90 XJ troubleshooting no start problem
 

I've been reading on google all the newsgroup posts about XJ's not starting,
and have been reading alot of good info. I have something to run by ya'll.

I just bought a 90 xj with 140000 miles on it. The previous owner said it
wouldn't start anymore and sold it to me cheap. I've been working on it the
past few days, and so far I've replaced the ignition coil, plugs and wires,
Crankshaft position sensor (what a pain in the a$$) and still no go. Then
today I checked to see if the ignition coil was getting spark. Now, I'm not
a mechanic, but shouldn't the coil shoot electricity a little bit if the
wire leading to the distributor was spaced less than 1/8 of an inch? I got
the wire real close as a buddy was cranking and I never saw an arc of
electricity. (i hope this is a good spark test). I remember trying similar
to my caddi back in the day and the darned thing shot me with electricity
through my body to my keys in my pocket and back to the car.

Now from what I've read it may either be wiring or the Ignition Control
Module? (other than fuel and compression)
I bought an engine compression tool, will check that soon but he said the
jeep ran fine then just wouldn't start. forgot to mention it does turn over,
tries to start.
Also I checked the fuel rail and it squirts gas pretty strongly, but I will
get the fuel pressure tester if I have to.

Just checking to see what ya'll think. I notice alot of people have
wrestled with this problem and I'm interested to see what happens next.

(from my bro's house)
Troy

Re: 90 XJ troubleshooting no start problem
 

Check that the coil is receiving +12 volts on one side while the key is
in the 'On' position. The PCM sends a pulsed ground circuit to the
other side of the coil which is what produces the spark.

Mark wrote:
> I've been reading on google all the newsgroup posts about XJ's not starting,
> and have been reading alot of good info. I have something to run by ya'll.
>
> I just bought a 90 xj with 140000 miles on it. The previous owner said it
> wouldn't start anymore and sold it to me cheap. I've been working on it the
> past few days, and so far I've replaced the ignition coil, plugs and wires,
> Crankshaft position sensor (what a pain in the a$$) and still no go. Then
> today I checked to see if the ignition coil was getting spark. Now, I'm not
> a mechanic, but shouldn't the coil shoot electricity a little bit if the
> wire leading to the distributor was spaced less than 1/8 of an inch? I got
> the wire real close as a buddy was cranking and I never saw an arc of
> electricity. (i hope this is a good spark test). I remember trying similar
> to my caddi back in the day and the darned thing shot me with electricity
> through my body to my keys in my pocket and back to the car.
>
> Now from what I've read it may either be wiring or the Ignition Control
> Module? (other than fuel and compression)
> I bought an engine compression tool, will check that soon but he said the
> jeep ran fine then just wouldn't start. forgot to mention it does turn over,
> tries to start.
> Also I checked the fuel rail and it squirts gas pretty strongly, but I will
> get the fuel pressure tester if I have to.
>
> Just checking to see what ya'll think. I notice alot of people have
> wrestled with this problem and I'm interested to see what happens next.
>
> (from my bro's house)
> Troy
>
>

--
Jerry Bransford
PP-ASEL N6TAY
See the Geezer Jeep at
http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/

Re: 90 XJ troubleshooting no start problem
 

Check that the coil is receiving +12 volts on one side while the key is
in the 'On' position. The PCM sends a pulsed ground circuit to the
other side of the coil which is what produces the spark.

Mark wrote:
> I've been reading on google all the newsgroup posts about XJ's not starting,
> and have been reading alot of good info. I have something to run by ya'll.
>
> I just bought a 90 xj with 140000 miles on it. The previous owner said it
> wouldn't start anymore and sold it to me cheap. I've been working on it the
> past few days, and so far I've replaced the ignition coil, plugs and wires,
> Crankshaft position sensor (what a pain in the a$$) and still no go. Then
> today I checked to see if the ignition coil was getting spark. Now, I'm not
> a mechanic, but shouldn't the coil shoot electricity a little bit if the
> wire leading to the distributor was spaced less than 1/8 of an inch? I got
> the wire real close as a buddy was cranking and I never saw an arc of
> electricity. (i hope this is a good spark test). I remember trying similar
> to my caddi back in the day and the darned thing shot me with electricity
> through my body to my keys in my pocket and back to the car.
>
> Now from what I've read it may either be wiring or the Ignition Control
> Module? (other than fuel and compression)
> I bought an engine compression tool, will check that soon but he said the
> jeep ran fine then just wouldn't start. forgot to mention it does turn over,
> tries to start.
> Also I checked the fuel rail and it squirts gas pretty strongly, but I will
> get the fuel pressure tester if I have to.
>
> Just checking to see what ya'll think. I notice alot of people have
> wrestled with this problem and I'm interested to see what happens next.
>
> (from my bro's house)
> Troy
>
>

