It'll almost starts, sort of sounds like your timing chain jumped a
tooth. If you turn the distributor a little counter-clockwise, retarding
the spark and it starts, confirms it.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

griffin wrote:
>
> OK, now I'm getting worried. I cleaned the dist cap/rotor ...nuttin. So
> today I replaced the cap & rotor, the plug wires, and the plugs (NGK's).
> Same thing. The orientation and firing order is correct. It's getting fuel
> ...well ...I can sure as hell smell the fuel, so I assume it is. It will
> sorta start and then sputter a bit and either backfire or die. The ONLY
> thing that I have left to try is this: I took the intake cover off to check
> it again and the big black wire that goes into the top of the engine was out
> (I'm guessing air intake to engine?) ...now it was either out the whole time
> ...or I pulled it out (which is likely, because it doesn't sit in there
> *too* well. However, my shitty battery is toast again so it's on the charger
> tonite and I can't test it again until tomorrow. But ...I'm getting a little
> worried now. I'm kinda outta ideas as to what could be wrong. Also, the plug
> on cylinder #2 was wet (the threads). Am I looking at an engine job here?
> Anything else I can test/eliminate/replace?
>
> Please save me! Thanks!
>
> griffin
> '85 CJ-7 ...RIP.

 

It'll almost starts, sort of sounds like your timing chain jumped a
tooth. If you turn the distributor a little counter-clockwise, retarding
the spark and it starts, confirms it.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

griffin wrote:
>
> OK, now I'm getting worried. I cleaned the dist cap/rotor ...nuttin. So
> today I replaced the cap & rotor, the plug wires, and the plugs (NGK's).
> Same thing. The orientation and firing order is correct. It's getting fuel
> ...well ...I can sure as hell smell the fuel, so I assume it is. It will
> sorta start and then sputter a bit and either backfire or die. The ONLY
> thing that I have left to try is this: I took the intake cover off to check
> it again and the big black wire that goes into the top of the engine was out
> (I'm guessing air intake to engine?) ...now it was either out the whole time
> ...or I pulled it out (which is likely, because it doesn't sit in there
> *too* well. However, my shitty battery is toast again so it's on the charger
> tonite and I can't test it again until tomorrow. But ...I'm getting a little
> worried now. I'm kinda outta ideas as to what could be wrong. Also, the plug
> on cylinder #2 was wet (the threads). Am I looking at an engine job here?
> Anything else I can test/eliminate/replace?
>
> Please save me! Thanks!
>
> griffin
> '85 CJ-7 ...RIP.

 

check the ignition module...



"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:vSEfd.35115$%k.8609@pd7tw2no...
> OK, now I'm getting worried. I cleaned the dist cap/rotor ...nuttin. So
> today I replaced the cap & rotor, the plug wires, and the plugs (NGK's).
> Same thing. The orientation and firing order is correct. It's getting fuel
> ...well ...I can sure as hell smell the fuel, so I assume it is. It will
> sorta start and then sputter a bit and either backfire or die. The ONLY
> thing that I have left to try is this: I took the intake cover off to
> check
> it again and the big black wire that goes into the top of the engine was
> out
> (I'm guessing air intake to engine?) ...now it was either out the whole
> time
> ...or I pulled it out (which is likely, because it doesn't sit in there
> *too* well. However, my shitty battery is toast again so it's on the
> charger
> tonite and I can't test it again until tomorrow. But ...I'm getting a
> little
> worried now. I'm kinda outta ideas as to what could be wrong. Also, the
> plug
> on cylinder #2 was wet (the threads). Am I looking at an engine job here?
> Anything else I can test/eliminate/replace?
>
> Please save me! Thanks!
>
> griffin
> '85 CJ-7 ...RIP.
>
> "griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:540fd.16060$nl.4536@pd7tw3no...
>> So I went out in the perfect weather for offroading today (pure
>> rainstorm)
>> and hit one mud hole and then go to climb a small gradient and my Jeep
>> sputters and then dies. I've recently replaced the battery because my old
>> one was toast and this new one is just a temporary cheapy that doesn't
> crank
>> too many amps. I figure it must be the battery, but it seemed to be fine,
>> and after putting jumpers onto another Jeep, it still wouldn't start. It
> was
>> turning over but wouldn't catch. We checked the air filter and the carb
> was
>> getting fuel. The plugs were dry. All wiring seemed to be hooked up. The
>> accessories all worked.
>>
>> Next idea was to test the plugs. We pulled one and it sparked. Then we
>> checked the distributor ends but there was nothing there. No spark at
>> all.
>> One of the guys I was with suggested it might be the electrical solenoid.
> Is
>> this correct? I'd rather have some idea what to replace/fix cuz after
>> checking the stuff I mentioned above, I was all outta ideas. When I was
>> getting towed home, we decided to try and jumpstart it by dropping the
>> clutch from 2nd while moving. The Jeep turned over and sputtered a bunch
> of
>> times and then backfired.
>>
>> What are your guys thoughts?
>> It's a 1985 Jeep CJ7 2.5L 4cyl carb.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> griffin
>> '85 Jeep CJ7
>>
>>
>
>

