I've owned this XJ about (2) years now and the motor was rebuilt just a few months prior. It has always ran great, never leaked oil and started on 2nd or 3rd time the engine turned over.

Now last summer, we did alot of wheelin' and it over heated while trying to climb a steep hill. And the Temp guage stopped working to boot.

When I was changing spark plugs, I found a small connector unplugged -- which I reconnected. And then the Temp guage worked again and it didnt over heat so much. Also installed a 2nd fan, just in case.

But ever since then, it was a bit tougher to start ... at first 4 or 5 cranks. Since then its only gotten worse. And its been maybe 3-4 months.

Just recently did a complete tune up; oil filter & new oil, fuel filter, air filter, new plugs/wires/cap&rotor ... all with little to no improvement.

It'll turns over 8, 9 even 10 times before it "catches" and starts.

A few times it will seem to not "catch and start" until I let go of the key itself, then it starts running. And sometimes it will grind for a split second, like the gears are out of mesh or something odd like that.

Any ideas whats plagueing my Jeep ?

Only things I can think of is maybe getting the fuel pressure tested ... or maybe somehow its my CAT, since had to replace it in the last (2) Jeeps I owned ...

 

Did you check the timing during the tune-up? My guess is that the timing chain stretched a little bit and you might just have to adjust the timing a little to get it back in step...JMO

 

check your C.P.S

 

Crank pos sensor would be an idea, sounds like you have the same problem as I do which I have found a lot of info concerning installing a check valve in the fuel line. I have not had the chance to do so yet but have read a lot about it. Mine has been the same so if you happen to find anything different, I would like to know.

 

Guess what ?! It was the fuel pump going out.

When its cold, it was much harder to start ... or when parked uphill, cause it took 8-10 cranks to get fuel to the engine.

And that explains why it would hesitate and stall sometimes, when trying to 4x4 up a steep hill!

Works great now --

 

Well, I spoke too soon ... It was good for awhile but having trouble starting at random times now.

Sometimes (5%), it will crank over and start right up.
Most times (70%) it takes 18-20 cranks before starting, then runs ok.
Others (20%) it cranks over but never starts.

I had a local mechanic look at it and he gave up saying that fuel was ok, but it wasn't getting any spark ... when it didn't start.

Since replacing the Fuel pump + filter, it was good for a couple months ... through winter. Then battery went out and I replaced that.

By Jan it was taking a long while to start ... and last week, not starting at all.

Went out today, cleaned the distributor contacts and had the wife crank it over while I tested for spark. Coil was giving off spark, so I tried first plug and it sparked as well.

So, tried it and it started right up ... drove it around, let it sit for 1hr and -- now it started on 3-4 cranks but idles rough and then dies ... and tach doesn't move at all during this time.

Starting to wonder if there is something wrong with the computer? What could cause it to intermittently not spark ?!

Let me know if any ideas .... thanks guys.

 

I believe that timing is not adjustable on a '92.

 

Coil wire having intermittent short--no or weak spark.

Bad plug wire(s).

Bad coil.

Bad reluctor inside distributor.

Intermittent fault in PCM--check for stored codes.

Camshaft or crankshaft position sensor.

 

I just replaced the coil with one from ACCEL ... and once had my wife turn it over while I tested for spark -- and it worked, ran great for 1hr then i parked it and let it set ... hour later, it wouldn't start -- just turns over and over, never catching.

Just ran out and got the error codes off it;
(couple times in case I missed one)
first time;
12
35
33
21
27
52
55 (end)

second time;
12
35
21
27?
52
55 (end)

And while its not starting, I swear I hear a tiny whining noise coming from the computer area under the hood. but might be my imagination.

edit: also the plug wires, cap & rotor were new 5 months ago ... and TPS was replaced twice last year.

I took the cap off and cleaned it with compressed air ... but no change.

 

ordered a new crankshaft position sensor, any luck that might be it.

 

Man that sucks I know mine takes acouple turns to start but it always has and even the four-door does the same(little worse on the four-door) but I just thought it was the fuel filter or like you did even the fuel pump? Hope you get it figured out it always sucks having a car that needs just one little thing to run and you can't figure it out. Good luck

 

Yeah, its crazy ... has a new fuel pump and filter, which seemed to do the trick for a month or so.

We'll see if the CPS helps ... it does somehow feel like either a bad computer or some kind of gear mis-alignment.

Come to think of it, when it cranks over every 4-6 turns it'll make a sound like its skipping a gear.

I even tried compression starting it, rolling down hill ... but it still refused to start/fire up.

 

you could also check the ballist resistor.. not sure if thats you problem or not. my rig had the same symptoms before it wouldnt start at all. and its a bit cheaper

 

Have you changed the fuel pressure regulator on the front of the fuel rail. It could be leaking internally and not delivering enough fuel to the injectors?

 

The correct term for crank pos sensor is CKP not to be confised with CPS (cam pos. sensor)