Hey guys, ive been searching and searching and running tests upon tests on my Cherokee. The other day it was idling and it kind of sputtered out and died. started it up and it idled for a minute and died again. now it wont start at all. checked spark and I have nothing from the coil, ran some tests and replaced the Coil, ICM, plugs and wires. visual inspection showed the rotor is spinning on the dizzy. did some research and replaced the Crank Angle Sensor. still no spark. right now its my only source of transportation and I need it back. luckily it died in my shop that I work at so its in a nice facility!

any help would be really appreciated. I need it back on the road asap.

 

Tell us what year it is....
Did you check for battery voltage at the coil primary (12 V. ) ? If it shows 12 volts while cranking the engine, and dies off in a few seconds, it may be the CPS camshaft position sensor ( located in the distributor) or it's wiring to the PCM. Also the ASD ( auto-shut-down relay) feeds the coil primary... The ASD is near the r/h fender well...

Hope some of this helps...

 

If it's a 90, it has no cam sensor in the distributor.

OP: I would begin by testing the CPS. click on the pink link in my signature and read Tip 7.

 

it is a 90. so there is no cam position sensor. and like I said, I already replaced the CPS which is the crank angle/position sensor. I do have 12v to the icm. I'm looking for an ignition relay. but which one is it?

 

Where is the ASD sounds like the relay I'm looking for right now, but I'm not sure which relay it is.

 

Doesn't have one. ASD relay was used in later years than you've got.

 

ok, so really weird. but we were just running some tests on the coil and it makde a small clicking noise and sounded like the fuel pump priming. started right up. I shut it off because I don't have any coolant in it because I was replacing the thermostat when it went out. tried again, wouldn't start. wiggled some wires... nothing. backed away and were talking and all of a sudden the noise happened again... so I tried starting it and boom fired up. shut it off, rinse and repeat. I am now completely baffled and have no idea what is going on...

 

Relay clicking in ?

 

that's my thought, but not really sure... what relay controls the ignition? and where is it?

 

Cruiser54 could Power latch relay cause this ? Maybe switch it with Ac Relay ?

 

Possibly.

I'd be inspecting all the wiring around that area.

OP:
Ever done Tip 3?

 

have not done tip 3. but after reading it I am beginning to think that might be it...

 

I'd do Tip 4 also.

 

Lots of great tips in there Cruiser

 

Guess we passed right over the relay switching idea?