look at that relay you put in for the fuel it looks like a regular relay but its supposed to be a 4 pin relay NOT a 5 pin and you will have the same simptoms i had this trouble for a loooonnnggg time some times it would start with the 5 pin relay most of the time not and mine was also an 89 xj should be the second relay FROM the battery if its a 5pin IT WILL NOT WORK and your fuel will still be at rail

theres pictures down the thread and that is a 1989 in the pics
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/showthread.php?t=18689

 

Oh sweet I'm gonna try the 4 pin tomorrow. I'm gonna see if advacned has them in stock and try them Thanks For the info Neither mechanics at local shops or dealers help as much as people on this site. I'll post up what happens.

 

It ended up being the distributor. The inside of the distributor was shot it was all rust and the shaft was rounded out almost at the end of the shaft it was bad lol put in a new dist fired up great. I look over it prolly 30 times Winston came down and within prolly 30 mins it was fixed lol

 

Check the timing. Put number one cylinder on top dead center and open the destributor cap. Depending on which stroke your on it should either be pointing towards number one plugwire or 180 degrees away from that. If it had bad compression even 5 psi you would still hear the explosions it just wouldn't have any power to keep it going. Also pull a plug out and see if ur getting any spark. Your computer might be fried to. See if u have any injector pulse or power to the coil pack.

 

Pull your distributor out and turn it a half turn then put it back in and try it . It sounds like you might be 180 out .If not it was a free try . Didnt cost anything . Good luck!

 

Well I haven't had any luck with getting my 2001 cherokee to start either. I replaced the crank sensor and still dint start. Let me say this. I just put the engine back together and had the heads redone new rings/pistons, bearings, timing chain/gears, plugs. It started up for about 2-3 seconds and ran rough and then died. I think it was due to I had injectors 5&6 wiring crossed since they can reach either way. I had the problem of "no bus" also. I am getting fuel in the cylinder and my rail pressure is about 50 psi. Can some one please let me know where to start. O the battery is new.

 

To the posters of posts # 19 and 20. Read post #18, it's fixed. And furthermore, pulling the dist out and turning 180 will do no good. The timing is not adjustable via the dist on the 4.0, it is controled by the computer. It will only install and bolt into place in one position.

 

I had a prob with mine starting and running roung then dying and I changed spark plugs and distributor cap and button and it ran fine for about 3 days and then what do ya know it died and wouldn't start back. Come to find out the distributor was shot. Ask Winston427 he can prolly tell ya a couple more details and diff things... he knows more then all the jeep dealership mechanics in Madison, Rivergate, and Nashville. I know he helped me in 30 mins and fixed my jeep where the mechanics didn't know where to begin lol

 

I have an electronic set up. I have a cam shaft sensor would that keep it from not starting?

 

Well I have fixed the problem no I am pretty much have more knowledge of the electrical systme on a 4.0 jeep cherokee. Turns out that in my rush to put my engine together I forgot to lub the thrust plate and timing gear. It locked up and stop the cam from turning in which sheard the teeth off of the crank gear. Well I have it up and running now. I am in the process of getting all the little bugs worked out like the check engine light for a gross evap leak. which was the rubber hose on the side of the intake. I would like to thank you fellow jeep cherokee forumers in the help and advice that was given to me. I know alot more than before and if I can ever be of any help let me know.