xjmuddigger

well my xj starts up everytime but i have to hold the key for about 4 seconds or so then itll start,i have new plugs and the wires are good,cap is good,battery is only a year old,what could help this? its embarrassin to try and crank it up in public,it needs to get fixed

freegdr

ever change the fuel filter

xjnj

you may have a bad starter

peep

Mine has always been a long crank to start, ya I got the new pump and filter, the injectors are old as the hills, I know other 4.0L that are a long crank also, periodically I get a quick fire up but not the norm. The bottom line is it always starts! Even at -30 deg. To me the long crank is the norm.

alloutperform

i just went through this.sending unit didn't fix it... i had been planning an injector swap to the ford yellow injectors for about a month literally just did it today and...no more long cranks

peep

Alloutperf, Did you see an operating change, performance, economy, etc with your new injectors? I have 477000+km on mine and get what I expect. In addition to good starts how else do you feel about your new injectors?

Ender

...a '91 XJ? 5-8 secs is normal, if it has healthy crank and starts every time it's all good brother

pickles

I kinda like how my Jeep cranks over a few times before it starts. Just another Jeep thing i guess

tjwalker

When it starts, does it start "cleanly" or does it stumble for a few seconds after starting. If you have a leaky fuel injector, that can result in fuel pressure loss, which results in an extended crank, followed by a stumbling engine while the excess fuel is burned off.

Fuel pressure testing with a fuel pressure gauge and the ability to isolate the front part of the vehicle from the rear with a clamp on the fuel pressure gauge can tell you if "fuel pressure loss" is happening. Easy to do.

Refresh your grounds. Never a bad idea.

alloutperform

did it yesterday..i have no feedback yet but the originals have 183,000 mi on them so i expect some improvement

xjmuddigger

thanx for the input yall,and atleast i aint the only one lol,my injectors are ok but i still plan on doin a injector swap wit ford ones,and ima check my fuel filter today and see whats it looks like,and then let yall kno

89Laredo

Because it IS normal for your year. 89 is called a "renix"
The computer system was built by Bendix, an Aeronautics company and must see 300RPM before it will fire, this is your delay. My jeep regularly takes 5 seconds.

If you want it to start quicker, you have to get to that 300rpm faster. Easiest way to do this is thicker power and ground cables to the starter.

diller

Brother, i know how you feel I had the same problem. It was the worse when someone would start to walk over and ask if you needed any help but it starts before they get there and you drive off. I bought a new fuel pump and didn't know how to remove the electrical connection on the sending unit and ruined it. Had to go to the junkyard for a new sending unit. Now it fires up every time within 1-2 seconds once I got it all back together with the new fuel pump. Hope this helps, good luck with the injectors. I also replaced the injector seals while I was at it. I actually have an extra fuel pump if you need it depending on where you are.

xjmuddigger

ill try that if it still starts bad after a new fuel filter but im in NC 28479 btw all depends on where ur at i reckon

diller

I'm about 6 hours north according to google maps just south of DC. Prolly not worth it for a fuel pump.