Most of the time my 89 XJ will start fine, but recently it started taking longer to crank and would sometimes sound like it's going to start but doesn't. Once or twice a loud buzzer and the idiot lights would come on but what the hell does that mean?! Most of the time it just immediately begins to crank again until I let go of the key. I got stranded for a half hour because it wouldn't start and the tow truck driver came and started it with only a little choking. He said it sounded like a fuel issue but the fuel pump is pretty loud on start up so I don't think it is that. It has new plugs and wires, throttle position sensor, map sensor, and mustang 5.0 injectors, but I'm not sure but I can pretty much eliminate those as well. I've heard that it could be the ignition control module, I was thinking about replacing that and the coil but money is tight so I need to get the right parts.

So here I am stranded because it wouldn't start.

Any ideas???!!!!

 

The fuel pump being loud only means that its loud not that its working properly. Take a fuel pressure reading.

Test for fuel pressure and go from there.

 

by choking it do you mean he covered the throttle body with his hand if so he cutting air off i would look into cleaning the iac motor and check for broken vacuum line

 

Don't throw parts at this on a hunch. Terribly inefficient and gets expensive in a hurry.

I agree that a fuel pressure test WITH A GAUGE is in order. For an 89, you should have 31 psi at idle. Then disconnect the vacuum line leading to the fuel pressure regulator and the pressure should jump to approximately 39 psi. I'd take a reading with a cold engine (one that sat overnight) to see if you have or get to that 31 psi reading quickly.

Fuel pressure readings are the only way to rule this in or out, which needs to be done early in the troubleshooting process.

Another thing to do is to freshen your engine grounds. RENIX (87-90) hate poor engine grounds.

BTW, you mention it has new plugs and wires. Finish your tuneup with a new distributor cap, rotor and fuel filter.

Good luck!

 

5.0 Injectors? am i missing something? why does this thing have 4 Liter injectors?

 

sorry for the vague description, I meant the engine sputtered and sounded like it was choking on fuel.

 

 

So...lots of time passes and it's been starting fine. Until recently. Now it seems that if it has been parked and the sun has been beating on the hood chances are good it won't start. I had someone spray starting fluid into the air box and it started right up. Could this be the Crank Position Sensor?

 

How did the pressure test go? I replaced my CPS and it still stalls. I'm thinking it's my coil. I'm thinking you could have a plugged fuel filter maybe. try just cleaning it out. My old jeep used to get a little clogged up and die. then it would settle and start fine.

 

Better spray by way for 4 port outlet verses single port stock injector, supposed to be direct bolt in, but I have no personal experience with them. Neon injectors are supposed to be the same thing as the 5.0 injectors.

 

Don't clean your fuel filter, for $15 you can get a new one. By cleaning it I assume you mean force air or liquid thru it. They are paper filters inside and if you force anything thru it, it's cuz you ripped the paper, effectively meaning you no longer have a filter in there.

 

i meant just letting gas run through one way, then the other. its an easy way to save $15. But you are right, it can damage it usually. I just did it on an old jeep i used to beat around the yard with.

 

Well it was the fuel pump. It wasn't pumping enough fuel through and the sock had completely disintegrated.

 

BTW, did you adjust that new TPS?

 

Adjust ? I put a new one on a week or so ago and didn't see anything regarding adjusting. Is that just for Renix type engines ?