[XJ_HORNE]

'99 XJ 4.0L Auto-
4 1/2" rough country
Throttle Body Spacer
Cold Air - Airraid
Hypertech Power Programmer III
4.10's and limited slip
32x11.50x15 BFG AT II KO's
Electric fan (besides the stock one- took off clutch fan)



I have been having problems with the starter dragging or so I thought, for the last couple of days. I have a brand new Optima Red Top, starter still dragging. Now, I drive 40 miles each way to work 4-5 times a week. Went home yesterday, went by JT's near the house to get some food, pulled out of the parking lot and rolled up to the red light. The light turned green before I got to it so I hit the gas and it gave me a small lurch forward and died. I rolled through the light and pulled off the side. It would not start. I checked everything, fuel, power, and found I was not getting a spark but the engine was turning over a lot more freely now. I thought maybe the coil went bad so I went to advance auto and got another for $30. Come back and put it on but still no spark on the first 3 plugs. So my bro-in-law towed me home.
Any ideas????

I checked through the tech section and the closest thing I could find was the crankshaft position sensor, is this my problem??

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!

[PESteele]

you should do a compression check

[XJ_HORNE]

Thanks, but I hope it's not that bad. But a 4.0 stroker is starting to sound good now.

Anything else??

[XJ_HORNE]

Does anyone know what the compression should be off the top of your head?

[mattbred]

Around 150 PSI I think?

[curtjames37]

FSM lists acceptable compression as 120-150psi with 30psi max variation between cylinders.

I don't think low compression would create a no spark condition though. Check for the usual causes of no spark i.e. coil, CPS, etc...

[XJ_HORNE]

Thanks fellas, I have changed the coil already, going to dig into the distributer when I get home.

[curtjames37]

Check the CPS. It's a common problem on XJs that will create a no spark condition.

From the tech sticky:

CHECKING THE COIL AND CPS TESTING PROCEDURES
http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl077g.htm

[XJ_HORNE]

Yea that was the closest thing I could find to my problem and that will be next on my list with the distributer.

Thanks

[Atari.fan3000]

Originally Posted by XJ_HORNE

Yea that was the closest thing I could find to my problem and that will be next on my list with the distributer.

Thanks

if you have a 99' you do not have a distributer

99 is when jeep switched over to a distributer-less system

[BrunoS]

ok, so much for troubleshooting...come on, forum!!!

1) ALWAYS pull codes first with a good OBDII scanner.

2) it's either mechanical or electrical. figure out which....broken part or bad electrical issue like a failed wire, or sensor.

3) The XJ computer, like most all cars, will keep it running despite failures from most sensors.

4) depending on model year, you can live without coolant sensor, throttle position sensor, oil pressure sensor, fan cooling switch oxy sensors. it will run crappy, but get you home with a check engine light and very poor power.

5) this leaves fuel pump. simple check fuel pressure at valve cap on fuel rail. wear glasses. be careful. no fuel at all? dead pump.

6) no spark. it's either dead coil...or in the distributor cap. Don't have a cap? then check wires. but, they rarely just "die".

7) so, next, check voltage at battery. 12 volts motor off, 13.5-15 v when motor is on.

8) my guess? you have a dead alternator that's killed the battery off. when voltage gets below 9.5v, the injector circuits don't work.

check for voltage at battery first, then run the OBDII diagnostics.

keep us posted.

[XJ_HORNE]

Thanks Bruno, my 99 has a distributer but has an electronic coil. Put on a new coil, the fuel rail has pressure and fuel and the alternator is charging. It spins really well when trying to start it. The thing I don't get is it was really hard to start before it just died on me. I printed out all the codes from the tech forum and iI'm going to check all that next.

Thanks fellas

[XJ_HORNE]

Well my Hypertech Power Programer III told me it is a P1389 which is No ASD Relay Output Voltage At PCM. In the other column it says No Z! or Z2 voltage sensed when the Auto shutdown relay is energized.

Anyone understand that????

[BrunoS]

ASD relay troubleshooting is in the .pdf 1993 and 2001 manual.

1st simple thing to do:

swap out a/c relay with ASD relay. they are exact same bosch 30amp. that will rule out the relay (under the high power distribution box, under hood)

pretty much this:

igntion key moves. fuel pump relay powers up for 2 seconds. starter cranks. computer senses crank rotation, fires injectors, then spark, and then upon seeing further rotation (engine firing up) continues sending power through ASD to fuel pump.

if the crank stops rotating while the ignition key is on RUN, the ASD shuts the fuel pump down.

most likely:

1) bad ASD relay, but I highly doubt it

2) Hall effect pickup inside the distributor is shot. once they die, that's it. that would be the CKP sensor.

3) try unplugging and replugging the crank position sensor on the bellhousing, it's the connector by the #5 or #6 fuel injector. then, crank motor to see if it starts. if it does, then your CPS sensor (bellhousing) is bad. that's a trail fix from the forum.

try that first and post back.

[88XJSport]

Originally Posted by Atari.fan3000

if you have a 99' you do not have a distributer

99 is when jeep switched over to a distributer-less system

I think the 2000 is distribtuorless.