Ok I have an 87 XJ auto 4.0L, I was driving down the road today in the rain, no puddles, and all of a sudden it started backfiring and quit on me. I managed to get it to a parking lot. I tried to start it and nothing, it just cranked. If it did start it ran hard like it was missing. Then if I hit the brake it would just die!!! All my gauges read normal readings, so I dont know where to begin!! Any suggestions would help!

 

I use to own an 88 cherokeee and ran into the same problem of the engine cranking and would not start. There is a TDC sensor (Top Dead Center sensor) that reads the flywheel timing marks, I believe. When this sensor goes bad the computer can not read the flywheel position and will not allow the ignition to fire. You can turn the key several times and the vehicle will not start until the sensor is replaced. The gauges all look normal. You probably smell gas from the cylinders flooding. Hope this helps.

 

fixed it, the ground wire on the coil was coroded in two!! fixed it and runs fine!!! thanks for the input

 

its the crankshaft positioning sensor