Hard to start

I have a 90 cherokee inline 6 with 250 000km. I bought this vehicle used a few years ago to pull my boat and small trailer. I don't drive it often but when I do it is hard to start. It cranks for quite awhile before it finally starts. Once running there are no problems. One day I washed the engin and must have got some water in the Distributer cap as it would not start after. I let it sit for 6 hours and tried again. It started as soon as I turned the key. (scared the piss out of me as I was not ready for it.) It did this one other time and then went back to the normal taking a while to start.

Problem is recently it seems to be taking even longer and I am afraid that one day when I am out fishing in the bush it won't start.

Any Ideas or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Rod

My first thought is a tune up. New plugs, cap, rotor, and maybe even the plug wires, if you haven't replaced them in the last 50000 km.

How long has it been since your last tune up?

Thanks for your help but I had a tune up done when I bought it, since then I have not put 10000 kms on it. The problem really did not bother me at first because it always started but now it seems to be getting worse. It runs great once started.

Rod

Sounds like possible fuel issue. Put a guage on the fuel rail, you might find weak pressure on initial start-up. which inturn will require a new fuel pump. If the pump is bad, STAY AWAY from Advance auto, get the dealer part, I learned this lesson the hard way. THe after market pump, doesn't mount up exactly like the original, causing problems. Also try this, on first start up, turn the key on (fuel pump running) 2 times before you crank the engine. Does it start easier? If so you probably have a weak pump, and/or a restricted fuel filter.

Thanks for the advice, I will try it when I get home from work.

It still does not explain why it started so well after getting the Distributor wet. Any thoughts?

Rod

"Also try this, on first start up, turn the key on (fuel pump running) 2 times before you crank the engine. Does it start easier? If so you probably have a weak pump, and/or a restricted fuel filter."

Tried this but it did not seem to make any diffrence, thanks anyway.

Rod

When you had the tune up done was the ignition coil replaced as well?

I really don't recall if the coil was replaced. My neighbor is telling me it might be my Crankshaft position sensor.
Any thoughts?

Rod

The CPS could be the issue, but usually you would have some other indicators, like rough running or cutting out while running.

The CPS could be the issue, but usually you would have some other indicators, like rough running or cutting out while running.


This could one of the early signs of the CPS going bad. It could also be a sign of the started motor starting to fail. Had each problem on each of my Jeeps, one turned out to be the CPS the other was the starter.

Good luck

Mike