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Jeep timing problems

Old Oct 19, 2010 | 08:44 PM
  #1  
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From: Andover, MN
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4 liter I6
Default Jeep timing problems

Alright, heres what I did. In my 1988 jeep cherokee I swapped the Renix engine for the HO, I swapped over all of the Renix sensors and equipment, and adapted the tps. So basically I did a HO head swap on a Renix block. I also swapped over the distributor. Here's my problem, I set the engine to tdc cylinder one and the distributer at 5 o'clock, start the jeep it idles like crap and will not rev up, I therefore retard the timing, I can get the timing so that the engine will idle but I cannot for the life of me get the jeep to anything but idle, meaning it wont rev up. If I do press the throttle it chokes and backfires and will not rev above 1000 rpm. If anyone has an idea that would be great. BTW I have searched for possible answers one being that the timing chain being off, but I would much rather see if there is another answer first before I dive into that.

Thank you,
Kevin
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 08:49 PM
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
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Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
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top dead center on compression stroke no 1 cyl rotor should point to no 1 plug ire location on cap
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 08:53 PM
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From: Southern California
Year: 1989 Laredo
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6 Renix
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Yea, that can be tricky, I just replaced the Distributor in my '89 Renix and (like an idiot) I didn't mark where everything was so I had to do the whole TDC and get the rotor to point the right way, took a while but got it eventually. Good Luck.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 08:53 PM
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From: Andover, MN
Year: 1996
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^^yes which would be at 5'oclock, I've reset it there many times but with no luck.

And thanks I'm getting the feeling that I will need a lot of luck to get this thing running.

Last edited by Kelgard; Oct 19, 2010 at 08:55 PM.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 08:55 PM
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
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Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
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for whichmotor and which fly wheel did u use
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 08:57 PM
  #6  
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From: Andover, MN
Year: 1996
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I used the flywheel and cps from my 88. The engine I swapped in came out of a 95 grand cherokee.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:08 PM
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
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no one cyl on cap is more like nine o clock on mine 89 xj
Attached Thumbnails Jeep timing problems-1019102204a_321664.jpg  
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:41 PM
  #8  
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please explain, firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4 how would cylinder one be at 9 o'clock?
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:47 PM
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ok the front of the motor is where yoiu see the number 1 closest to radiator the dist is on the left the dist goes in with the pointer facing to no1 in the circle thats the dist then you wires go in the firing order in the circle 1 5 3 6 2 4 got it match them to the numbers in the oval which is engine
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:49 PM
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
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stand in front of xj no 1 is at nine oclock 5 oclock would be at no 2
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:56 PM
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Year: 1996
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I see now but wouldn't that still put the distributer facing towards the no 1 cylinder on the distributer cap? if oriented like the picture, cylinder 1 is at 5 o'clock if oriented from front of the jeep no1 is at 9 leaving the distributer faced the same direction.

Last edited by Kelgard; Oct 19, 2010 at 10:00 PM.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 10:00 PM
  #12  
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
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Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
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the metal piece on rotor has to p[oint to number one in the circle when motor is at top dead center on compression stroke then run spark plug wires around the cap matching the number 1 to 1 2 to 2 and so forth
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 10:05 PM
  #13  
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I have done said procedure and double checked it with a currently running cherokee.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 10:09 PM
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
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Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
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Originally Posted by Kelgard
Alright, heres what I did. In my 1988 jeep cherokee I swapped the Renix engine for the HO, I swapped over all of the Renix sensors and equipment, and adapted the tps. So basically I did a HO head swap on a Renix block. I also swapped over the distributor. Here's my problem, I set the engine to tdc cylinder one and the distributer at 5 o'clock, start the jeep it idles like crap and will not rev up, I therefore retard the timing, I can get the timing so that the engine will idle but I cannot for the life of me get the jeep to anything but idle, meaning it wont rev up. If I do press the throttle it chokes and backfires and will not rev above 1000 rpm. If anyone has an idea that would be great. BTW I have searched for possible answers one being that the timing chain being off, but I would much rather see if there is another answer first before I dive into that.

Thank you,
Kevin
you said 5 oclock it has to point to no 1 which is at nine
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 10:10 PM
  #15  
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
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do you now what i mean by compression stroke
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