This just started happening just this week. I have a 98 GCL with the 4.0L. When the engine is cold, it starts right up no problem. When the engine is warm and has been sitting for about a half hour or after a long drive and it has been sitting for a couple of hours, the engine cranks for about 5-7 second before it turns over and starts up. Fuel pressure is good and the distributor cap, rotor, plugs, and wires are pretty new. I am thinking that the ignition coil is starting to go, or may be even the Coolant Sensor or Intake Air Sensor. I'm really leaning towards a bad ignition coil. What do you guys think? Help me out.

Something is getting hot and breaking down. Most likely your coil. If it were like my mustang which needs a new starter for similar reason it would start fine when cold but act like it's not even going to turn over. If yours is turning over but not cranking then I would check the coil and maybe the wire between it and the battery.

Something is getting hot and breaking down. Most likely your coil. If it were like my mustang which needs a new starter for similar reason it would start fine when cold but act like it's not even going to turn over. If yours is turning over but not cranking then I would check the coil and maybe the wire between it and the battery.

Even after the long crank and the jeep starts to run, I would shut it off and restart it and the Jeep would start normally like in 2-3 seconds. I did not replace the coil when I did the plugs, wires, cap, and rotor so it's looking like that the coil is the problem.