ATV Florida Forum

OK well i bought a 1993 jeep grand Cherokee with a 5.2 v8 from my moms friend for $100 and I'm making it into a mudtruck. but currently it is not running. and the problem for it not running is that its not getting spark to the spark plugs. but when you take the plug that goes to the coil to the distributer cap and put a spark plug into the end of it, it gets spark. so i went and bought a new distributer cap and rotor but the same thing is happening. so the problem is something in the distributer cap but i have no clue what it is... any help would be greatly appreciated.

C.P.S. camshaft position sensor  I would need the vehicle to prove it. Your local shops should be able to handle that no problem.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1993 Jeep Truck Grand Cherokee 4WD V8-318 5.2L VIN Y MFI
 Vehicle Level  Powertrain Management  Computers and Control Systems  Camshaft Position Sensor  Testing and Inspection 
 
 
Testing and Inspection
Notes
 
NOTE: For this test, an analog (non-digital) voltmeter is needed. Do not remove the distributor connector from the distributor. To perform a complete test of the Camshaft Position Sensor and its circuitry, refer to the DRB II diagnostic tester. Also see the appropriate Diagnostic Charts. To test the sensor only, refer to the following:

Using small paper clips, insert them into the backside of the distributor wire harness connector to make contact with the terminals. Be sure that the connector is not damaged when inserting the paper clips. Attach voltmeter leads to these paper clips.



Connect the positive (+) voltmeter lead into the sensor output wire. This is done at the distributor wire harness connector.
Connect the negative (-) voltmeter lead into the ground wire.
Set the voltmeter to the 15 Volt DC scale.
Remove distributor cap from distributor (two screws). Rotate (crank) the engine until the distributor rotor is pointed towards the rear of vehicle. The movable pulse ring should now be within the sensor pickup.
Turn ignition key to ON position. Voltmeter should read approximately 5.0 volts.
If voltage is not present, check the voltmeter leads for a good connection.
If voltage is still not present, check for voltage at the supply wire.
If voltage is not present at supply wire, check for voltage at pin-7 of Powertrain Control Module (PCM) 60-way connector. Leave the PCM connector connected for this test.
If voltage is still not present, perform vehicle test using the DRB II diagnostic scan tool.
If voltage is present at pin-7, but not at the supply wire:
Check continuity between the supply wire. This is checked between the distributor connector and pin-7 at the PCM. If continuity is not present, repair the harness as necessary.
Check for continuity between the Camshaft Position Sensor output wire and pin-44 at the PCM. If continuity is not present, repair the harness as necessary.
Check for continuity between the ground circuit wire at the distributor connector and ground. If continuity is not present, repair the harness as necessary.
While observing the voltmeter, crank the engine with ignition switch. The voltmeter needle should fluctuate between 0 and 5 volts while the engine is cranking. This verifies that the camshaft position sensor in the distributor is operating properly and a sync pulse signal is being generated.
If sync pulse signal is not present, replacement of the Camshaft Position Sensor is necessary.


 
 





 

 
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I don't know if this will help. The labor charge for replacing is NO MORE than 1 hour. Does not include diagnosis or tax.

What shape/ how old are the plug wires? Coil could also be weak.

Sounds to me like it's either the flux capacitor or the doofilator valve.

i had a problem where i would get spark on the distributor cap but wouldnt get spark to a few cylinders at the end of the plug wires, ended up being just a really nasty set of spark plugs. changed the plugs and it ran great again. inspect your wires and plugs before anything else, if you plugs or wires are junky the spark may never make it to the plug tip, could also be a week coil, throw in a week coil with a set of fouled plugs and that could be you issue right there. it could very well be something else but always check the simple things first

Sounds like you are low on blinker fluid.

i bought the c.p.s today for 53$ and put it in and it didn't help at all,but i am getting power at the C.P.S, theres a crank shaft position sensor that does the same thing. but tomorrow I'm going to check the plugs and wires before i do the crank shaft.p.s....thanks for looking up that stuff, it was a big help

are you making up st!T? lol

hey look we got a funny guy, well since you live in Davie and i live right here in cooper city lets go ride!

im telling you right now. if you got spark its not the crank or cam sensor. make sure the sparks jumping at least one inch to ground. if its not you may have a bad coil. if you do have an  in inch of spark. follow the path of the spark(coil-coil wire-cap-rotor-spark plug wires til you find the weakest link.
hth, gery

