Derrtydave

I have a 98 4.0L Classic, 115K miles, very well cared for and maintained to the edge of being neurotic about it...

In early Dec. my alternator suddenly died and I had it replaced. No problems... Then about a week later, I was trying to start and it wouldnt catch. I waited a minute, then tried again- started up no problem.

A week and 1300 miles later I was out in Wisconsin for the holidays, the car suddenly wont start. Same deal as before except this time it was permanent. I called a tow and had it looked at. Diagnosis: failed distributor cap. I had it replaced and a tune-up done.

All was fine until I was on the highway 200 miles later, and **poof** the engine died. I looked under the hood and the ignition coil cable was just hanging there, and where it plugged into the center of the new dist. cap was just a burnt hole. Looked like it just melted right off.

I had it replaced again, and the new mechanic told me he thought it was a faulty cap. I called the first mechanic, described what happened, and he told me the original distributor cap was damaged the same way and that it must be another issue. (I am only 50% certain he is telling the truth about this, since he was afraid I was going to demand my $ back and needed to make it seem like he did everything right.)

Has anyone ever had this or heard of this issue before? Is this a problem with my ignition coil failing and sending too much juice through? Or was it a bad cable? Or was it indeed a faulty part?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I take this car on road trips a lot and I'd like to avoid being stranded again. If this is a symptom of a larger problem I want to fix it.

Thanks!

wicked_xj

Sounds like a cps very easy with extension adapter for the 7/16 socket and 2 swivels
You can unplug it and plug it back in it might work

wicked_xj

Sounds like a cps very easy with extension adapter for the 7/16 socket and 2 swivels
You can unplug it and plug it back in it might work

BuckB91XJ

Sounds like the mechanic didn't seat the coil wire properly into the new cap or a faulty cap, to me. I would call it good unless the same thing happens with the 2nd new cap.

funkle95xj

I agree with Buck, I'd just chalk it up to being the first mechanics fault for now and just keep an eye on it, but consider it good. It may not be a bad idea to keep a spare distributor cap in the Jeep on those long trips though if you want to avoid being stranded. That way you could just replace it roadside and be on your way...

Derrtydave

Thats what the 2nd mechanic told me- a bad part or a bad installation. He couldnt think of anything else that would cause that to happen, but I asked about it here in case its a recurring XJ thing...

What is a CPS? Sorry, my life has too many acronyms for me to remember them all.

BuckB91XJ

CPS is your Crank Position Sensor. The CPS and the Cam Position Sensor inside your distributor work together to do your timing function. The CPS is located on the upper driver's side of your bellhousing. There is a connector for it in the firewall between the motor and your brake master cylinder if you get to the point of needing to reseat it or read it out with a meter.
I think the first mechanic didn't properly seat the coil wire into your distributor cap and it was arching. Arching and vibration caused it to heat up and brake off. there's my not so expert opinion for you.

Derrtydave

Thanks so much, I do feel better about it. But I will take the advice of carrying a spare cap and rotor with me. The girlfriend wants to drive to the Smokies this summer... maybe I should pack a spare water pump too hahahah

BuckB91XJ

Sounds like a good plan. Tellico is one of the places I dream about wheeling someday before I die. In the pics I've seen, it looks a lot like Washington 4wheeling.

Derrtydave

We were down there last summer for the first time. On the way out we took a seasonal one-lane dirt track out the Western side of the park. An old logging road or something. Of course, my girl was driving, and of course she wouldn't relinquish the wheel for anything in the world. She was having a blast. So to this day, the roughest stuff my street-friendly Cherokee has encountered, I was sitting in the passenger seat for... grrr...

BuckB91XJ

Enjoy it, man. My wife wants nothing to do with 4wheeling. Getting cash out of her for upgrades to my Jeep is like trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip...LOL.