Electronic ignition conversion kit
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Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Electronic ignition conversion kit
Where can I source an electronic conversion kit for my 2002 Grand Cherokee 4litre petrol vehicle? I’m in the UK & need a brand new or second used set up.
Many thanks
Phil Taylor
Many thanks
Phil Taylor
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,096
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From: Hunt County Texas
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
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Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Hi,
Sorry I wasn’t too clear. My Jeep Grand Cherokee is a 2002 WJ vehicle which I believe was originally powered via an electronic ignition set up. However, the owner prior to me set it up with a distributor arrangement & I have no idea why! This has proven to be a real pain in terms of misfires & rubbish performance. I wouldn’t even be surprised if it has been re-engined at some time. What I want to do now is source a comprehensive electronic ignition set up, as I think the regular 2002 version had straight from the factory. I understand that by making the conversion I could restore my Jeep to its original, or better specification (with modern day electronics) & get far better service from it such as smooth running & power closer to what one would expect from the 4litre engine.
i hope this is helpful as I am getting more desperate as days go by.
all the best
Phil Taylor
Sorry I wasn’t too clear. My Jeep Grand Cherokee is a 2002 WJ vehicle which I believe was originally powered via an electronic ignition set up. However, the owner prior to me set it up with a distributor arrangement & I have no idea why! This has proven to be a real pain in terms of misfires & rubbish performance. I wouldn’t even be surprised if it has been re-engined at some time. What I want to do now is source a comprehensive electronic ignition set up, as I think the regular 2002 version had straight from the factory. I understand that by making the conversion I could restore my Jeep to its original, or better specification (with modern day electronics) & get far better service from it such as smooth running & power closer to what one would expect from the 4litre engine.
i hope this is helpful as I am getting more desperate as days go by.
all the best
Phil Taylor
Last edited by Taylorsquad; Nov 29, 2018 at 10:34 AM. Reason: Spelling
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 741
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
The original set-up was a coil rail (or pack) mounted on the head with a digital sensor in the distributor hole and read by the computer. It's a waste spark system in which 2 spark plugs fire together every revolution, one on compression and one on exhaust. There are only 3 coils in the rail. That must be a replacement engine, an older one, and is probably controlled by an older computer as well. Where is your oil filter attached to the engine? The engine that's supposed to be in that WJ has the oil filter screwed directly into the block above the starter, not on an adapter near the oil pan. Also, the engine mounts are different on those 2 motors.
Another thing. The WJ (99-04) uses a data bus system where all the modules talk to one another. I don't understand how that thing even runs!
Another thing. The WJ (99-04) uses a data bus system where all the modules talk to one another. I don't understand how that thing even runs!
Last edited by dave1123; Nov 30, 2018 at 03:45 AM.
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Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Hi Dave,
Thank you for getting back to me. Yes, I believe my Jeep has been re-engined at some point & I think it’s a series1 WJ unit. Whoever made the change apparently ditched the original electronic ignition & substituted a distributor. What I’m looking for is the setup to get it back to electronic ignition as the car runs so rough & lacks power. I’ve posted a couple of enquiries out & am waiting for replies. It’s such a great looking vehicle it’s a pity not to have it running correctly.
All the best
Phil Taylor
Thank you for getting back to me. Yes, I believe my Jeep has been re-engined at some point & I think it’s a series1 WJ unit. Whoever made the change apparently ditched the original electronic ignition & substituted a distributor. What I’m looking for is the setup to get it back to electronic ignition as the car runs so rough & lacks power. I’ve posted a couple of enquiries out & am waiting for replies. It’s such a great looking vehicle it’s a pity not to have it running correctly.
All the best
Phil Taylor
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 741
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
No, the block was redesigned in 99 by moving the motor mounts so the 4.0 would still fit in the WJ. They had to do that because the mounts needed to be moved to balance the 4.7 V8. If you have an older engine, it's from a ZJ or XJ or TJ. There's no such thing as a Series 1 WJ engine. The "Clean Block" 4.0 was built from 99-07 until it was eliminated from production. The only vehicle that used it up until 07 was the Wrangler or TJ. It wasn't used in the XJ after 01 when they stopped building it and not in the WK in 05. I'm not sure how long the TJ had the 4.0, but they made replacement engines up until 07.
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Hi Dave,
Thank you for the information, it’s just about cured my ignorance. You may have guessed I’m no mechanic! I keep getting told that my Jeep should have an electronic ignition setup & given the performance via the distributor I can see that such a setup would significantly improve the experience for me. I was hoping that someone on the forum would have the parts I need. There doesn’t appear to be too much availability of spares in the UK.
Thank you again
all the best
Phil Taylor
Thank you for the information, it’s just about cured my ignorance. You may have guessed I’m no mechanic! I keep getting told that my Jeep should have an electronic ignition setup & given the performance via the distributor I can see that such a setup would significantly improve the experience for me. I was hoping that someone on the forum would have the parts I need. There doesn’t appear to be too much availability of spares in the UK.
Thank you again
all the best
Phil Taylor
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Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 741
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
That's the whole point! It's difficult to know what's been changed so what parts you're going to need is a big question. The WJ model's electronics are so complicated and everything works together. I don't know how your jeep even runs. The computer that's supposed to be in your jeep even controls transmission shift points! Unless you have a donor vehicle to strip parts off of I doubt it will ever be right. In the long run, it will probably cost you more than it's worth.
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 645
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Model: Cherokee
The old saying “ if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” applies here . Distributors are simple , cheap and effective . There was a period in time where every 2.5 in our fleet received a distributorless ignitions system conversion . In this instance it is simple .. you change out the PROM in the pcm ( takes 30 seconds), add a bracket attacked to the power steering bracket and block for the crank sensor to be mounted near the harmonic balancers , change out the crank pulley for the one that reads correctly in coorelation to the crank sensor ... pull distributor and replace with a stand that holds the coil packs and ignition module from a 2.2 and wire in the pigtail for the crank sensor and power to the module and a few steps I’m not going to explain and boom you have distributorless ignition ..... however we have had nothing but problems and over the past 5 years we’ve spent a notable amount of time converting them back to distributor ran ignition and have a lot less issues . We were having trouble with the conversion kits keeping up with the demands of timing as if it couldn’t react quickly enough .
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 741
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I'm not saying you can't find a "stand-alone" ignition system that will work, but I'm not sure where you'd find something like that. I know people make systems like that judging by the classic cars that have been modified with later model engines. I just don't know who to contact. Restoring the original system would be an exercise in frustration, that's all. You might even be better off converting it to a diesel. That I know you can find parts for over there. The export model of the WJ is called the WG. I'm thinking the Mercedes 3.0L CRD turbodiesel V6 would be a nice fit or the 2.8L inline 4 made by VM Motori
Last edited by dave1123; Nov 30, 2018 at 11:55 AM.
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