harry palmer

Hi there we have a 88 Cherokee that turns over but doesn't start. After
about 30 seconds it catches and then seems to run ok. we know nothing about
engines it there anything we can look at to resolve this?

MK



--
When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at
his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.
Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was
not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.

Jo Bo

Common problem for older Cherokees, just been there myself. First off even when
correct it seems they need two revolutions of the crankshaft to start. That's 6
compression strokes. Put another way it seems too long to start. The biggest
problem on my 89 was the battery ground strap that goes to the engine block
from the negative terminal on the battery. When we metered it while cranking it
was dropping 3 volts accross the cable. That's not enough voltage for proper
cranking speed and therefor something called the "crank position sensor"
dosen't give feedback to the engine controler and without it the engine
controler won't fire the spark and possibly fuel. We got a new one at NAPA for
just over $6. Then we cut the insulation off the old one and found it was all
green with corrosion. After that get someone who "knows about engines" to test
the fuel pressure. Also spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor might help.

JoBo

"harry palmer" <rob@aol.com> wrote in message
news:QLsTc.930$Se1.826@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com. ..
> Hi there we have a 88 Cherokee that turns over but doesn't start. After
> about 30 seconds it catches and then seems to run ok. we know nothing about
> engines it there anything we can look at to resolve this?
>
> MK
>
>
>
> --
> When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at
> his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.
> Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was
> not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.
>
>

Jo Bo

Common problem for older Cherokees, just been there myself. First off even when
correct it seems they need two revolutions of the crankshaft to start. That's 6
compression strokes. Put another way it seems too long to start. The biggest
problem on my 89 was the battery ground strap that goes to the engine block
from the negative terminal on the battery. When we metered it while cranking it
was dropping 3 volts accross the cable. That's not enough voltage for proper
cranking speed and therefor something called the "crank position sensor"
dosen't give feedback to the engine controler and without it the engine
controler won't fire the spark and possibly fuel. We got a new one at NAPA for
just over $6. Then we cut the insulation off the old one and found it was all
green with corrosion. After that get someone who "knows about engines" to test
the fuel pressure. Also spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor might help.

JoBo

"harry palmer" <rob@aol.com> wrote in message
news:QLsTc.930$Se1.826@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com. ..
> Hi there we have a 88 Cherokee that turns over but doesn't start. After
> about 30 seconds it catches and then seems to run ok. we know nothing about
> engines it there anything we can look at to resolve this?
>
> MK
>
>
>
> --
> When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at
> his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.
> Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was
> not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.
>
>

Jo Bo

Common problem for older Cherokees, just been there myself. First off even when
correct it seems they need two revolutions of the crankshaft to start. That's 6
compression strokes. Put another way it seems too long to start. The biggest
problem on my 89 was the battery ground strap that goes to the engine block
from the negative terminal on the battery. When we metered it while cranking it
was dropping 3 volts accross the cable. That's not enough voltage for proper
cranking speed and therefor something called the "crank position sensor"
dosen't give feedback to the engine controler and without it the engine
controler won't fire the spark and possibly fuel. We got a new one at NAPA for
just over $6. Then we cut the insulation off the old one and found it was all
green with corrosion. After that get someone who "knows about engines" to test
the fuel pressure. Also spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor might help.

JoBo

"harry palmer" <rob@aol.com> wrote in message
news:QLsTc.930$Se1.826@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com. ..
> Hi there we have a 88 Cherokee that turns over but doesn't start. After
> about 30 seconds it catches and then seems to run ok. we know nothing about
> engines it there anything we can look at to resolve this?
>
> MK
>
>
>
> --
> When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at
> his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.
> Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was
> not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.
>
>

Jo Bo

Common problem for older Cherokees, just been there myself. First off even when
correct it seems they need two revolutions of the crankshaft to start. That's 6
compression strokes. Put another way it seems too long to start. The biggest
problem on my 89 was the battery ground strap that goes to the engine block
from the negative terminal on the battery. When we metered it while cranking it
was dropping 3 volts accross the cable. That's not enough voltage for proper
cranking speed and therefor something called the "crank position sensor"
dosen't give feedback to the engine controler and without it the engine
controler won't fire the spark and possibly fuel. We got a new one at NAPA for
just over $6. Then we cut the insulation off the old one and found it was all
green with corrosion. After that get someone who "knows about engines" to test
the fuel pressure. Also spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor might help.