 

check the ignition module...



"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:vSEfd.35115$%k.8609@pd7tw2no...
> OK, now I'm getting worried. I cleaned the dist cap/rotor ...nuttin. So
> today I replaced the cap & rotor, the plug wires, and the plugs (NGK's).
> Same thing. The orientation and firing order is correct. It's getting fuel
> ...well ...I can sure as hell smell the fuel, so I assume it is. It will
> sorta start and then sputter a bit and either backfire or die. The ONLY
> thing that I have left to try is this: I took the intake cover off to
> check
> it again and the big black wire that goes into the top of the engine was
> out
> (I'm guessing air intake to engine?) ...now it was either out the whole
> time
> ...or I pulled it out (which is likely, because it doesn't sit in there
> *too* well. However, my shitty battery is toast again so it's on the
> charger
> tonite and I can't test it again until tomorrow. But ...I'm getting a
> little
> worried now. I'm kinda outta ideas as to what could be wrong. Also, the
> plug
> on cylinder #2 was wet (the threads). Am I looking at an engine job here?
> Anything else I can test/eliminate/replace?
>
> Please save me! Thanks!
>
> griffin
> '85 CJ-7 ...RIP.
>
> "griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:540fd.16060$nl.4536@pd7tw3no...
>> So I went out in the perfect weather for offroading today (pure
>> rainstorm)
>> and hit one mud hole and then go to climb a small gradient and my Jeep
>> sputters and then dies. I've recently replaced the battery because my old
>> one was toast and this new one is just a temporary cheapy that doesn't
> crank
>> too many amps. I figure it must be the battery, but it seemed to be fine,
>> and after putting jumpers onto another Jeep, it still wouldn't start. It
> was
>> turning over but wouldn't catch. We checked the air filter and the carb
> was
>> getting fuel. The plugs were dry. All wiring seemed to be hooked up. The
>> accessories all worked.
>>
>> Next idea was to test the plugs. We pulled one and it sparked. Then we
>> checked the distributor ends but there was nothing there. No spark at
>> all.
>> One of the guys I was with suggested it might be the electrical solenoid.
> Is
>> this correct? I'd rather have some idea what to replace/fix cuz after
>> checking the stuff I mentioned above, I was all outta ideas. When I was
>> getting towed home, we decided to try and jumpstart it by dropping the
>> clutch from 2nd while moving. The Jeep turned over and sputtered a bunch
> of
>> times and then backfired.
>>
>> What are your guys thoughts?
>> It's a 1985 Jeep CJ7 2.5L 4cyl carb.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> griffin
>> '85 Jeep CJ7
>>
>>
>
>

 

check the ignition module...



