What did you do to your TJ today?

[Kiwi TJ]

Just drove home in the jeep and I missed this epic downpour that flooded our street in less than 30 minutes…!!.
The adult in me says protect the house but my inner child says get the Jeep out and go for a play

Nice little water feature in the back yard..(below)

 

[ExitLeft]

Sir, your half doors are properly mismatched to the color of your Jeep. Bravo Sir, bravo!
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Got my "mismatched half door" membership card in the mail last week. Glad to represent.

 

[FarFire70]

Got the entire engine assembled and everything plugged in. Primed the oil pump until I could see oil running down the rockers. I cranked on it about 8 times and have yet for it to fire up. I’m wondering if I have the distributor in 180* out. I had my wife “helping” me by holding her finger in the plug hole since the crank was hard to turn by hand and she said she thought she felt air coming out lol Idk though because I’ve installed them backwards before and they try to start and jump around but won’t run. This just isn’t running, I have fuel at the rail, cleaned my block grounds, double checked the sensors and all are connected I’m half afraid to keep cranking and dumping fuel in the cylinders if it’s not firing up. Guess I need to take a step back and reevaluate my life choices lol

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Check all your sensors. My 4.0 replacement had me throw in the original crankshaft sensor after I replaced it with an OEM new and that got it turned over. I forget what had me thinking that was the issue (it was a few years back). Just make sure all sensors are connected.

 

[kincaid.0678]

Check all your sensors. My 4.0 replacement had me throw in the original crankshaft sensor after I replaced it with an OEM new and that got it turned over. I forget what had me thinking that was the issue (it was a few years back). Just make sure all sensors are connected.

I did wipe off the sensor when I had the engine out. Maybe I made it worse lol I have a brand new one on hand thankfully so that’s an option for tomorrow too once I check for spark.

 

[kincaid.0678]

Happy birthday mate getting it started would be a great birthday gift I’m sure

Thanks buddy! It would have been nice but I didn’t feel like working on it after gorging myself on a filet and scallops with all the fixings at the Japanese steakhouse lol I’ll get back on it in the morning if it’s not raining

 

[kincaid.0678]

First engine Start up Anxiety! Good times! Did you have spark, before you move the disty.

It was definitely a nerve racking day lol. I hope I can get it figured out tomorrow. If not I’ll be doing another swap

 

[FarFire70]

I did wipe off the sensor when I had the engine out. Maybe I made it worse lol I have a brand new one on hand thankfully so that’s an option for tomorrow too once I check for spark.

Mine was the opposite - needed to put the original back in. Do you have a decent OBD scanner? That may help if it is a sensor - Sorry, I really wish I could recall what pointed me to the sensors being the cause.

 

[RINC]

Thanks buddy! It would have been nice but I didn’t feel like working on it after gorging myself on a filet and scallops with all the fixings at the Japanese steakhouse lol I’ll get back on it in the morning if it’s not raining

Food pics make @TheBoogieman @Kiwi TJ and myself very happy.

 

[kincaid.0678]

Mine was the opposite - needed to put the original back in. Do you have a decent OBD scanner? That may help if it is a sensor - Sorry, I really wish I could recall what pointed me to the sensors being the cause.

I have a decent scanner. Nothing professional but hopefully it’s worth it’s $100 lol I just wonder if it will scan anything since it hasn’t ran in four days.

 

[kincaid.0678]

Food pics make @TheBoogieman @Kiwi TJ and myself very happy.