JoBo

"harry palmer" <rob@aol.com> wrote in message
news:QLsTc.930$Se1.826@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com. ..
> Hi there we have a 88 Cherokee that turns over but doesn't start. After
> about 30 seconds it catches and then seems to run ok. we know nothing about
> engines it there anything we can look at to resolve this?
>
> MK
>
>
>
> --
> When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at
> his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.
> Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was
> not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.
>
>

Mike Romain

To start, check the mesh wire from the top back of the engine to the
firewall. If this is rotten, the starter won't leave enough power to
fire the computer up easy.

Second is the connection on the CPS or crank position sensor. This is
at the rear top of the engine above the exhaust manifold and is a three
pronged plug and socket with only a red and white wire in it. This
needs cleaning now and then.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

harry palmer wrote:
>
> Hi there we have a 88 Cherokee that turns over but doesn't start. After
> about 30 seconds it catches and then seems to run ok. we know nothing about
> engines it there anything we can look at to resolve this?
>
> MK
>
> --
> When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at
> his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.
> Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was
> not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.

Mike Romain

To start, check the mesh wire from the top back of the engine to the
firewall. If this is rotten, the starter won't leave enough power to
fire the computer up easy.

Second is the connection on the CPS or crank position sensor. This is
at the rear top of the engine above the exhaust manifold and is a three
pronged plug and socket with only a red and white wire in it. This
needs cleaning now and then.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

harry palmer wrote:
>
> Hi there we have a 88 Cherokee that turns over but doesn't start. After
> about 30 seconds it catches and then seems to run ok. we know nothing about
> engines it there anything we can look at to resolve this?
>
> MK
>
> --
> When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at
> his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.
> Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was
> not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.

Mike Romain

To start, check the mesh wire from the top back of the engine to the
firewall. If this is rotten, the starter won't leave enough power to
fire the computer up easy.

Second is the connection on the CPS or crank position sensor. This is
at the rear top of the engine above the exhaust manifold and is a three
pronged plug and socket with only a red and white wire in it. This
needs cleaning now and then.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

harry palmer wrote:
>
> Hi there we have a 88 Cherokee that turns over but doesn't start. After
> about 30 seconds it catches and then seems to run ok. we know nothing about
> engines it there anything we can look at to resolve this?
>
> MK
>
> --
> When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at
> his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.
> Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was
> not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.

Mike Romain

To start, check the mesh wire from the top back of the engine to the
firewall. If this is rotten, the starter won't leave enough power to
fire the computer up easy.

Second is the connection on the CPS or crank position sensor. This is
at the rear top of the engine above the exhaust manifold and is a three
pronged plug and socket with only a red and white wire in it. This
needs cleaning now and then.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

harry palmer wrote:
>
> Hi there we have a 88 Cherokee that turns over but doesn't start. After
> about 30 seconds it catches and then seems to run ok. we know nothing about
> engines it there anything we can look at to resolve this?
>
> MK
>
> --
> When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at
> his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.
> Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was
> not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.

L.W.(=?iso-8859-1?Q?=DFill?=) Hughes III

Hi Harry,
Fuel pressure may be bleeding off, with a bad check valve in the
regulator. Next time you go for a cold start, try, just turning on the
ignition to the on position, listening for the fuel pump to run for a
couple of seconds, then it automatically shuts off, then off, on the
ignition again, five or six times then start the engine.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

harry palmer wrote:
>
> Hi there we have a 88 Cherokee that turns over but doesn't start. After
> about 30 seconds it catches and then seems to run ok. we know nothing about
> engines it there anything we can look at to resolve this?
>
> MK
>
> --
> When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at
> his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.
> Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was
> not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.