i've been having some problems lately with my jeep..the other day it just died out of no where.started back up fine.today it died but did'nt start.so after i walked a mile back home to get the full sized truck.i checked for spark and i have none.it cranks over fine but no start.what are the cheaper parts to replace to get my spark back?distributor cap? could this be my timing?(my dad swears it jumped timing)...any help would be great....

 

Very likely that it is the Crankshaft Positioning Sensor (CPS). They go out all the time on the XJs and cause a no spark condition. It could also be the coil, rotor, cap, Camshaft Position Sensor(AKA Pickup coil, stator). You're gonna have to do some testing. I would test the CPS first. Here's a picture of it's location


Now what you want to do is test the resistance (ohms) between points B and C on the terminal from the sensor. There should be no resistance whatsoever. If there is any resistance, it needs to be replaced.



There's lot of info on changing out a CPS on here. Just search it and you'll find out everything you need to know.

 

ok thanks man.thats what i thought i was going to hear.now if its bad could i go to my local pick in pull and get a used one?..just until i get the money for a new one...

 

you could but thats a head ache times 2.......there just 50 dollars new.....

 

Well, you could, but it would suck if it turned out to be crappy. Or if it was good and you thought it was bad and it was something other than the CPS. Also, I was told they are Auto trans/ Manual trans specific so if you pull it from a JY, make sure it has the same trans.

 

really?i was told they were 90 bux.i figured 10 bux from a cash for clunkers jeep.theres one down there with the floor cut out so it should be easy to pull..are all years the same?i'll make sure its the same trans too..i'm on a tight budget right now so every penny counts ya know

 

The connector style did change at one point, so make sure the connector is the same. Also, I'm sure you can't just pull one from a Renix engine and put it in an XJ with a HO engine. Just make sure the connector is the same.

 

just do it

 

ok today i changed the coil and cps and still i have no spark.i dont even have spark going to the coil.could i need a new NSS?what else could cause no spark?

 

Could be the NSS, Automatic Shutdown Relay (which is in the fuse box under the hood) or the Camshaft Position Sensor (AKA pickup coil or stator). The pickup coil is located under the distributor cap. When my CPS went, my pickup coil did too. Here's a little info on it http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...lse_Stator.htm . My distributor was already all messed up because when I took the cap off, the screws broke off and damaged the "ears" they screw into and completely broke one off. Instead of getting a new pick up coil and rigging the cap on, I just went to the junkyard and got a whole new distributor for $10. I put it in and it started right up. But, make sure you put the distributor in the same way it came out and don't crank the engine, while it's out. When you pull the distributor note the way the "tab" is turned for when you put the new one in.

 

and all these would cut spark to my coil right.because i dont even have power at the coil..also i switched relays.i moved the abs relay to the auto shut down spot.so i dont think its the relay....

 

You have no power at the coil? Did you verify this with a test light or multimeter?
Did you check to see if you have key on power to the injectors also?

 

no, its at my brother in laws garage.i just called him and he said it had none.i think he did it with a screw driver(hillbilly, i know)can i even really check that way?as a matter of fact,what is the best way to check spark?with out a ohm tester.

 

man same thing happen to my twin brothers xj yesterday we r trying to figure his out also ...did eveything you did so far gonna send him the link to this thead so he can read on it

 

To check for spark, all you need to to is pop the plug wire off the top of the distributor(the one that comes from the coil) and ground it out on something metal. Then have someone crank the engine while you watch from the side. If you see an orange spark, I'd bet you need a new Camshaft Position Sensor (AKA stator or pickup coil). If you see blue spark then it has good spark, so it might be a fuel problem. Bottom line is no spark is bad, orange spark won't make your Jeep run, and blue spark is good.