--
Jerry Bransford
PP-ASEL N6TAY
See the Geezer Jeep at
http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/

Re: 90 XJ troubleshooting no start problem
 

Check that the coil is receiving +12 volts on one side while the key is
in the 'On' position. The PCM sends a pulsed ground circuit to the
other side of the coil which is what produces the spark.

Mark wrote:
> I've been reading on google all the newsgroup posts about XJ's not starting,
> and have been reading alot of good info. I have something to run by ya'll.
>
> I just bought a 90 xj with 140000 miles on it. The previous owner said it
> wouldn't start anymore and sold it to me cheap. I've been working on it the
> past few days, and so far I've replaced the ignition coil, plugs and wires,
> Crankshaft position sensor (what a pain in the a$$) and still no go. Then
> today I checked to see if the ignition coil was getting spark. Now, I'm not
> a mechanic, but shouldn't the coil shoot electricity a little bit if the
> wire leading to the distributor was spaced less than 1/8 of an inch? I got
> the wire real close as a buddy was cranking and I never saw an arc of
> electricity. (i hope this is a good spark test). I remember trying similar
> to my caddi back in the day and the darned thing shot me with electricity
> through my body to my keys in my pocket and back to the car.
>
> Now from what I've read it may either be wiring or the Ignition Control
> Module? (other than fuel and compression)
> I bought an engine compression tool, will check that soon but he said the
> jeep ran fine then just wouldn't start. forgot to mention it does turn over,
> tries to start.
> Also I checked the fuel rail and it squirts gas pretty strongly, but I will
> get the fuel pressure tester if I have to.
>
> Just checking to see what ya'll think. I notice alot of people have
> wrestled with this problem and I'm interested to see what happens next.
>
> (from my bro's house)
> Troy
>
>

--
Jerry Bransford
PP-ASEL N6TAY
See the Geezer Jeep at
http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/

Re: 90 XJ troubleshooting no start problem
 

One simple cause of no spark on the older ones is a broken body ground.
It is a wire mesh strap from the rear of the head to the firewall. I
see it a lot in the rust belt.

My 88 was acting like a bad CPS, changed that and the sucker stalled 10
feet later. Then I spotted that rotted strap...

There also is a pickup inside the distributor.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Mark wrote:
>
> I've been reading on google all the newsgroup posts about XJ's not starting,
> and have been reading alot of good info. I have something to run by ya'll.
>
> I just bought a 90 xj with 140000 miles on it. The previous owner said it
> wouldn't start anymore and sold it to me cheap. I've been working on it the
> past few days, and so far I've replaced the ignition coil, plugs and wires,
> Crankshaft position sensor (what a pain in the a$$) and still no go. Then
> today I checked to see if the ignition coil was getting spark. Now, I'm not
> a mechanic, but shouldn't the coil shoot electricity a little bit if the
> wire leading to the distributor was spaced less than 1/8 of an inch? I got
> the wire real close as a buddy was cranking and I never saw an arc of
> electricity. (i hope this is a good spark test). I remember trying similar
> to my caddi back in the day and the darned thing shot me with electricity
> through my body to my keys in my pocket and back to the car.
>
> Now from what I've read it may either be wiring or the Ignition Control
> Module? (other than fuel and compression)
> I bought an engine compression tool, will check that soon but he said the
> jeep ran fine then just wouldn't start. forgot to mention it does turn over,
> tries to start.
> Also I checked the fuel rail and it squirts gas pretty strongly, but I will
> get the fuel pressure tester if I have to.
>
> Just checking to see what ya'll think. I notice alot of people have
> wrestled with this problem and I'm interested to see what happens next.
>
> (from my bro's house)
> Troy

Re: 90 XJ troubleshooting no start problem
 

One simple cause of no spark on the older ones is a broken body ground.
It is a wire mesh strap from the rear of the head to the firewall. I
see it a lot in the rust belt.

My 88 was acting like a bad CPS, changed that and the sucker stalled 10
feet later. Then I spotted that rotted strap...

