1999 Jeep Cherokee Just replaced head gaskets, now cranks -

Tiny
CHERETZEL
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE
Engine Mechanical problem
1999 Jeep Cherokee V8 Automatic 130, 00 miles

Cranks, no spark.

I just finished getting the aluminum heads rebuilt and replaced the head gaskets on my jeep. The heads were pretty warped but repairable. I made sure to mark EVERYTHING while tearing the engine down to the block and marking every wire with tape and a description of where it goes. When I removed the timing chains from the cam shafts I made sure the crankshaft was at TDC and the V8 marks on the camshafts were straight up. I did notice (with my OCD nature) that the V8 marks weren't perfectly vertical, they were about a tooth to the right (left if sitting in the drivers seat).
Now I have everything back together but no spark. I took a coil pack off and tried the screwdriver test, no spark. I used a known good spark plug and inserted it into the coil pack and still no spark.
Is it possible that the cam position sensor just happend to go out at the same time that I replaced the head gaskets? Is it possible that the shop that did the head work may have magnitized the camshaft's tone ring? Where should I go from here? Do I need to tear it down to the timing chains again? Is there a way to make sure thats the problem before I pull it all apart again?

One more thing. While it was disabled in my driveway, someone broke into it and stole the aftermarket stereo. I don't believe it had an aftermarket alarm in it but could that also be my problem? Since the thieves just cut the wires to the deck.
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 10:58 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
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With your ocd it sounds like you put it together right. Does it have compression? The spark initially gets its input from the crankshaft position sensor so I would think even with a bad cam signal you would still have spark but not at the right time.
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 4:08 PM
Tiny
CHERETZEL
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Just to make sure I understand correctly. The CRANKSHAFT sensor will keep the coils from producing spark. NOT the CAMSHAFT sensor? I also just read that it is possible that the heads were machined too much where the cam sensor is mounted and that might be disrupting the reading.
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 5:40 PM
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
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Yes. If you have no crank signal you will have no spark. Im not sure on the head planing situation.
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 8:17 PM
Tiny
JNOVACK
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True but the cam and crank sensors tell the pcm when the spark should take place you do have a sentry system in the jeep if they stole your radio it could have caused the sentry system to set and you will not get spark untill the system is reset also check fuse #9 in fuse box and fuse #27 in power distribution center if it is the sentry system it will have to be reprogramed by the dealer
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 9:01 PM
Tiny
CHERETZEL
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So I removed the starter to get to the crank sensor. The sensor itself looks new but the connector had 2 wires that are missing a bit of insulation (i can see exposed wires). It was late so I just wraped each wire with a little electrical tape and reinstalled the sensor. When I put it all back together and tried to start it, it wouldn't even crank over. I have a battery charger on it so I know it's not a dead battery. When I took the keys out though and went to shut the door there was this crazy ticking/clicking comming from the far left/driver's side of the dash. I shut the door and locked it.
This morning I went out try one more time, thinking maybe the battery just needed to slow charge over nite, I went to unlock it (keyless entry) and the lights flashed inside 2-3 times along with the headlight but no click noise of the doors actually unlocking. I was going to just use the key but didn't want to set the panic alarm off just in case I wouldn't be able to turn it off.

I'm just wondering if it's time to give up and pay the 100 dollars to tow it to the dealer then the 2-300 dollars to find the problem and fix it.

I'm feeling quite defeted.
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Thursday, November 13th, 2008 AT 9:50 AM
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
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A qualified actual look at the vehicle is your best bet. Its hard enough fixing these things hands on, never mind on line. Most of the time we can perform miracles but not every time. Id prob ably bite the bullet and pay for the diag instead of replacing unneccessary parts. Sorry
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Friday, November 14th, 2008 AT 2:22 PM

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