starting issues in new cherokee
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 30
From: Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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.
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.
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 4
From: Riviera, Texas
Year: 1998 Sport
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 30
From: Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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.
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.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 30
From: Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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?
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?
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 47,923
Likes: 38
From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
CF Veteran




Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 117
From: In the middle of Minnesota!
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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.
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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CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 4
From: Riviera, Texas
Year: 1998 Sport
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
This is very true. When my CPS went bad it still tested good. I changed it out any way and the problem went away.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 30
From: Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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!
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!
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 30
From: Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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!
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!
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 30
From: Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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!
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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