There also is a pickup inside the distributor.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Mark wrote:
>
> I've been reading on google all the newsgroup posts about XJ's not starting,
> and have been reading alot of good info. I have something to run by ya'll.
>
> I just bought a 90 xj with 140000 miles on it. The previous owner said it
> wouldn't start anymore and sold it to me cheap. I've been working on it the
> past few days, and so far I've replaced the ignition coil, plugs and wires,
> Crankshaft position sensor (what a pain in the a$$) and still no go. Then
> today I checked to see if the ignition coil was getting spark. Now, I'm not
> a mechanic, but shouldn't the coil shoot electricity a little bit if the
> wire leading to the distributor was spaced less than 1/8 of an inch? I got
> the wire real close as a buddy was cranking and I never saw an arc of
> electricity. (i hope this is a good spark test). I remember trying similar
> to my caddi back in the day and the darned thing shot me with electricity
> through my body to my keys in my pocket and back to the car.
>
> Now from what I've read it may either be wiring or the Ignition Control
> Module? (other than fuel and compression)
> I bought an engine compression tool, will check that soon but he said the
> jeep ran fine then just wouldn't start. forgot to mention it does turn over,
> tries to start.
> Also I checked the fuel rail and it squirts gas pretty strongly, but I will
> get the fuel pressure tester if I have to.
>
> Just checking to see what ya'll think. I notice alot of people have
> wrestled with this problem and I'm interested to see what happens next.
>
> (from my bro's house)
> Troy

Re: 90 XJ troubleshooting no start problem
 

One simple cause of no spark on the older ones is a broken body ground.
It is a wire mesh strap from the rear of the head to the firewall. I
see it a lot in the rust belt.

My 88 was acting like a bad CPS, changed that and the sucker stalled 10
feet later. Then I spotted that rotted strap...

There also is a pickup inside the distributor.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Mark wrote:
>
> I've been reading on google all the newsgroup posts about XJ's not starting,
> and have been reading alot of good info. I have something to run by ya'll.
>
> I just bought a 90 xj with 140000 miles on it. The previous owner said it
> wouldn't start anymore and sold it to me cheap. I've been working on it the
> past few days, and so far I've replaced the ignition coil, plugs and wires,
> Crankshaft position sensor (what a pain in the a$$) and still no go. Then
> today I checked to see if the ignition coil was getting spark. Now, I'm not
> a mechanic, but shouldn't the coil shoot electricity a little bit if the
> wire leading to the distributor was spaced less than 1/8 of an inch? I got
> the wire real close as a buddy was cranking and I never saw an arc of
> electricity. (i hope this is a good spark test). I remember trying similar
> to my caddi back in the day and the darned thing shot me with electricity
> through my body to my keys in my pocket and back to the car.
>
> Now from what I've read it may either be wiring or the Ignition Control
> Module? (other than fuel and compression)
> I bought an engine compression tool, will check that soon but he said the
> jeep ran fine then just wouldn't start. forgot to mention it does turn over,
> tries to start.
> Also I checked the fuel rail and it squirts gas pretty strongly, but I will
> get the fuel pressure tester if I have to.
>
> Just checking to see what ya'll think. I notice alot of people have
> wrestled with this problem and I'm interested to see what happens next.
>
> (from my bro's house)
> Troy

Re: 90 XJ troubleshooting no start problem
 

As another replied there's a cam position sensor inside the distributor.
However there's a bunch of wires grounded to the block on the passenger side
rear that's the return lines for the engine sensors. Make sure they are all
have good connections. Also the body to block braid that's mentioned is VERY
important.

JoBo

"Mark" <@ .> wrote in message
news:PpOdnYholITwJrDZnZ2dnUVZ_vadnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> I've been reading on google all the newsgroup posts about XJ's not
> starting, and have been reading alot of good info. I have something to
> run by ya'll.
>
> I just bought a 90 xj with 140000 miles on it. The previous owner said it
> wouldn't start anymore and sold it to me cheap. I've been working on it
> the past few days, and so far I've replaced the ignition coil, plugs and
> wires, Crankshaft position sensor (what a pain in the a$$) and still no
> go. Then today I checked to see if the ignition coil was getting spark.
> Now, I'm not a mechanic, but shouldn't the coil shoot electricity a little
> bit if the wire leading to the distributor was spaced less than 1/8 of an
> inch? I got the wire real close as a buddy was cranking and I never saw
> an arc of electricity. (i hope this is a good spark test). I remember
> trying similar to my caddi back in the day and the darned thing shot me
> with electricity through my body to my keys in my pocket and back to the
> car.
>
> Now from what I've read it may either be wiring or the Ignition Control
> Module? (other than fuel and compression)
> I bought an engine compression tool, will check that soon but he said the
> jeep ran fine then just wouldn't start. forgot to mention it does turn
> over, tries to start.
> Also I checked the fuel rail and it squirts gas pretty strongly, but I
> will get the fuel pressure tester if I have to.
>
> Just checking to see what ya'll think. I notice alot of people have
> wrestled with this problem and I'm interested to see what happens next.
>
> (from my bro's house)
> Troy
>

