Hello all,

I am new to Jeep so any guidance concerning these issues will be greatly appreciated.

1998 Grand Cherokee, 4.0 inline 6...

Vehicle ran fine and just would not start after parking from a routine drive. I have done these so far.

• When ignition key is turned...engine turns over
• Battery has 12plus Volts
• Code showed P0320/Ignition/Distributer
• Check wires and there is no spark
• Changed distributer and plug wires...still no spark
• Changed crankshaft position sensor....Now I have spark..but still no start...
• Changed spark plugs (champion) still no start....
• Check again and no more code...
• rechecked firing order stamped on block....still no go
• When I push on gas...it seems like it wants to start with that backfire stutter sound....
• I pulled a vacuum line off manifold and put some starting fluid in...still no start...only did this once
• pull the cap off fuel rail and push the pin in and its filled with fuel...

any better way to check for fuel delivery or what else to try would be appreciated.

thanks

 

change the cam sensor under the distributor cap. Without a cam signal you will not have any fuel pump action.

 

I was under the impression that a new one was on/in the new distributor? Is this incorrect?

When I removed the old distributor, I ensured nothing moved before putting the new one in but do I need to do TDC on #1 cylinder regardless? That may be what am missing. I will get a fuel presuure gauge today and check the pressure, what is normal pressure on the line?

Thanks for your help.

 

Did the new distributor come with a black plastic round disc with a short wireharness that sits dirrectly under the dist cap? Fuel pressure should be 45-56psi. You could have the base ignition timing off enough to cause the engine not to start.

 

Yes, the new distributor came with it, I installed it and just plugged it in. I just got the fuel pressure tester today so I will hook it and see when i get home. I will also check timing while am at it.

Thanks

 

aah.. you changed all of that.. but did you change the ignition coil?... also, its quite possible theres a bad ground wire somewhere

 

question... did you take a spark plug out... leaving it plugged in and tried turning it over to see if there is in fact no spark, or did you just assume theres no spark because its not starting?

 

I unplug the wire and hook to a spark tester....i will try the other way as well...

is this the unit that the center wire from the distributor plugs into? if so, would i still have sparks if its bad?

This what the disty looks like when i put it in...does this looks like the correct position at tdc?
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...cn1140ede.jpg/

Fuel pressure at the rail is about 44PSI...cranking it flutters between like 48 and 56.... so am stumped....

sorry for the newbie questions but is there a common area i need to check for proper ground?
I did clean up the ground point and connectors on the block where the ignition module is attached.

thanks

 

definitely has sparks....changed ignition module,,, same symptoms.....

if i crank the engine and try to press the gas while am cranking ...its makes that pudder sound like its trying to start but still no go...

anymore ideas? could this be a compression issue?

 

hmm.. possibly the distributor was bad intitially and the new one was installed improperly resulting in bad timing

im not sure if the cherokees distributor is clockwise or counterclockwise, may want to make sure it matches

and just for the hell of it.. get some starting fluid... take your air filter off and spray a few squirts directly into the intake and try to start it up.. tell me if it fires up.. i had a truck that would ONLY start if i used starting fluid (ether i guess it was) and it was all due to a bad ground wire with the ignition system

 

ok, I will drop the radiator/fan when I get home today and get the disty in proper alignment just to put my mind at ease with the alighment. Based on some more reading, I think the CPS I replaced was the original culprit and the disty was not put in correctly.

I will keep you posted.

 

I want to thank everyone who helped with this issue. redid disty from scratch as if the aligment was off to begin with.....set tdc...fired right up without a hitch. the initial failure i believe was the crank sensor since after replacing it i had spark...however the disty was incorrectly installed....

thanks again....

 

yay, i called it :-D do i win something?

 

look at post #4