I’m sure my wife got some pictures I was too busy entertaining my 10 year old lol

 

[CV04TJR]

Got the entire engine assembled and everything plugged in. Primed the oil pump until I could see oil running down the rockers. I cranked on it about 8 times and have yet for it to fire up. I’m wondering if I have the distributor in 180* out. I had my wife “helping” me by holding her finger in the plug hole since the crank was hard to turn by hand and she said she thought she felt air coming out lol Idk though because I’ve installed them backwards before and they try to start and jump around but won’t run. This just isn’t running, I have fuel at the rail, cleaned my block grounds, double checked the sensors and all are connected I’m half afraid to keep cranking and dumping fuel in the cylinders if it’s not firing up. Guess I need to take a step back and reevaluate my life choices lol

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Happy birthday. Great job rebuilding your engine it’s a big project. I don’t know if this applies to the engines in our TJ’s but when I rebuilt the Magnum engine in my Ram years ago I had similar problems getting it to start. On that engine there is a procedure to set fuel synchronization. @Wildman posted about this on his build thread a while back. Good luck

 

[kincaid.0678]

I have been amazed/confused at your ability to fix/weld anything. You have skills and patience I've never had. When I was your age I had lack of money and common sense that got me through most projects. Four ex-wives later, I still have no money or common sense. WTF happened? Keep up the great work. You will figure everything out with your Jeep.

My lack of money fuels my desire to keep this rusty turd going lol this is the first vehicle that I’ve really done any major work on. It’s been a fun, and at times frustrating challenge, but I feel proud when I get to drive it around knowing that I have put the effort in to keep it going. I’ll get it going again, hopefully before I have to go back to work tomorrow lol

 

[kincaid.0678]

Happy birthday. Great job rebuilding your engine it’s a big project. I don’t know if this applies to the engines in our TJ’s but when I rebuilt the Magnum engine in my Ram years ago I had similar problems getting it to start. On that engine there is a procedure to set fuel synchronization. @Wildman posted about this on his build thread a while back. Good luck

I’ll have to look into it after I check to make sure I’m getting spark. I know the injectors have to be pulsing because I can smell fuel. I’m not sure if the injectors work without a signal from the crank sensor but I’ll have to do some reading while I wait for the rain to pass. Thanks for the birthday wishes

 

[kincaid.0678]

An old hot rodder trick is to just rewire the dist. cap.
Don't let this set back get into your head , You totally got this man !!!!!

I’m not defeated yet. Lol disappointed that it didn’t fire up the first go but not surprised. I’ll get it figured out, I just need to check a few things and double check a few others lol

 

[kincaid.0678]

Happy Birthday, kincaid0678! I hope you get a running TJ for your birthday!

Thanks it looks like it will be a belated birthday present unfortunately lol hopefully the rain clears up today so I can get back to working on it

 

[matkal]

I’m not defeated yet. Lol disappointed that it didn’t fire up the first go but not surprised. I’ll get it figured out, I just need to check a few things and double check a few others lol

When I rebuilt my 4.0 it didint start, didn't even try to fire. I was so bummed out. Long story short; it was the connector to the OBDA, when I was positioning the wiring harness I forgot to give it the final "click". Pushed it all the way in and BINGO, she started right up! Like you I'm on a tight budget and this was my first major project other than motorcycles. People like you are an inspiration for others to jump in to the deep end of the pool and just do it!

 

[TJ Don]

People like you are an inspiration for others to jump in to the deep end of the pool and just do it!

Agreed, much respect!

 

[Grenadiers]

Put the LJ to bed for the hot Baja summer. Back in the States. Have my other hobby car, plus golfing to keep interested in life. 1989 Porsche 944 turbo. Minty car, low miles,

rare, and fast! Plus our crazy pittie we found with six pups, starving to death. Not anymore!

 

[TheBoogieman]

The adult in me says protect the house but my inner child says get the Jeep out and go for a play
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Nice little water feature in the back yard..(below)

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I guess your inner child won out. The adult in you would have taken food pics.

 

[kincaid.0678]

When I rebuilt my 4.0 it didint start, didn't even try to fire. I was so bummed out. Long story short; it was the connector to the OBDA, when I was positioning the wiring harness I forgot to give it the final "click". Pushed it all the way in and BINGO, she started right up! Like you I'm on a tight budget and this was my first major project other than motorcycles. People like you are an inspiration for others to jump in to the deep end of the pool and just do it!

Mine cranks but no fire. I’m out here looking into things now