Dam i wish i woulda known to not buy the C.P.S. there is plenty of spark that comes from the coil it jumps about an inch so i guess the coil is good, and i bought a brand new cap and rotor yestrday. tomorrow i am going to check out the wires and plugs and tell you how everything works out.
thanks alot gery

Try turning the key on and off 3 times leaving it in the on position the last time (with out actually starting the truck)... You're odometer should flash and read a number. That's a trouble code. Google the trouble code. You could get multiple codes, it should say done or finish after it shows the number...

This works on early Ram pick-ups so It should work on the Jeep. All made by Chrysler and have the same engine/computer.

I had a problem years ago on a camaro (I know its not a jeep but it might help) I was getting spark, fuel, I had compresion, and the timing was dead on.  Turned out to be the ignition module.  I had spark but I didn't realize that it was orange in color, when I put the new ignition module in it was bright blue.

Now I have no idea if your jeep has it or not but it might be something to look into.  If I remember right it was only like $30 .... just thinking out loud.  Good Luck! 

well guys i found the problem $130 and 4 parts later. the ignition coil was giving spark to the distributer, but not enough. so bought a new coil and heard that baby prrr for the first time in a year. alot of back smoke came out and filled up my whole garage that was open, and my mom start bitching at me ::) but after we reved it up to clear it all out it stopped smoking and ran and idled perfect no knocking or anything, but we took it around the lake and we thought it was oil dripping but it was power steering line. so we replaced that and went to pepboys and bought a cheerybomb glass pack  :P so that nice little growl. so now I'm saving for my lift and 37's. thanks for all your help guys i really appreciate it.

dam this thing has a whole bunch of torque, i took it out after everything was done and i turned out of my block in 4 low, and just got on it from a 5mph roll. the thing took off like a bat outa hell, it yanked my head back into the seat and popped the glove box out along with the plastic thing that goes around the radio...............but then right when i let off around 30mph i seen 5 cop cars at the house down the street  :o so i turned it around and headed back home and right when i pullled in the driveway one cop was behind me. he started giving me a long talk and i told him Ive been working on this thing for a week straight and just got it to run and i was seeing if the transmission was good (which it does) lol, so he let me go, thank god   ;D

awesome. im glad you got it it runnin. you cant beat the feelin you get when you hear it start.
well you can but............you know what i mean. ;D

yea i know whatcha mean  ;) but it makes you feel better when you hear it start up with the glass packs on it, i took it mudding today with stock tires and height didn't get stuck once and it ran threw everything. but i popped a tire thank god i had a good spare

That is awsummmmmmm!!! good for you. 8) 8)

theres nothing like getting an old truck to run. good luck with it.

does anyone know were you can get cheap lift kits and tires at?

not sure what they have as far as lift kits but performanceoffroadcenter.com has always had the best prices on gears and lockers for me, rustysoffroad.com will definitly have al you need but i dont know about prices.

alright thanks alot

i found the suspension lift i would get here:

http://www.performanceoffroadcenter.com/oscommerce/product_info.php?cPath=30_165_252_778&products_id=3318&osCsid=0ef1d3eec0f0c3a49bb5f76e7f7f3f7c

but i cat find a 2-3inch body lift anywere

I don't think you can put a body lift on that Jeep I think its a uniboby ?? Frame/body are connected together i think....But i cud b wrong

i think your right but people on youtube have them  :-\

those jeeps are unibodys, theres no way to put a body lift on something that doesn't have a frame lol.

yea i kenw it was a unibody but i didnt know you couldnt but a body lift on it...dam this sucks  :'(

is there somthing they make that u can lift it like a cheap way, such as putting spacers on it that has somthing to do with the springs? like a leveling kit (i kinda know alot about cars, but not about lifting them)

found this, idk if this would be compatible with a suspension lift

http://www.4wheelerssupply.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1?gclid=CMivyI__0aACFQObnAodqRrTDw

coil spacers are what you are thinking of. yea they work with a lift kit, but it may not be the best way, it may limit the suspensions down travel.

what do you mean by down travel? i don't care how it handles i just need some ground clearance and clearance for some bigger tires