1990 knocks off, nasty gremlin is back

[Baslandis]

Idling or rolling, it knocks off. Last time it week+ to find the soultion....vaccum hoses(unreal at the design) Replaced the hoses(second time), spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, button.

Took it around the block, it died and would not restart. Pissed off and broke, any help and I would be thankful.

[pman]

Which engine do you have? Can you fill out your profile? Thanks.

[MJMPC]

You will get faster help if you fill out your profile.

[Baslandis]

updated; its a 2.5 liter 5speed. It a plan stock jeep otherwise. motor was rebuilt around 120,000. now has 167,530 miles on it.

[Que89YJ]

I was going to tell you to check the fault codes until I realised you have the same rig as me. I hate to say it but we have a more difficult time with the electrical issues. Start by checking for spark at the plugs and listening for the fuel pump when you cycle the key? If you have spark at the plugs then shoot starting fluid into the thottle body and see if it cranks up and dies. If you dont hear the fuel pump cycle and you have no spark then its a bad crank sensor, if your fuel pump comes on but it still doesnt want to start with the starting fluid then its a bad cam sensor.

[Baslandis]

Originally Posted by Que89YJ

I was going to tell you to check the fault codes until I realised you have the same rig as me. I hate to say it but we have a more difficult time with the electrical issues. Start by checking for spark at the plugs and listening for the fuel pump when you cycle the key? If you have spark at the plugs then shoot starting fluid into the thottle body and see if it cranks up and dies. If you dont hear the fuel pump cycle and you have no spark then its a bad crank sensor, if your fuel pump comes on but it still doesnt want to start with the starting fluid then its a bad cam sensor.

I rechecked each hose and spark plug wire, twice sprayed starting fluid...... nothing. I live out in the middle of nowhere and hate to ask for help(even on message boards), trying to check ignition sparks is near impossible by yourself. Looking more like a electrical issues currently, but thats what i thought lasted time and it ended up being a fing vacuum hose.

How hard is it to replace a crank/cam sensor? Any suggestions to checking the ignition sparks by yourself? i suck with a om meter too. sigh

[Que89YJ]

To check for spark pull a plug wire and use your tongue like you did when you were a kid cheecking a 9 volt battery! LOL Use a screw drive a insert it into the plug boot and put it near ground on the chasis to see if you have any arc from the wire, do the same with the coil wire. The crank and cam sensors are both easy to replace. The cam is in the distributor the crank at the top of the bellhousing.

Does the fuel pump cycle when you turn the key on?