"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:vSEfd.35115$%k.8609@pd7tw2no...
> OK, now I'm getting worried. I cleaned the dist cap/rotor ...nuttin. So
> today I replaced the cap & rotor, the plug wires, and the plugs (NGK's).
> Same thing. The orientation and firing order is correct. It's getting fuel
> ...well ...I can sure as hell smell the fuel, so I assume it is. It will
> sorta start and then sputter a bit and either backfire or die. The ONLY
> thing that I have left to try is this: I took the intake cover off to
> check
> it again and the big black wire that goes into the top of the engine was
> out
> (I'm guessing air intake to engine?) ...now it was either out the whole
> time
> ...or I pulled it out (which is likely, because it doesn't sit in there
> *too* well. However, my shitty battery is toast again so it's on the
> charger
> tonite and I can't test it again until tomorrow. But ...I'm getting a
> little
> worried now. I'm kinda outta ideas as to what could be wrong. Also, the
> plug
> on cylinder #2 was wet (the threads). Am I looking at an engine job here?
> Anything else I can test/eliminate/replace?
>
> Please save me! Thanks!
>
> griffin
> '85 CJ-7 ...RIP.
>
> "griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:540fd.16060$nl.4536@pd7tw3no...
>> So I went out in the perfect weather for offroading today (pure
>> rainstorm)
>> and hit one mud hole and then go to climb a small gradient and my Jeep
>> sputters and then dies. I've recently replaced the battery because my old
>> one was toast and this new one is just a temporary cheapy that doesn't
> crank
>> too many amps. I figure it must be the battery, but it seemed to be fine,
>> and after putting jumpers onto another Jeep, it still wouldn't start. It
> was
>> turning over but wouldn't catch. We checked the air filter and the carb
> was
>> getting fuel. The plugs were dry. All wiring seemed to be hooked up. The
>> accessories all worked.
>>
>> Next idea was to test the plugs. We pulled one and it sparked. Then we
>> checked the distributor ends but there was nothing there. No spark at
>> all.
>> One of the guys I was with suggested it might be the electrical solenoid.
> Is
>> this correct? I'd rather have some idea what to replace/fix cuz after
>> checking the stuff I mentioned above, I was all outta ideas. When I was
>> getting towed home, we decided to try and jumpstart it by dropping the
>> clutch from 2nd while moving. The Jeep turned over and sputtered a bunch
> of
>> times and then backfired.
>>
>> What are your guys thoughts?
>> It's a 1985 Jeep CJ7 2.5L 4cyl carb.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> griffin
>> '85 Jeep CJ7
>>
>>
>
>

 

I would next change the gas filter.

If the plugs are/were dry when you pulled them it is getting no fuel for
sure by now.

Those engines will flood soak the plugs bad enough that they must be
pulled and dried before it will start after a spark failure.

Smelling some gas implies some is getting through, but not enough to
reach the plugs where it is needed.

Gas pumps up and quit too, but 'normally' you would smell/see a pile of
gas in the engine oil. Have you smelled your dipstick?

