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89 Renix wont start

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Old 10-04-2012, 07:16 AM
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I've been flowing this thread closely because. Only 95 I have the exact same issue. Now I have a pretty extensive checklist to work with. I can't wait to work on my xj. Thanks guys
Old 10-04-2012, 08:02 AM
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Originally Posted by blackhawktj
I've been flowing this thread closely because. Only 95 I have the exact same issue. Now I have a pretty extensive checklist to work with. I can't wait to work on my xj. Thanks guys
You do understand that the fuel injection systems have some major differences though, right? Between Renix 87 to 90 and HO 91 on. Not all testing procedures and equipment are the same.
Old 10-04-2012, 12:17 PM
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x2 on what cruiser said.
Old 10-04-2012, 01:56 PM
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Just a thought but wonder if the dowel pin that holds the drive gear to the distributer might be sheared off?
Trying to throw all possibilities out there seeing as our conventional advice isnt working.
Old 10-04-2012, 03:00 PM
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id like to see pics of the inside of the cap and the rotor...does it even look like the rotor tab is touching the cap button? can you see little swirl marks or arc spots or anything else that tells you for sure they are touching? maybe the dist. is not seated all the way? did you make sure to take off the old gasket and all that? what did the gear look like? was it chewed up? how about the oil pump tang...dunno. good luck man, keep trying!
Old 10-04-2012, 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by hankthetank
id like to see pics of the inside of the cap and the rotor...does it even look like the rotor tab is touching the cap button? can you see little swirl marks or arc spots or anything else that tells you for sure they are touching? maybe the dist. is not seated all the way? did you make sure to take off the old gasket and all that? what did the gear look like? was it chewed up? how about the oil pump tang...dunno. good luck man, keep trying!
Yes. A couple pics would help out.
Old 10-04-2012, 03:53 PM
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We need to see if the knee bone is connected to the ankle bone.......
Old 10-04-2012, 04:07 PM
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And another thought. Could it be indexed so far off that the rotor is between terminals when it sparks? Keep in mind that the diagrams in the books, as well as the online manuals are dead wrong for the 4.0. #1 is at 5:00 as viewed from the side, and the cap mounting screws point left of center of the front of the valve cover.

Again, see that the spark is blue, and that the rotor is being driven. There is a bunch of Cruiser's stuff if you click on my signature Btw.

Careful with sparks around a freshly charged battery! (unplug the charger first)
Old 10-04-2012, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by cruiser54
We need to see if the knee bone is connected to the ankle bone.......
Bingo! All of our advice should have solved this problem by now.
Old 10-04-2012, 04:39 PM
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To continue with Flintstone's train of thought:




Remove the distributor cap and cut a "window" into the side of the distributor cap at the #1 spark plug wire post . The "window" should be large enough to allow easy visual inspection of the position of the distributor rotor at the #1 spark plug wire post. Reinstall the distributor cap.

Install a ¾" wrench or socket onto the vibration damper retaining bolt. Rotate the engine in a clockwise direction until the #1 cylinder is at top dead center. Align the timing mark on the vibration damper with the "0" degree mark on the front cover timing scale. The tip of the distributor rotor should be near the #1 spark plug wire post.

Disconnect the distributor electrical connection. Remove the distributor holddown clamp, holddown bolt and distributor. Remove the distributor cap and rotor.

Place the distributor housing upside down in a soft jaw vise. Scribe a line 1/2 inch from the end of the distributor locating tab. Cut the distributor locating tab at the scribed line with a saw.

Remove any burrs and metal filings from the distributor. Reinstall rotor.

If necessary, using a flat blade screwdriver, turn the oil pump gear drive shaft until the slot is slightly past the 11 o'clock position. The oil pump gear drive shaft is accessible through the distributor mounting bore in the engine block.

Visually align the modified locating tab area of the distributor housing with the holddown clamp bolt hole.

Turn the rotor to the 4 o'clock position.
Lower the distributor into the engine block until it seats. The rotor should now be very close to the 5 o'clock position.

Reinstall the distributor cap with the cutout "window". Rotate the distributor housing until the trailing edge of the distributor rotor tip is just departing from the #1 spark plug wire post terminal .

Reinstall the distributor holddown clamp and bolt.. Reinspect the position of the rotor to the #1 spark plug wire post to insure that it has not moved.

Install the new distributor cap, reconnect the distributor electrical connections.
Revised 07/03/2012


Old 10-04-2012, 04:40 PM
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Here ya go.
Attached Thumbnails 89 Renix wont start-renix-dizzy-indexing.jpg  
Old 10-04-2012, 05:40 PM
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Originally Posted by DFlintstone
And another thought. Could it be indexed so far off that the rotor is between terminals when it sparks? Keep in mind that the diagrams in the books, as well as the online manuals are dead wrong for the 4.0. #1 is at 5:00 as viewed from the side, and the cap mounting screws point left of center of the front of the valve cover.

Again, see that the spark is blue, and that the rotor is being driven. There is a bunch of Cruiser's stuff if you click on my signature Btw.

Careful with sparks around a freshly charged battery! (unplug the charger first)
Originally Posted by cruiser54
To continue with Flintstone's train of thought:




Remove the distributor cap and cut a "window" into the side of the distributor cap at the #1 spark plug wire post . The "window" should be large enough to allow easy visual inspection of the position of the distributor rotor at the #1 spark plug wire post. Reinstall the distributor cap.

Install a ¾" wrench or socket onto the vibration damper retaining bolt. Rotate the engine in a clockwise direction until the #1 cylinder is at top dead center. Align the timing mark on the vibration damper with the "0" degree mark on the front cover timing scale. The tip of the distributor rotor should be near the #1 spark plug wire post.

Disconnect the distributor electrical connection. Remove the distributor holddown clamp, holddown bolt and distributor. Remove the distributor cap and rotor.

Place the distributor housing upside down in a soft jaw vise. Scribe a line 1/2 inch from the end of the distributor locating tab. Cut the distributor locating tab at the scribed line with a saw.

Remove any burrs and metal filings from the distributor. Reinstall rotor.

If necessary, using a flat blade screwdriver, turn the oil pump gear drive shaft until the slot is slightly past the 11 o'clock position. The oil pump gear drive shaft is accessible through the distributor mounting bore in the engine block.

Visually align the modified locating tab area of the distributor housing with the holddown clamp bolt hole.

Turn the rotor to the 4 o'clock position.
Lower the distributor into the engine block until it seats. The rotor should now be very close to the 5 o'clock position.

Reinstall the distributor cap with the cutout "window". Rotate the distributor housing until the trailing edge of the distributor rotor tip is just departing from the #1 spark plug wire post terminal .

Reinstall the distributor holddown clamp and bolt.. Reinspect the position of the rotor to the #1 spark plug wire post to insure that it has not moved.

Install the new distributor cap, reconnect the distributor electrical connections.
Revised 07/03/2012

see post 43
Old 10-04-2012, 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by atom89xjlmt
my original cam sensor was broke because the dizzy was wore out and it was all broke up. so i went and borrowed one from a friends runnig 90 renix. so i put it in and now i am not getting spark at my plugs
Issue lies here guys something broke cauusing diist to self destruct . Did it ever get verified its even turning the rotor?
Old 10-04-2012, 06:44 PM
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just to let you now that dist. is spinning when it is turned over and i havent had time to work on it today due to having to go to school the dist. broke due to it was wore out

Last edited by atom89xjlmt; 10-04-2012 at 06:45 PM. Reason: add something
Old 10-04-2012, 06:58 PM
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also the motor has 150xxx miles in it


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