2001 Cherokee Turns over but will not start

[TnVolFan15]

I've got 140k on a 01 Cherokee Sport and have had absolutely no problems with this Jeep. Last week it went dead while driving and now turns over but will not start up. Fuel pump is running when the key is turned on. Fuel is getting to the injectors when trying to start it up. Thinking the next step is to see if we're getting any spark but now really sure how to do that with the coil packs. Any suggestions on how to check for spark and any ideas what may be causing this would be greatly appreciated. Could it have jump time? Or maybe the camshaft sensor?

Thanks

[DingosDad]

Try an inline spark tester, about $6 at the parts house. Basically a short piece of plug wire with a male and female end on it and a small neon tube in the center that lights when the juice passes through.

[fredjacksonsan]

My bet would be Crankshaft Position Sensor. I'd guess that you've had a little miss now and then or (if it's an automatic) some funny shifts.

If that's not it, take a look at this thread for more help.

[TnVolFan15]

Used an inline tester today and there is no fire from the coil pack. Really not sure where to go from here. As far as the way it was running prior to the problem, there wasn't any misses and it has shifted fine. I mean we have really had no problems from this jeep at all. Any ideas?

[fredjacksonsan]

Usually the CPS goes bad slowly, but I've seen threads where it simply fails. Still my thought - you're at the mileage at which it will fail. Someone else should come along with other ideas shortly.

[TnVolFan15]

I'm leaning towards the crankshaft position sensor. Does anyone know if there is a way to test it from home?

[TnVolFan15]

OK, problem solved. Just to let everyone know what I did in case this may help someone else. The cps and the ckp both have 3 wires running to them, a power, ground and signal wire. I took a multimeter and read the volts on signal wires of both while the key was on (which read about .04) and then took a reading while someone was trying to start it. On the camshaft sensor the volts read 5.4 while trying to start it and on the crankshaft sensor it dropped to 0. So, figuring that it must not be a signal getting sent to the pcm, I opted to replace the ckp and that fixed the problem, she started right up. Don't really know if that was right or wrong, or just dumb luck, but it worked. Thanks for everyones input.

On another existing problem, I'm thinking I may have a short in a light wire somewhere and will need some help on figuring out the best way to look for it, but I'll start a new thread on that one.

[fredjacksonsan]

Great that it's fixed....but what do you mean when you say "ckp"?

[TnVolFan15]

The crankshaft sensor in the Jeep repair manual is actually listed as "ckp" (although I've seen it listed alot as the cps on the internet). And the camshaft sensor is listed in the repair manual as "cps". But if they are going to the crankshaft sensor ckp, then why not call the camshaft sensor cmp? Maybe help eliminate some confusion for us "not so mechanically inclined" people.

Thanks for you help earlier, I appreciated the input.

[hundahunta]

what kind of short??? look on the right side rear of the engine valve cover the wiring harness always rubs on the stud.....

[hundahunta]

oops sorry didn't read entire post before replying.......