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

griffin wrote:
>
> OK, now I'm getting worried. I cleaned the dist cap/rotor ...nuttin. So
> today I replaced the cap & rotor, the plug wires, and the plugs (NGK's).
> Same thing. The orientation and firing order is correct. It's getting fuel
> ...well ...I can sure as hell smell the fuel, so I assume it is. It will
> sorta start and then sputter a bit and either backfire or die. The ONLY
> thing that I have left to try is this: I took the intake cover off to check
> it again and the big black wire that goes into the top of the engine was out
> (I'm guessing air intake to engine?) ...now it was either out the whole time
> ...or I pulled it out (which is likely, because it doesn't sit in there
> *too* well. However, my shitty battery is toast again so it's on the charger
> tonite and I can't test it again until tomorrow. But ...I'm getting a little
> worried now. I'm kinda outta ideas as to what could be wrong. Also, the plug
> on cylinder #2 was wet (the threads). Am I looking at an engine job here?
> Anything else I can test/eliminate/replace?
>
> Please save me! Thanks!
>
> griffin
> '85 CJ-7 ...RIP.
>
> "griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:540fd.16060$nl.4536@pd7tw3no...
> > So I went out in the perfect weather for offroading today (pure rainstorm)
> > and hit one mud hole and then go to climb a small gradient and my Jeep
> > sputters and then dies. I've recently replaced the battery because my old
> > one was toast and this new one is just a temporary cheapy that doesn't
> crank
> > too many amps. I figure it must be the battery, but it seemed to be fine,
> > and after putting jumpers onto another Jeep, it still wouldn't start. It
> was
> > turning over but wouldn't catch. We checked the air filter and the carb
> was
> > getting fuel. The plugs were dry. All wiring seemed to be hooked up. The
> > accessories all worked.
> >
> > Next idea was to test the plugs. We pulled one and it sparked. Then we
> > checked the distributor ends but there was nothing there. No spark at all.
> > One of the guys I was with suggested it might be the electrical solenoid.
> Is
> > this correct? I'd rather have some idea what to replace/fix cuz after
> > checking the stuff I mentioned above, I was all outta ideas. When I was
> > getting towed home, we decided to try and jumpstart it by dropping the
> > clutch from 2nd while moving. The Jeep turned over and sputtered a bunch
> of
> > times and then backfired.
> >
> > What are your guys thoughts?
> > It's a 1985 Jeep CJ7 2.5L 4cyl carb.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > griffin
> > '85 Jeep CJ7
> >
> >

 

I would next change the gas filter.

If the plugs are/were dry when you pulled them it is getting no fuel for
sure by now.

Those engines will flood soak the plugs bad enough that they must be
pulled and dried before it will start after a spark failure.

Smelling some gas implies some is getting through, but not enough to
reach the plugs where it is needed.

Gas pumps up and quit too, but 'normally' you would smell/see a pile of
gas in the engine oil. Have you smelled your dipstick?

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

griffin wrote:
>
> OK, now I'm getting worried. I cleaned the dist cap/rotor ...nuttin. So
> today I replaced the cap & rotor, the plug wires, and the plugs (NGK's).
> Same thing. The orientation and firing order is correct. It's getting fuel
> ...well ...I can sure as hell smell the fuel, so I assume it is. It will
> sorta start and then sputter a bit and either backfire or die. The ONLY
> thing that I have left to try is this: I took the intake cover off to check
> it again and the big black wire that goes into the top of the engine was out
> (I'm guessing air intake to engine?) ...now it was either out the whole time
> ...or I pulled it out (which is likely, because it doesn't sit in there
> *too* well. However, my shitty battery is toast again so it's on the charger
> tonite and I can't test it again until tomorrow. But ...I'm getting a little
> worried now. I'm kinda outta ideas as to what could be wrong. Also, the plug
> on cylinder #2 was wet (the threads). Am I looking at an engine job here?
> Anything else I can test/eliminate/replace?
>
> Please save me! Thanks!
>
> griffin
> '85 CJ-7 ...RIP.
>
> "griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:540fd.16060$nl.4536@pd7tw3no...
> > So I went out in the perfect weather for offroading today (pure rainstorm)
> > and hit one mud hole and then go to climb a small gradient and my Jeep
> > sputters and then dies. I've recently replaced the battery because my old
> > one was toast and this new one is just a temporary cheapy that doesn't
> crank
> > too many amps. I figure it must be the battery, but it seemed to be fine,
> > and after putting jumpers onto another Jeep, it still wouldn't start. It
> was
> > turning over but wouldn't catch. We checked the air filter and the carb
> was
> > getting fuel. The plugs were dry. All wiring seemed to be hooked up. The
> > accessories all worked.
> >
> > Next idea was to test the plugs. We pulled one and it sparked. Then we
> > checked the distributor ends but there was nothing there. No spark at all.
> > One of the guys I was with suggested it might be the electrical solenoid.
> Is
> > this correct? I'd rather have some idea what to replace/fix cuz after
> > checking the stuff I mentioned above, I was all outta ideas. When I was
> > getting towed home, we decided to try and jumpstart it by dropping the
> > clutch from 2nd while moving. The Jeep turned over and sputtered a bunch
> of
> > times and then backfired.
> >
> > What are your guys thoughts?
> > It's a 1985 Jeep CJ7 2.5L 4cyl carb.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > griffin
> > '85 Jeep CJ7
> >
> >

