89 Cherokee starting problem

Hi, I am new to the forum and I hope someone can lead me in the right direction. I have been having problems with my high mileage 89 Cherokee. It is a 4.0L I6. The problem is it only starts when it wants to. I have checked the ignition module and it is ok however when the jeep refuses to start there is no spark at all. When I try it later on away it goes. It only seems to happen when the temperature drops. Periodic starting when I am at work guarantees that it will start for me when I go home. Anyone have any ideas on this? The garage has already stung me twice for this problem. THey gave it a complete tune up first time and simply gave up the next. Someone suggested to me that it might be the pick up coil. Is there a way to test that other then buying one to try? I will soon be moving on to a 94 Grand Cherokee and I would really like to keep the 89 in a running condition to use for a winter vehicle. Also, does anyone have any comments on all wheel drive and ABS brakes? I havent had much to do with either and the 94 I am looking at has both.

Hi, I am new to the forum and I hope someone can lead me in the right direction. I have been having problems with my high mileage 89 Cherokee. It is a 4.0L I6. The problem is it only starts when it wants to. I have checked the ignition module and it is ok however when the jeep refuses to start there is no spark at all. When I try it later on away it goes. It only seems to happen when the temperature drops. Periodic starting when I am at work guarantees that it will start for me when I go home. Anyone have any ideas on this? The garage has already stung me twice for this problem. THey gave it a complete tune up first time and simply gave up the next. Someone suggested to me that it might be the pick up coil. Is there a way to test that other then buying one to try? I will soon be moving on to a 94 Grand Cherokee and I would really like to keep the 89 in a running condition to use for a winter vehicle. Also, does anyone have any comments on all wheel drive and ABS brakes? I havent had much to do with either and the 94 I am looking at has both.


Hi, it sounds like you may have a bad crankshaft sensor. Has it been tuned up lately. Have you had theottlebody cleaned recently. The crankshaft sensor is mounted on bellhousing. If you need picture holler. dale [email protected]

I miss my '89.. I had the crank sensor done on mine back then. About 180 at the shop, but I looked into the part after, and I think it's about an $80 part if I remember right. Seemed pretty easy to access according to chiltons, but was never something a weekender could diagnose without replacing a hundred more obvious things before. When I had it done it would try to start, but wouldn't.

I also had a different problem with "warm" starts, that it wouldn't even crank the starter. A cold start would be fine, a trip like to the store and back would be fine, but if I hit the gas station on the way to work - quick trip, sort of warmed up but not really, it wouldn't start when I'd try to leave. I had to wait till it cooled more. Usually never more than a few minutes though. I speculated that the starter had a wacky connection of some kind, but didn't have the thing long enough after that to really dig in to troubleshoot. I also found that banging on the steering wheel and swearing sometimes helped.. but maybe that was just coincidence.

LoL Your right about the banging on the steering wheel and swearing, I think it takes about a half hour to work and then it starts. I could have saved myself some money I think if I had of known of this forum to begin with. I will look into this sensor a bit more and get back to everyone.I miss my '89.. I had the crank sensor done on mine back then. About 180 at the shop, but I looked into the part after, and I think it's about an $80 part if I remember right. Seemed pretty easy to access according to chiltons, but was never something a weekender could diagnose without replacing a hundred more obvious things before. When I had it done it would try to start, but wouldn't.

I also had a different problem with "warm" starts, that it wouldn't even crank the starter. A cold start would be fine, a trip like to the store and back would be fine, but if I hit the gas station on the way to work - quick trip, sort of warmed up but not really, it wouldn't start when I'd try to leave. I had to wait till it cooled more. Usually never more than a few minutes though. I speculated that the starter had a wacky connection of some kind, but didn't have the thing long enough after that to really dig in to troubleshoot. I also found that banging on the steering wheel and swearing sometimes helped.. but maybe that was just coincidence.

My problem was when cold, started fine, then would die after about 10-15 minutes (after reaching temp). I had to let it cool off for about 20 minutes. It would then start and run for about 5 minutes (since it was already pretty warm). Drove about 10 miles to nurse it home. Took over 2 hours.

Autozone lists the CPS for about $53. Took me less than 20 minutes to change it.

Here's some testing you can do.
http://www1.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/15/23/4d/0900823d8015234d.jsp