My 91 xj 5 speed wont start. I was replacing the distributor cause the cam shaft sensor went. I couldn't get it running right and then it wouldn't start. You turn the key and nothing happens. I tried replacing the starter and the starter relay and still nothing. Really need help here I'm out of ideas

 

What do you mean it won't start? Like no power? Or it just keeps cranking?

If it just keeps cranking... did you set the timing right when installing the new distributer?

If there is no power... Did one of the battery cables get knocked off? Are all the connections installed correctly? Are your grounds hooked up right and clean?

 

x2^^^ more info needed.

 

It had power cause like lights and radio work fine but when I try to crank it over nothing happens. You dont hear the starter engage or anything. Also the cables are hooked up and I checked continuity going to the starter and that's.good to

 

I ment has power

 

test the CPS

 

How do I test that

 

Also wouldn't it still crank over with a bad cps just not start

 

usually the only time you dont have a starter enage(other than a bad starter) would be the nuetral/clutch safety switch.

it would still crank all day without a cps, just not start.

 

^^Do manuals have a neutral saftey switch?

Were you cranking it over and over again or keeping the starter turning for a long period of time?

 

Did you check your batteries voltage? It may have enough juice to power the stereo and lights but not engage the starter, just saying.

 

no nuetral safety, but some later models used a intergrated hyd switch w/ the hydro clutch, looks like the early years clutch safety was more of a wrongler thing than a xj thing. sorry for the confusion.

have you checked power to the starter solenoid/relay?

 

No its all good man. I was thinking after I replied that there had to be some sort of saftey feature to prevent in gear starts. But I wasnt sure if it was considered a netural saftey switch.

But hey you learn something new everyday!

 

It doesn't have a neutral safety switch though

 

I have had the truck about a month. First two weeks everything started fine and then dead battery issues started in. Hard to say why but the A/C fan motor is wired by previous owner in such a way that even after shutting the jeep off the blower is running. I have a reminder sign there for now to make sure you shut that A/C controls off but I forgot and the battery crapped out on me. Started right up with a jump and then no more problems for about 10 days.
My wife moved the thing and then the jeep wouldn't start again. We checked that everything had been turned off but the overhead light switch wasn't all the way off and again wouldn't start the next day.
Landlord jumped it again and while it was running he took the pos. lead off the battery and said that since it was still running it couldn't be the alternator.
Went down to Wally's and bought a series 58 battery with 540 cca and installed and the jeep ran fine for three or four days.
We ran a ton of errands yesterday, jeep started fine...no issues.
Went out today and it was dead, no click, no door buzzer, no inside light, not even a whisper of turning over.
Neighbor came over and we hooked up cables and at first nothing but after a few minutes started up but it wasn't roaring to life, just kind of rolled over slowly and then caught and we were off.
I just got home from driving it for half an hour. Turned it off to take two items out of the back [literally under a minute] and got back in to check if the thing would start and all I got was "click".

I am a severe noob here, don't have deep pockets in any way and not sure what to even start looking for. I made sure nothing was on, , no lights, detached face plate to radio, no fans, doors all shut tight and properly. Wiper switch is off, rear wiper, rear defrost...everything I can think of.

I have no idea what to look for next?
Help