 

I would next change the gas filter.

If the plugs are/were dry when you pulled them it is getting no fuel for
sure by now.

Those engines will flood soak the plugs bad enough that they must be
pulled and dried before it will start after a spark failure.

Smelling some gas implies some is getting through, but not enough to
reach the plugs where it is needed.

Gas pumps up and quit too, but 'normally' you would smell/see a pile of
gas in the engine oil. Have you smelled your dipstick?

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

griffin wrote:
>
> OK, now I'm getting worried. I cleaned the dist cap/rotor ...nuttin. So
> today I replaced the cap & rotor, the plug wires, and the plugs (NGK's).
> Same thing. The orientation and firing order is correct. It's getting fuel
> ...well ...I can sure as hell smell the fuel, so I assume it is. It will
> sorta start and then sputter a bit and either backfire or die. The ONLY
> thing that I have left to try is this: I took the intake cover off to check
> it again and the big black wire that goes into the top of the engine was out
> (I'm guessing air intake to engine?) ...now it was either out the whole time
> ...or I pulled it out (which is likely, because it doesn't sit in there
> *too* well. However, my shitty battery is toast again so it's on the charger
> tonite and I can't test it again until tomorrow. But ...I'm getting a little
> worried now. I'm kinda outta ideas as to what could be wrong. Also, the plug
> on cylinder #2 was wet (the threads). Am I looking at an engine job here?
> Anything else I can test/eliminate/replace?
>
> Please save me! Thanks!
>
> griffin
> '85 CJ-7 ...RIP.
>
> "griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:540fd.16060$nl.4536@pd7tw3no...
> > So I went out in the perfect weather for offroading today (pure rainstorm)
> > and hit one mud hole and then go to climb a small gradient and my Jeep
> > sputters and then dies. I've recently replaced the battery because my old
> > one was toast and this new one is just a temporary cheapy that doesn't
> crank
> > too many amps. I figure it must be the battery, but it seemed to be fine,
> > and after putting jumpers onto another Jeep, it still wouldn't start. It
> was
> > turning over but wouldn't catch. We checked the air filter and the carb
> was
> > getting fuel. The plugs were dry. All wiring seemed to be hooked up. The
> > accessories all worked.
> >
> > Next idea was to test the plugs. We pulled one and it sparked. Then we
> > checked the distributor ends but there was nothing there. No spark at all.
> > One of the guys I was with suggested it might be the electrical solenoid.
> Is
> > this correct? I'd rather have some idea what to replace/fix cuz after
> > checking the stuff I mentioned above, I was all outta ideas. When I was
> > getting towed home, we decided to try and jumpstart it by dropping the
> > clutch from 2nd while moving. The Jeep turned over and sputtered a bunch
> of
> > times and then backfired.
> >
> > What are your guys thoughts?
> > It's a 1985 Jeep CJ7 2.5L 4cyl carb.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > griffin
> > '85 Jeep CJ7
> >
> >

 

Not sure about 4 cyl's but each time my '83 258 shows those symptoms,
it is the ignition module or the connectors to the ignition module.

 

Not sure about 4 cyl's but each time my '83 258 shows those symptoms,
it is the ignition module or the connectors to the ignition module.