Can't quite make out all the noises. I hear some kind of slapping or knocking noise, but is there also a grinding noise? I think I almost heard it, but it could be something else.

 

no grinding sound, just the ticking and rough idle. and I did replace the lifters as well
oh and the ticking gets faster when RPMs go up and slows when they go down.

 

ok well after warming it up the ticking goes away but it is still a very rough idle. anyone know what would cause a rough idle? and by rough I mean rough

 

from all the times you tryed starting it with the firing order wrong you might of fouled a plug did you drive it yet mine idles like that but runs perfect he motors not shaking like its missing maybe a injector aint working

 

maybe your hearing an exhaust leak

 

I did drive it and it drives like s***. you say injectors might be the problem, thats what I was thinking too. I just wanted someone to confirm it for me. lol looks like I have a reason to upgrade them to the stratus injectors. I hope thats the cause *cross fingers*. And a possibel exhaust leak? well Ill double check the manifold bolts again but idk. thanks!

 

do yuo have a test light not a cheap ione ill tell you how to see which cyl is no firing

 

you might still have a couple of wire wrong its easy to do i do it all the time

 

you need a test light or a good pair of insulated pliers like electricans klines you can take the wire at the dist cap and one by one pull them off with pliers while xj is running the wire that has no effect on how the motor runs is were your prob is or if you have two that dont swap them

 

BTW, didn't make any progress on my Jeep today. It still doesn't start and like I had said, it pauses like the OP's did, but I've double triple checked the timing and the wires are on there right. It may be because the battery is kinda weak. Unlike the OP's however, sometimes my cylinders fire, but it does not stay running. It is acting JUST LIKE my first Jeep when the CPS went bad, minus the starter pausing. My next step will be the CPS.

 

did you replace the motor or what have you done that it dont start i need another chalange like his lol

 

I haven't done much really. The thing ran last year. I swapped out the steering column for a tilt one, replaced the water pump and the non-existant thermostat, replaced the starter with a remanufactured one (and I don't think it will last long with the way it sounds =/) The starter I replaced was also a reman.And I replaced the altenator and belt.

Other than that, the previous owner had work done to the fuel injectors, but I believe they were just replaced with OEM injectors. I want to do the injector swap too.

When the CPS on my old Jeep went bad, I took it to a mechanic, and he replaced the CPS and rewired it to the ECM too. This Jeep may have never had the CPS replaced, but the wiring is definitely stock and that could be causing me trouble as well.

Then there's a few mysteries, like a relay under the hood that's not supposed to be there, as well as I don't think the electric fan was coming on because it had an overheating problem and the fan never even budged.

So, there's all kinds of kinks I gotta get settled out.

 

the last time it ran was a year ago

 

Yeah. It sat and rotted in my yard for a while.

 

bad gas in tank or clogged fuel injectors from gas going bad