Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: specialk on May 20, 2012, 05:10:35 PM

Title: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: specialk on May 20, 2012, 05:10:35 PM
We are some fun with this 4.0L out of a 95 Cherokee that is in the MJ.  Does a lot of sputtering and does catch, but you have to hold the throttle wide open...

We are getting 2 codes:
- 54 - Distributor Sync Pickup
- 76 - Fuel pump bypass relay circuit

We have:
- tested fuel pressure.  Holds at 44psi when running
- changed plugs
- changed dist rotor
- changed to new dist cap
- changed new wires
- swapped complete distributors
 - checked vacuum lines.

Dana and I are now thinking CPS.  I would like to be sure on this though as it is $115 for a new one.    Any other thoughts?   
 
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: jkrubi on May 20, 2012, 06:12:03 PM
When did you start gettin the codes before or after changing the dist?  You've made sure that the timing is correct?
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: BUKI on May 20, 2012, 07:10:49 PM
When did you start gettin the codes before or after changing the dist?  You've made sure that the timing is correct?

X2.  maybe 1 tooth out on distro gear??
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: specialk on May 20, 2012, 10:29:32 PM
Codes happened before the dist swap.  Not much you can do with timing, right?  The distributor just fits in one way.     The timing appears to off about 15 degrees.... I think that's  what we measured...
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: JENSSEN on May 21, 2012, 02:55:57 AM
I have spare CPS`s if you want to borrow one to test.
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: jkrubi on May 21, 2012, 10:03:13 AM
If I remember correctly if the timing belt skipped a tooth it's about 15 deg. When was the last time the belt was changed? If the timing is out by 15 it will start hard and run like a bag of sh#t.
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: xjpete on May 21, 2012, 11:11:43 AM
sounds like its off by a tooth on the distributor ... timing chain should be ok !
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: specialk on May 21, 2012, 03:20:12 PM
I will play with moving the dist a tooth and see what happens. Jenssen... I will let you know if I need to borrow the CPS - thanks guys.
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: BUKI on May 21, 2012, 10:12:56 PM
I might be off my rocker, BUT in theory a cps works or doesn't work, and has nothing to do with throwing your timing out by 15*.  15* is a long way out.  Could be a timing chain but when they do stretch to the point of skipping dont they make a clattering sound inside the t chain cover (ie tensioner hooped)??  CPS is supposed to send signal for fuel and spark??? so CPS bad = no fuel or spark????  I have worked on tons of v8s similar symptoms AFTER changing Distro (forgot to mark rotor to distro relation).  AGAIN this is only theoretical as I have never changed one on a jeep before.  Although pulling the distro again (after marking rotor relation) and going one tooth back and forward is free.  I would do this prior to purchasing a CPS.
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: The Machinist on May 22, 2012, 05:32:55 PM
Did you do this when installing the new distributor?

"The distributor needs to be set up properly, then the ECU handles the rest of the timing, but the initial setup is very important. In my opinion, the easiest thing to do at this point would be to pull the distributor out and to set it up properly, then at least, you've got a fighting chance of getting the engine to run right. Here are the pertinent two pages from the factory service manual that describe how to set up the 4 liter distributor. You need to pay attention to where the rotor needs to be when the engine is rotated to TDC, so the "scribe mark" described on the first page is very important."

Make sure the engine is at tdc on the compression stroke when doing this. 

(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt257/jameylh/dist1.jpg)
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt257/jameylh/dist2.jpg)
 
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: Pookapotamus on May 22, 2012, 06:16:10 PM
yes we have installed the distributor correctly, (although this does not mean we did not screw up  ::))

we have tried other distributor positions with no luck and yes it definitely sounds like a timing issue. although it did run really rough then all of a sudden run good, only to stall out on idle. then we could never get it to run nice again.  ???

my questions are thus:

is the flywheel the same for a 89 renix and a 95 high output? if it is different could this be throwing the timing out by 15 to 20 degrees? is it possible that Kevin put the flywheel on in the wrong position?  also is the cps the same from a standard to an automatic? as the cps we have is from an auto.

Confused Pook.
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: specialk on May 22, 2012, 07:55:12 PM
The CPS is the same for both manual and auto... checked that out
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: XJHERO on May 22, 2012, 08:10:53 PM
did you have the timing chain off or did the PO have it off?
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: Gearhead on May 22, 2012, 08:15:14 PM
yes we have installed the distributor correctly, (although this does not mean we did not screw up  ::))

we have tried other distributor positions with no luck and yes it definitely sounds like a timing issue. although it did run really rough then all of a sudden run good, only to stall out on idle. then we could never get it to run nice again.  ???

my questions are thus:

is the flywheel the same for a 89 renix and a 95 high output? if it is different could this be throwing the timing out by 15 to 20 degrees? is it possible that Kevin put the flywheel on in the wrong position?  also is the cps the same from a standard to an automatic? as the cps we have is from an auto.

