92 Jeep XJ -- Long Crank to Start

MajorPayneXJ · Oct 29, 2022

So my Jeep has a long crank issue and I can only get it to start when I press the gas. I have had the fuel pump replaced twice in the last three months. Most recently 2 days ago. At that time the car would not start at all, regardless of what I tried. I towed it to the shop and I was advised that the check valve and the fuel sending unit were bad and the fuel pump was replaced with a non cheap Chinese part. Initially it started up when I picked it up from the shop, but now it's back to the long crank. It will start right up immediately after the car is turned off. The mechanic explained something about the pump not wanting to prime for very long.

Basically I am trying to figure out what to test or how if I can, or some ideas on what else may be causing this. Or if my process for starting the car is wrong and I should not be stepping on the gas. (Worried that caused the issue with the first pump) I'm a novice at car repairs but I can usually figure things out if pointed in the right direction.

mpgmike · Oct 29, 2022

My '95 ZJ seems to have issues not that much different from yours. I turn the key to ON and wait for the "click", then crank. It starts every time that way. If I just put the key in and go immediately to CRANK, sometimes it won't start. Give that a try.

MajorPayneXJ · Oct 30, 2022

Thanks I tried that and it didn't work. But now the car is not starting at all. Cranks, but no start. Going to take it back to the shop

OneRed1 · Jun 30, 2024

I am having the LONG CRANK problem in my 97 xj sport. Measuring the fuel pressure once it starts and monitoring the fuel pressure after turning it off will isolate CHECK VALVE issues. There is a Fuel Pressure relief port on the fuel rail right on top and near the front of the engine on the drivers side. I didn't want to mess with using a rented gauge so I took it to a shop. They verified it was the Check Valve not holding fuel pressure. Unfortunately, for my year make and model of jeep there is only one check valve and it is installed on top of the FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY which is installed inside the Gas Tank. So, another family member and I plan to remove the Gas Tank (of course after I drive it to within a half gallon of gas), install a new Fuel Pump made by DRIVEMOTIVE purchased from CARPARTS with a 3 year protection plan, and then set it asside.

Extra Credit Project: We will then be welding Dirtbound Offroad's Rear Weld On Frame Stiffeners and prep the rest of the underside and renew rust protection using Eastwoods Extreme Rust Encaplulator, topped off with two coats of Eastwoods Xtreme underbody paint. Whew... And then we will replace the FUEL LINE that runs from the Firewall to the Gas Tank, then reinstall the Gas Tank using new strapping and J-Hooks and then TEST vehicle starting. We will leave the Gas Tank Skid plat off the vehicle in the event we have to remove the Gas Tank again for some unknown reason while we continue testing over the next week.

It did not appear that INJECTORS or O2 sensors or other ignition elements were causing the issue as they either all tested good or had been running well for some time. However, it is not outside the bounds of possibility something another weak part of the system could be exposed. I will be glad to report back.

92 Jeep XJ -- Long Crank to Start

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