Re: 90 XJ troubleshooting no start problem
 

As another replied there's a cam position sensor inside the distributor.
However there's a bunch of wires grounded to the block on the passenger side
rear that's the return lines for the engine sensors. Make sure they are all
have good connections. Also the body to block braid that's mentioned is VERY
important.

JoBo

"Mark" <@ .> wrote in message
news:PpOdnYholITwJrDZnZ2dnUVZ_vadnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> I've been reading on google all the newsgroup posts about XJ's not
> starting, and have been reading alot of good info. I have something to
> run by ya'll.
>
> I just bought a 90 xj with 140000 miles on it. The previous owner said it
> wouldn't start anymore and sold it to me cheap. I've been working on it
> the past few days, and so far I've replaced the ignition coil, plugs and
> wires, Crankshaft position sensor (what a pain in the a$$) and still no
> go. Then today I checked to see if the ignition coil was getting spark.
> Now, I'm not a mechanic, but shouldn't the coil shoot electricity a little
> bit if the wire leading to the distributor was spaced less than 1/8 of an
> inch? I got the wire real close as a buddy was cranking and I never saw
> an arc of electricity. (i hope this is a good spark test). I remember
> trying similar to my caddi back in the day and the darned thing shot me
> with electricity through my body to my keys in my pocket and back to the
> car.
>
> Now from what I've read it may either be wiring or the Ignition Control
> Module? (other than fuel and compression)
> I bought an engine compression tool, will check that soon but he said the
> jeep ran fine then just wouldn't start. forgot to mention it does turn
> over, tries to start.
> Also I checked the fuel rail and it squirts gas pretty strongly, but I
> will get the fuel pressure tester if I have to.
>
> Just checking to see what ya'll think. I notice alot of people have
> wrestled with this problem and I'm interested to see what happens next.
>
> (from my bro's house)
> Troy
>

Re: 90 XJ troubleshooting no start problem
 

As another replied there's a cam position sensor inside the distributor.
However there's a bunch of wires grounded to the block on the passenger side
rear that's the return lines for the engine sensors. Make sure they are all
have good connections. Also the body to block braid that's mentioned is VERY
important.

JoBo

"Mark" <@ .> wrote in message
news:PpOdnYholITwJrDZnZ2dnUVZ_vadnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> I've been reading on google all the newsgroup posts about XJ's not
> starting, and have been reading alot of good info. I have something to
> run by ya'll.
>
> I just bought a 90 xj with 140000 miles on it. The previous owner said it
> wouldn't start anymore and sold it to me cheap. I've been working on it
> the past few days, and so far I've replaced the ignition coil, plugs and
> wires, Crankshaft position sensor (what a pain in the a$$) and still no
> go. Then today I checked to see if the ignition coil was getting spark.
> Now, I'm not a mechanic, but shouldn't the coil shoot electricity a little
> bit if the wire leading to the distributor was spaced less than 1/8 of an
> inch? I got the wire real close as a buddy was cranking and I never saw
> an arc of electricity. (i hope this is a good spark test). I remember
> trying similar to my caddi back in the day and the darned thing shot me
> with electricity through my body to my keys in my pocket and back to the
> car.
>
> Now from what I've read it may either be wiring or the Ignition Control
> Module? (other than fuel and compression)
> I bought an engine compression tool, will check that soon but he said the
> jeep ran fine then just wouldn't start. forgot to mention it does turn
> over, tries to start.
> Also I checked the fuel rail and it squirts gas pretty strongly, but I
> will get the fuel pressure tester if I have to.
>
> Just checking to see what ya'll think. I notice alot of people have
> wrestled with this problem and I'm interested to see what happens next.
>
> (from my bro's house)
> Troy
>