must not be compresson stroke.
Old 05-15-2011, 09:22 PM
  #14  
CF Veteran
 
SeriousOffroad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,952
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

I always put my finger over the hole until I feel air being forced past it, then manually turn the crank. It's the only way to be 100% sure.
Old 05-15-2011, 09:49 PM
  #15  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
chefeagles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ny (not the city)
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by FrankZ
I always put my finger over the hole until I feel air being forced past it, then manually turn the crank. It's the only way to be 100% sure.
alright sounds good thnks alot. ill post how it goes.


Quick Reply: fresh engine swap....but not starting.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:41 PM.