A few weeks ago I bought an unmolested, stock 1997 2 door, Automatic, 4.0 2wd Jeep Cherokee XJ. I have had many. I have 3 XJ's right now. So I am pretty familiar with them.
This Jeep had been overheated, not running, I bought it that way because the body is clean and solid.
I Pulled the motor. Got a new head, Had block checked out, it passed so I honed it, replaced bearings, rings, gaskets, Timing chain & gears, oil pump & water pump.
NOTE: THIS IS NOT MY 1st Rebuild.
I installed the Timing Chain & Gears with #1 @TDC and lined the marks up perfectly. Installed the Distributer accordingly and put it all back together with no issues.
Then NO START. spend a week double checking and testing.
I have spark. checked each with light and plug out touching ground seeing actual spark. We have spark.
I have Fuel. 50 PSI on fuel rail when cranking. Slowly leaks down over several minutes but hovers in the 20s for a while. Also pulled the rail with injectors out and cranked. Fuel squirts out of each. Not a nice mist more like an dwarf **** film.
Air... I even pulled the throttle back and shot starter fluid. Nothing. well twice I got a small backfire through Throttle body (not after spraying fluid)
So I am at a loss. Any reasonable suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
I think I am missing something obvious and stupid. I can take it. I'm just tired of looking.


Thanks, Sean

 

Injector pulse?

Nvm, i see you pulled the rail and they are squirting. Not squirting enough, perhaps.

Good compression? Ill admit, im grasping at straws here.

 

If I wasn't bald I'd be pulling my hair out. lol.
The Injectors are on my list of possibilities. Maybe they were half crap and then the serious overheating made them worse ??? but it still feels like a timing realted glitch

 

Distributor indexed correctly and the plug wires in the right place (some of the diagrams are wrong)?
http://cruiser54.com/?p=68

 

I'm going to try this. Great information. Thanks. I'll keep you posted. Seriously appreciate it!

 

I am seriously excited about this. Wow. It sounds like the problem I am having. If not still very good **** sir

 

Popping out the intake is normally the distributor being off. I mean the only way for it to pop out the intake is if it fires the plug while the intake valve is open.

 

Agreed. Going to try the Indexing trick shared above by LawsonCL and Cruiser54 I think that must be it.

 

Okay. So still no start. I have Removed cover an double checked timing gears. @ #1 TDC the marks line up perfectly with a ruler. Then I indexed the distributor, SPOT ON.
I have tested the coil and the CPS then swapped it with one from another XJ I have. NOTHING. Can the distributor sensor (the one under rotor, be the problem? It's like its getting fuel but at wrong time? I tested power to injectors and it is low at all 6. 10.5volts +- could this mean the injectors get barely enough to open but not enough to open correctly or long enough?