Confused Pook.

The flywheel will only go on one way  .

I can't confirm  ,  as I'm not sure , but  you may be correct in thinking the fly wheel from the 89 renix is not the right flywheel .


Somebody should know this ? 
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: XJHERO on May 22, 2012, 08:18:57 PM
well the trans that kevins 4.0l is mounted to is a 97 i do belive and that same trans was on the renix 4.0.
if that info helps at all
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: Pookapotamus on May 23, 2012, 08:18:44 AM
nope i never had the front cover off, and it ran great before we pulled it.

Nathan did you use the same flywheel that came on the renix or did one come with the 97 tranny?

pook
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: morerpmfred on May 23, 2012, 09:47:12 AM
On the renix the cps is by the harmonic balancer and the ho the cps is of the flywheel. Did you swap out all the renix fi for ho fi on the swap as ?


Sent from my I junk
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: specialk on May 23, 2012, 10:14:49 AM
The CPS was at the flywheel on the renix with the 97 tranny.  Replaced the CPS with a used (new to the harness) CPS.  

I farted around with dist last night.   When things where running rough, the rotor was pointing between 1 and 4 on the cap.  That was with the slot at 11 o'clock.
I moved it over to the 9 o'clock position at the rotor is now pointing just before the 1 wire now.  I will try to fire it up after work and see if that makes a difference.  I think that should be one tooth over...
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: XJHERO on May 23, 2012, 11:00:13 AM
nope i never had the front cover off, and it ran great before we pulled it.

Nathan did you use the same flywheel that came on the renix or did one come with the 97 tranny?

pook
Sorry I don't recall if I did or not!
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: specialk on May 23, 2012, 04:17:43 PM
Tried turning it over a nothing, so the original position of the dist was probably correct...
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: raf2379 on May 23, 2012, 05:16:25 PM
Kevin do you have a compression test kit? if not you can borrow mine, test your compression.
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: jkrubi on May 23, 2012, 05:44:16 PM
Your guessing at timing. Set it up for #1 TDC on compression ( you should be close to 0 on the timing mark in the crank) and reinstall the dist so it's firing #1. You may have to remove the valve cover to make sure that the valves  are still closed and your at TDC.
Next thing I'd check is the gap at the pick up sensor  for the cps?
Do you have the correct computer for this eng? Try using that one maybe the location of the cps has a different value to it?
Have you checked that all vacuum lines are on and correct?
Everything electrical is connected up, all grounds are good?
Just a few more things off the top of my head.
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: specialk on May 23, 2012, 05:57:53 PM
Great ideas... 

Yes - computer and harness were the ones with the engine orginally... not sure about the CPS (Pook?)
Vacuum lines appear good
We think we have the grounds all done...  farking jeeps....


I'm going to get in touch with Jessen and see if get a CPS to swap in and try...  (unless some one else closer to me has one...)

Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: BUKI on May 23, 2012, 06:23:00 PM
Ok 3 stupid questions
1.  How hard is it to pull the cps?
2.  Are the cps's all the same (tj,xj/mj)??
3.  If so, why don't you swap in the one from your tj (you know it's good)

Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: Pookapotamus on May 24, 2012, 07:08:15 AM
yet everything is the same as to how I ran this engine. only thing different is the drive train.

Pook
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: specialk on June 03, 2012, 05:37:05 PM
We got it running!!!!   ;D

So XJWrencher wins for the fly wheel idea.   The fly wheels are completely different from the 89 and 95.

After changing that out,  we had to cut the ears off the distributor so we could advance the timing.   Runs like a charm now!

Thanks for all the ideas!
 
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: SwampSinger on June 03, 2012, 09:25:22 PM
come on... film it. We want to hear it puuuurrrr!
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: Bnine on June 04, 2012, 12:26:54 PM
Sounds like you are out a tooth if you have to addjust the distributer.
Title: Re: Troubles starting and keeping 4L running
Post by: specialk on June 04, 2012, 12:48:23 PM
That makes sense Bill and we tried that...  it just didn't want to catch...  It seemed no matter how we moved the dist around we always had spark before we hit TDC.  That being said,  we only did try one tooth in each direction.  It's possible that going 2 teeth would have put the distributor the right spot.

I've got another distributor and new CPS now (we had older ones in there when we got it started) ...  I'm going to try swapping those in and see if I can keep this thing running...  

Big thanks to Ron and Dana for your help!

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/fromphone/5749586167726581538 (https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/fromphone/5749586167726581538)