mula

I was using my jeep yesterday with no issues.
This morning I go to start it and it just cranked without starting.
After a few more times it started, stumbled a bit then stalled. (twice).
Now it just cranks but will not turn over.
I hear the fuel pump, smell gas in the engine bay after cranking so I know theres fuel getting to where it needs to go.
I tried checking for spark at the coil and did not get spark.

Engine is a 4.0 with 210K, Automatic.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

ZINGGG

When was the last time you did a tune up?

cruiser54

Supplying us with the year of your Cherokee would help.

hitalonit

X2 on the tune up.... plus i would check and see if your ignition cables going to the battwery are starting to deteriorate.. i had a 97 that did that and it was because it wasnt getting a good enough connection... they were pretty gone from po not checking

hitalonit

X2 on the tune up.... plus i would check and see if your ignition cables going to the battery are starting to deteriorate.. i had a 97 that did that and it was because it wasnt getting a good enough connection... they were pretty gone from po not checking

VTJeep

Sounds like fuel delivery? Maybe.. If you told us if your year, that would indeed help. It could be CPS. Generally when they die the jeep won't start. And it's fairly common. Or, you've got a short, or maybe a combination of bad components or sensors like plugs/wires, cap/rotor, TPS, IAC...

mula

Thanks for the reply guys!
Heres a bit more info. it's a 92
Plugs have about 12-15K on them, Wires have about 8K, Air Filter is a Fram and was cleaned out last oil change about 2K miles ago.

I tried starting it this morning.
I turned the key and it started first shot. idled for about 20-30 seconds then the idle started stumbling, surging, then died.

I noticed a bit of wear on one of the positive cables (its been that way since i got the jeep about a year ago), but i'll start there.

Fuel delivery seems OK? I smelled fuel when I repeadeadly cranked it. Pump is working, I can hear it when I turn the key on, and is only about 2 years old.

VTJeep

Ok.. Thanks for info. If it starts, you can rule out CPS. And all other components are prob. Ok, too. What about o2 sensors? They may be culprit. How was your gas milage?

Does it ever pop (backfire) at manifold and/or start to suck for air real hard while it stumbles and acts like its going to stall?

mula

Gas mileage seems to be OK. Upper teens on average.
Idle has been fine, no stumbling, or back fire.
Everything seemed OK till yesterday which is why i'm so baffled. It's not like a Jeep to just die without giving some signs of something going wrong.

I'm going to run outside to see if any codes are coming up.

VTJeep

Haha.. Well... My first time out my XJ suddenly stumbled and died. Turned out to be cable from starter to dist. cap... E tape it together and good to go. But, I was lucky with my electrical gremlin cause it was starting me in the face.. With the '92 you've got an odb1 set up which is scannable. So if you can get a code reader on there, it may give you a direction.

mula

I just checked and found this code.


11-Ignition Reference Signal


I was told it's the Crank Position Sensor. I was also told it was a bit of a PITA to change. I now see another added benefit of a 4" lift. No jack required

I'll let you know the outcome.

toolbox

Yup its the cps. Mine died on the trail yesterday. It took 5 mins to change once the bellhousing cooled off enough to touch the bolts. And its easier to change if u have small hands and arms. 11mm socket on long 1/4 extention with a swivel.

mula

One of the drawbacks of Body Building (no small arms!) haha! But I have lots of extensions, swivels, widgets and gidgets to get er done!

mula

Turns out that yes, it was the CPS!
I see some folks had a hard time changing it and some did not. Guess it depends on if you have a lift or not. With a 4" lift you have total access to the entire job. Hardest part, if any, was holding the piece flat while trying to start the bolt back in. And only because it wanted to lean sideways because of it being packaged in a small box and the wires want to stay formed.

Entire job took 22 minutes!

Thank you everyone for your help! I hope to return the favor one day