I've reviewed a few threads about this problem and not really finding a situation quite like mine or a solution that seems to work. Here's the issue...

The first start of the day, the cherokee fires right up. Any other time of the day after that it takes a good 4-5 seconds to start.

New starter, new fuel pump and fuel filter, Seafoam in the fuel tank and in the air intake, and fuel rail pressure checks out (all this in the last 2-3 months). I have not done an ignition tune up, but with it firing up immediately each morning I'm not sure that would be the cause. One other thing I've noticed is that if it is damp, rainy or just humid outside it starts faster than it does when it's dry/sunny/etc.

The only reason I'm concerned about getting this taken care of is not so much for the convenience of quick starts as much as it is about letting something go only to have a break down later down the road.

 

In your searches you've probably come across "the poor man's prime" trick. How does your Jeep respond to that?

You'll also need to tell us what year and engine you have. I'm assuming you drive an XJ Cherokee, right?

 

If by poor mans prime you mean turning the ignition on 2-3 times so the fuel pump gives adequate supply to engine then yep! Didn't seem to notice a difference. I've also applied the accelerator while starting and that has no affect either.

And oops on the failure to add that it's a 93 xj with a 4.0

 

Does it only start right up in the morning, or ill it start right up say after an 8 hr work day. THe symptoms u describe point to something working inadequately because of a heat soak which makes me think ignition components. But the fact that it seems better when its moist out is a little discerning. Try spraying the wires and cap down wih water from a spray bottle. If it affects the way she runs its time to replace them. If not that then it may be a ckp sensor checking out

 

E ither way ot never hurts to refresh the ignition components.

 

Excellent point.

Every 30,000 miles, new plugs, wires, rotor and cap.

I prefer NGK plugs and wires. Premium rotor and cap with brass, not aluminum, contacts.

 

i should have asked this before.... when you said long slow crank.... do you mean the starter is turning over slowly or that it's turning over normaly it's just taking more cranks for it to fire.

 

It's not carburated... And it's getting colder out so that's gonna affect it.

 

Mine did the same thing but sometimes it wouldn't start for quite a while. One time almost drained the battery.
Swapped out the CPS and the problem went away but came back about a month later. Sometimes it would start but ran really bad and there were times it died at stops but fired right up.
Last time it was taking for ever to fire I unplugged the CPS for a few seconds and after I plugged it back it fired right up and has been ever since.

Hope this helps