My neighbor wants to get rid of his XJ without ripping the person that buys it or himself off. here is the problem. He said he was driving it, went in the store, came back out and it wouldn't fire. he put in a new starter, (don't ask me why) and that didnt work. now by talking to him he doesn't seem too bright. he got it home and put a battery charger on it. he said when he did that, the power locks kept flipping back and forth. not to forget anything, the ignition is shot and he has been using a screw driver for a key. my first thoughts were computer. am i on the right path? now it's a 97 with approx. 140k on it. now my next question. the body is fair, no rust just some dings and dents with a busted window. undercarriage is good condition and it has the 8.25 in the rear. 6 cyl, np 231. how much is a fair price with the above being the way i would buy it.

any input would be greatly appreciated

 

No... my bet would be on the CPS... Runs fine than nothing...


The ignition isn't shot.. the tumbler is... The actual ignition switch is located on the outside of the steering column.. the key tumbler only drives a rod to that switch... Replacing the tumbler isn't that hard of a job.. it only requires a couple of special tools. Namely a steering wheel puller and a lock plate depressor..

If it doesn't run... look at it as a JY would... Its not operable. and it is going to cost you X amount of dollars to get it like that. You could get Y dollars if you cut it up for parts...

 

Yep what he said

 

i got my xj with a "blown slave" but i found out it was a 50 master cylinder

 

I'd MUCH rather have a bad clutch master than a blown slave. You can change a master while standing up......

 

It wont run at all. he said it ran fine on his way to town, and now it wont even try to start. so, your thinking the CPS

 

Will the motor turn over? Just won't start? Try to pin it down to spark or fuel first. Then start thinking grounds before CPS. CPS is a PITA to change and checking grounds costs nothing. The strap between the head and firewall is a good place to start. Check from the battery to the firewall with an ohm meter. Check the CPS last and try unplugging and replugging it several times before replacement.

 

I would put my money on CPS. It is a very common problem and can happen without warning.

 

X2 on it being a PITA!! I have done it twice, second time was much much smoother. It contacted the exhaust and melted. The new one is zip tied to the speedo cable way up by the intake manifold, I bet it does not get burned!! Getting the zip tie on was the worst part for me, it's a little tight up in there!! My Jeep was doing the same thing and now it doesn't!!

 

thanks everyone. i'm going to find out what the scrap price for a cherokee would be and offer that to the guy.

 

Keep us up to date on the "no start" problem. Let us know what it turns out to be.
Blue

 

well the guy told me he would sell it for$550. if that the case i'm going to see if i cant pay him 50 a week and then bring it home and find the problem