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starting issues in new cherokee

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Old Sep 25, 2013 | 11:33 AM
  #1  
BillyBoy's Avatar
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From: Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default starting issues in new cherokee

Hey guys, good news, I got a new '98.

Inline 6,
Issue is, it won't start.
I changed plugs, cap and rotor, wires,
Cleaned the grounds in the engine compartment,
New battery, new terminal heads,
New coil,
Still no spark...

What do I check next, where and how.
Any help is appreciated.
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Old Sep 25, 2013 | 11:57 AM
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From: Riviera, Texas
Year: 1998 Sport
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Engine: 4.0
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Check all fuses and relays. Also check out you CPS make sure that isn't bad or the wires to it aren't bad or melted from touching the exhaust manifold.
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Old Sep 25, 2013 | 01:13 PM
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From: Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1998
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I checked and double checked the fuses, I even cleaned them.
I rotated the relays, using them in multiple positions, all work.

What's a CPS?
And, if you would, were is it and what does it look like?

Thanks.
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Old Sep 25, 2013 | 01:16 PM
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Scratch that, I just googled cps,
I checked the crank position sensor, unplugged the wire, tested for continuity on all three prongs and had none.
Was that right?

Next thing to check?
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Old Sep 25, 2013 | 01:22 PM
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Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
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Test this way....http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/c...-maybe-889010/
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Old Sep 25, 2013 | 04:43 PM
  #6  
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Thanks man, VERY helpful.
My gas guage has been acting funny, surprising it could be that...
I'll check it and post u.
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Old Sep 25, 2013 | 06:40 PM
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Very common to have issues with dash fuel gauge and voltage gauge when you have a bad crank sensor. Crank sensor failure is a VERY common problem on the Jeep 4.0 engine.

Odds are quite high this is your problem. However, I have found testing to not always be conclusive. If you replace, do yourself a huge favor and buy a Mopar crank sensor directly from Jeep.

Aftermarket crank sensors are very "hit and miss" with a whole lot of miss.

Last edited by tjwalker; Sep 26, 2013 at 05:47 AM.
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Old Sep 25, 2013 | 07:58 PM
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From: Riviera, Texas
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Originally Posted by tjwalker
Odds are quite high this is your problem. However, I have found testing to not always be conclusive. If you replace, do yourself a huge favor and buy a Mopar crank sensor directly from Jeep.
Aftermarket crank sensors are very "hit and miss" with a whole lot of miss.
This is very true. When my CPS went bad it still tested good. I changed it out any way and the problem went away.
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Old Sep 25, 2013 | 08:49 PM
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I've been reading that a lot, that the knockoffs are prone to not working. I'll swing by the dealership for a mopar replacement this weekend and post how I goes.

This is like Christmas! New Jeep and all; right down to the part about being broke when it's all done and paying your credit cards off for the next 6 months!
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Old Oct 1, 2013 | 03:55 PM
  #10  
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From: Detroit, Michigan
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K guys, I changed the cps. It started rght up.
Me and my girl got in it for our "maiden voyage..."
We drove about a mile and a half down our road.
It died again...

My question: does the housing that the cps screws onto/into need to be scrubbed clean? Also, my gas gauge now works.

Are there any grounds in this area for these sensors?
I cleaned a bunch of them already.

Thanks!
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Old Oct 4, 2013 | 08:09 AM
  #11  
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K guys, new update:
I changed the cps I bought at autozone for a mopar direct. Origionally, they didn't have 1 and needed to order it. She still wouldn't restart. {I figured the o'riley special was just defective}. I started doing more research everywhere, and came up with absolutely NO reason why she shouldn't have spark... so, I went old-school. I kept turning it over, and pullin/pushing/wiggling wiring harnesses and connectors.

Turns out the connector and wire to the coil were loose and wiggley, and when I repositioned it, wha-la! she started right up. I electrical taped the wires/plug in place to make sure it doesn't work loose again.

Thanks for the help! Y'all are good guys/gals!
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