celtuckian

My '94 GC 5.2l AWD crapped out on me the other day. I thought it was the fuel pump, but figured I's start by diagnosing the somewhat easier solutions first.

Checked that the fuel pump was working by listening for the pump to pressure up. Fuel pump was functioning.

Then checked to see if I was getting spark. No spark at the plug. Went upstream to see if I was getting spark at the distributor from the coil. I was. So, the problem is I am getting sprak to the distributor but not at the plug. I replaced the cap and rotor. No luck; did not start.

Did some research on here and determined that the next step was to replace the crank sensor. So I bought a new crank sensor, located the wire harness for it, and traced that back to the sensor.

Now to my question...how in blue blazes do you access the bolts on the mounting bracket to replace the crank sensor?!?! It was only with the double-jointedness of a contortionist that I was able to put a finger on one of the bolt heads. Is there any easy way to change this thing out without pulling the engine or dropping the tranny?

Please help.

1slo_camaro

im not sure how different it is from yours to my 4.0 but with mine, i did it like i was dropping the trans, lowered the crossmember down and really really long extension and a universal and she came out pretty easy, but for mine putting the new one in was the hardest, cause you have to get it in, push it down tight (have a buddy hold it down with a screwdriver or something, and tighten the bolt up.... was a ***** but got it

celtuckian

Yeah, while looking at mine, I was kind of thinking I would have to do the same. I was just hoping there was some other way of doing it. Oh well, I guess I'll have to give that a shot.

ol"blue

This might be of help.

ol"blue

It mentioned that you might need to remove the EGR valve and tube. If so, this will help, and it shows the CPS here too.

celtuckian

Thanks, Ol' Blue. I will probably give that a shot since I really don't feel like crawling around on the ground underneath a vehicle, having various and sundry types of road debris falling in my face. I guess it helps to have FSM.

ol"blue

Glad to be of help when/if I can. Good luck.

Bustedback

I just changed one in a 2002 Ram truck, same sensor and set up as your Jeep. It was a real pain in the butt, but I was able to do it from under the truck. The Ram truck might have more room under it than you Jeep though. I know this post didn't help much, but God speed to you.

celtuckian

Got the crank position sensor changed out using the method suggested by Ol' Blue (above). There are several things to disconnect and move out of the way, but it was not too bad.

I would suggest to anybody doing this that they also remove the coolant overflow reservoir - it makes things so much easier. One more thing that might be of help before you get all the way into it - my CPS was held in place by two (2) 1/4"-allen cap screws. I used a hex key and a 1/4" wrench, but if the bolts had been any tighter I would have had to make a trip to the parts store to buy a driver.

btw - my problem wasn't the crank position sensor. Now on to the next part replacement....

Bustedback

Could be the cam sensor under the distributor cap.

celtuckian

I replaced the pick up coil (at least that's what Autozone calls it), if that is what the cam sensor is. Didn't work; still no spark at the plugs. If I had any hair, I'd be pulling it out.

ol"blue

As a test pull the distributor cap and verify that the rotor is turning when you crank the engine over. I've seen cases of camshaft failure and timing gear/chain failure that can cause the distributor rotor to stop spinning. Hope it's not your cause. Good luck.