I bought a 90 cherokee yesterday cheep, it was broke down on the side of the road with a stuck brake caliper. When i got it home i gave it a good bath with pressure washer, started it back up and it ran for 15-20 min drove it in the garage pulled the bumper and drivers fender to fix the door hinges. Then i went to start it back up and it just turns over and never starts. It as fuel pressure at the rail and the cylinders are wet so i think the injectors are working. Also spark is good. Im going to start testing sensors later today but for now im stuck on watch doing research.

I have directions to test the cps, coil and refresh the grounds, what else should i look at. I have searched and will keep looking but wanted to see what others thing

 

I forgot to add starting fluid had no effect on it. I pulled and cleaned ever connector and removed a old alarm system to eliminate it but nothing helped or changed anything.

 

Did alot of work tonight and still nothing but i did notice it has a weak red/orange spark.

Fuel pressure is 40 psi

cps tested good but i had a new one so i changed it, it tested good too.

Refreshed grounds and added another one from the block to the fire wall
and one from the battery to the core support.

ICU/Coil contact refreshing


Clean ever pulg i could find.

I think my next step would be the coil right?

 

Just done the same,bathed my jeep,started then stopped Distributor cap has crack/tracking,check the ht leads cap and distributor arm carefully.Has king lead got real high resistance?

 

Pull the dizzy cap and see if it's wet inside.

 

Isn't the computer mounted on the driver's side inner fender? You might want to check and see if you disturded anything when removing the fender. Maybe a plug is loose or the gound wires got broken.

 

That would be my next step. You need a strong, BLUE, snapping spark to start the engine.

Coils can be tested for both primary and secondary resistances with a multimeter and a service manual which will outline the specs for you.

But the fact that you just finished pressure washing it could be involved as well and I agree with cruiser about checking the distributor cap, or just replace it and the rotor as it probably needs it! Did you spray water "inside" of the engine bay?

Keep us updated!

 

The distributer cap did have some moisture in it , i cleaned it out and brushed the contact points.

Yes against my better judgement the engine compartment was sprayed with the pressure washer.

I thing the computer is under the dash on a 90 right?

 

Then water intrusion is still suspect, even if the engine did run for 15 minutes.

Distributor cap, computer and throttle position sensor do not play well with water (for starters; there are other possibilities too).

But also don't hesitate to test that ignition coil! Takes all of 10 minutes.

 

Its back alive. I changed the coil and icm with ones from the the juck yard and new cap and rotor. and now its back to running great. Thanks for the help.

 

Glad we could help.......thanks for posting back with the fix; many do not.