Just got back in the xj game after selling mine a few years ago. I picked up a 2000 xj for a song with a no start condition. The guy that had it was under the impression that the timing chain had broken.
When I got it home I took off the oil cap and had a buddy crank it and the rockers are moving. This leads me to believe the timing chain is not the cause. Furthermore the motor does crank and it tries to start as in it will first but not fully start. There seems to be pressure at the fuel rail. I did not hook up my gauge to the fuel rail but I did push the schrader and there was pressure.
So it seems like it wants to start so I assume it is getting both spark and fuel. Where should I start? I swapped the ecu out of another jeep I have same year motor and trans just to rule it out ,but no change.
Thanks for any help in advance

Did you check for spark? it may be the cps.

You need a fuel pressure gauge. Fuel shooting out of the shrader just means there is fuel in it. It could be 20, 30, or even 40 psi. Without a gauge, you dont know. Something is keeping it from starting. Fuel, air, and spark. Check all three. Dont guess.

Start by stopping.


Stop assuming. Start testing.

Real testing, with gauges, meters, other test instruments.

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obviously I need to check the fuel pressure and I have a fuel pressure gauge. I just didn't mess with it at the time. I just didn't know if there was some common defect that I wasn't aware of. I will dive in a little deeper when I get time.

also isn't the cps kind of a pretty common issue on these?

Yes, it is.

Test for spark.

BTW, use only NGK/NTK sensors on these. The aftermarket stuff has a high rate of failure, either doesn't work at all or dies within a few months.