Yes, DKO, the Cam Position Sensor is inside the distributor. The best way to replace it is to just get a known good distributor from a donor XJ in a JY. That's what we did when T/S my son's 87 XJ. I got a complete known good distributor at the local JY for waaaaaaaaaay less than it was going to be just for a new Cam Sensor. Dropped it in and plugged it in.

 

That is way easier said than done, How would you verify it there to say it is a Known good one lol.

 

Well I want to try the ballast resistor but I have two on my fender about afoot from the firewall and both have wire coming from the same loom and they are only and inch or two apart. Thanks on the JY info BUCK my JY has one that came in running it is where I got my ECU but they kinda raped me on the ECU $75 whatever though its a step forward.

 

I was just gonna say. That is how you verify it a good one....and make the JY dude sign paperwork if you end up wanting to bring it back. I gave $20 bucks for the one we got for my son's Jeep. Turns out that wasn't what was wrong but, we kept it for a known good spare, anyway.

 

I cleaned the part in the mani fold tried to start it and it tried to go but died quick, almost not even on. I hear the pump coming on so I am not sure that it is the ballas resistor I think it may be the cam pos in the dist. But I don't know if the ballast resistor thing will make it not start at all or it will start run then die.

 

If you have read all of this wow I bet you have a head-ache. Well mine is worse. I went out to sea made it home time to work on jeep. I put the key in to see. It starts runs for 5 sec shuts off and will not start again, its like there is no spark (can't check till friend gets here). strong fuel smell but it doesn't even try it is like the cap isn't connected to the coil. I am beginning to think maybe the cat is clogged but?

 

so it is not a clogged cat it is not the ballast resistor. it just cranks and cranks but wont fire. my buddy hasn't shown up yet he is only 2hrs late so i can see if there is spark I don't have a button starter so i need another person I will fill you in when the next step is made. I am thinking it may be the cam pos in the dist but again I need him so I can test it. by the way what should I do to test the cam pos? thanks guys

 

I have an 85 with the 2.8 as well i had the same problem i switched the ignition control module and still had the problem... MAKE DARN SURE YOU GOT THE TWO WIRES ON THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE ON RIGHT AND THAT THEY ARENT CORRODED. i struggled for about a week with my dad and turned out he had crossed them, i finnally said why the eff not try to switch them and it fired right up.

 

so I don't have spark. I put they ac relay in the place of the auto shut off relay and now it tries but won't go so I will try the ballast jump and see if that goes may also put cat back on for back pressure to see if that helps and from there?

 

no still won't start. I put in the old ecm and it does the same thing. now it will crank and once ina while give a little half sputter. also noticed that the jeep is a california, the problem is the guy at the jy told me it was a federal so he sold me a federal ecm the only ecm he had with a exchange not a money back guarantee for the part. it is my bad also but that one has me a little perturbed. I will try to get him to get me a cali one and in the mean time I will have him give me a working dist to see if that is the problem. back to my tools now!

 

so the guy at the jy says he will exchange the ecm for a dist which is a f___ing rip off every other yard around town wants 40 bucks and this guy says he will exchange for the 75 he charged me on the ecm. i hate jy's sometimes. oh and i have spark again and fuel but won't start. so cam pos must be my problem but who knows it is a "just empty every pocket" after all

 

I read all of these replies and no one has mentioned the pick-up coil. in the distributor under the rotor, plugs into the end of the ignition modual. classic symptom, start but wont "run"

 

yeah the pick up coil is the cam pos that we are talking about in the dist. So you say it will start but not run? mine will crank and give one sounds like one cylender fired. If it were the feul pump it would run or atleast try to run, same with the cam pos right?

the jy says that i will just have to return for credit and get the part some where else bacause they don't want to take apart a good engine? what I thought that is what the jy does am i mistaken? but what ever i will need more parts.

 

the fuel pump question would be answered by starting fluid, if its not getting gas, you should be able to run it indefinately off of a can of staring fluid, ( i have moved cars out of gas with it) i think its already been said, fuel, air, spark. start back at the begining, verfy fuel, spark, timing. make sure rotor is turning while cranking engine

 

tj thanks. i am just running out of ideas. i have done all of this before and the fudger still wont run continuously. i am selling this thing after this, my 04 grnd doesn't do this stuff cause its new and i like that. i just cant bring my self to cut up this nice 91 and make it a wheeler and besides i have a s10 blazer that is getting sas in my shop right now (will post pics).