My engine cranks but won't fire

Tiny
GLENNALLENSLOTH
  • MEMBER
  • 1979 JEEP CJ7
  • 4.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • MANUAL
I'm app emptying to resurrect a jeep and I'm having some trouble. Just replaced starter and turns over. Sputters occasionally but does not fire. New spark plugs, distributor cap. Wires. Starter. Battery. It turns over and sputters but does not fire. We get a good spark from the coil wire and from all of the plugs. The timing is presumably correct but shouldn't relly stop it from firing. Firing order is correct. We are bypassing the rusted out fuel lines and tank putting gas straight to the carb. Our goal at this point is to get the motor to fire and run for like. A second
Any thoughts? Tomorrow I will post pictures and be around to answer questions. Thx ladies and gents.
-Tim
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 AT 11:47 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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YOU ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE BEST YEAR JEEP EVER MADE!

THIS IS THE YEAR THAT THE MOTORCRAFT IGNITION WAS USED, AND THE 258 IS THE BEST SUITED ENGINE FOR A CJ

WANT MORE HISTORY

HAS THIS BEEN SITTING UP? WAS IT RUNNING FINE DAYS AGO? WAS IT PARKED YEARS AGO DUE TO IT NOT RUNNING?

I'M YOUR GUY!

MANY "HOW TO PICS", BEEN HERE LONG TIME MAINLY TO AID JEEP CJs, HAVE A '77 CJ-5 (MODIFIED TO NEWER SPECS) AND ONE WILLYS. PREVIOUSLY HAD 5 OTHER CJ-5s

HAS THIS JEEP BEEN MODIFIED AS FAR AS IGNITION OR ORIGINAL VACUUM LINES SNATCHED OFF?

WHAT PART OF THE COUNTRY DO YOU LIVE IN?

PLEASE ANSWER ANY AND ALL OF MY QUESTIONS

I HAVE 2 TESTS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW

DUMP 3 TEASPOONS OF GAS DOWN THE CARB AND ATTEMPT A START. WHAT DOES IT DO? HOW DOES IT ACT?

DO THE VOLTMETER TEST BELOW IN MY PIC (I'M SOMETIMES HARD TO UNDERSTAND) WHAT VALUE DO YOU GET WHEN YOU TEST IT?

PIC 3) DO YOU HAVE THE CORRECT COIL? ONE FOR USE WITH EXTERNAL RESISTANCE?

I HAVE MANY MORE TESTS, IF WE NEED TO GO THERE

I WILL CONTINUE TO AID YOU, FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES, FOR AS MANY PAGES AS IT TAKES, AS LONG AS YOU WILL ANSWER MY QUESTIONS AND PERFORM TESTS, AND RETURN TO THIS THREAD EACH TIME!

I HAVE TO WORK TODAY STARTING AT 0900 HRS, SHOULD BE A SHORT DAY (MAYBE DONE BEFORE NOON- I HOPE!)

LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING YOU, CJs SELDOM BREAK, I JUST SORTA SIT AROUND LIKE THE MAYTAG MAN!

THE MEDIC
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Sunday, June 7th, 2015 AT 4:47 AM
Tiny
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DISREGARD PIC 2 ABOVE

I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ORIGINAL PIC OF PIC 1 WHEN I POSTED IT.

YOUR TURN

THE MEDIC
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Sunday, June 7th, 2015 AT 4:51 AM
Tiny
GLENNALLENSLOTH
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  • 6 POSTS
We tried the gas test. She will fire occasionally but she has yet to make a full revolution on her own. We checked the valves and arms and everything seems to be in order under the cover. We have found the fuel pump is bad or the line going to the carb is blocked so we are going to work on that tomorrow at which time we will do the voltage test on the coil. We do not have the previous owner to ask about mods but from what I can tell most everything looks original. Here are some pics
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Monday, June 8th, 2015 AT 11:46 PM
Tiny
GLENNALLENSLOTH
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I've tested the coil. It is good. 5.38 volts. And to answer some questions u asked inthefirst post that I missed, she has been sitting for approx 9 years. I haven't been able to contact the previous previous owner about how it ran. However the previous owner has mentioned "it was running enough to work on it"
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Tuesday, June 9th, 2015 AT 5:10 PM
Tiny
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OK BOSS

HE LOOKS LIKE HE NEEDS LOT AND LOTS OF TLC

DO YOU LOVE HIM?

IS THE FUEL IN THE TANK 9 YEARS OLD?

WE'RE GONNA RUN HIM OFF OF A FUEL CAN ATTACHED TO A NEW 5-7 FOOT LONG FUEL LINE INTO THE "SUCTION SIDE" (TANK SIDE) OF THE FUEL PUMP. COMPLETE WITH NEW GAS

AFTER WE GET HIM RUNNING DECENT

I'M GONNA TALK YOU THRU AN "I.V" - WHEREAS WE WILL BUCKET FEED/ GRAVITY FEED THE CARB FROM A "HANGING" VESSEL WITH A BARBED HOSE FITTING

WHILE IT RUNS DECENTLY - WE WILL HAVE HOOKED THE FUEL PUMP BACK TO THE JEEP'S FUEL TANK. WE WILL PUMP STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FUEL PUMP INTO FUEL CANS TO GET RID OF WHAT IS LEFT IN THE TANK. MAYBE YOU WON'T NEED A NEW FUEL TANK. HOWEVER BY THE LOOKS OF UNDER THE HOOD, IF THIS IS AN ORIGINAL STEEL FUEL TANK. IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR A NEW ONE. I SUGGEST A POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC TANK, THIS NEW ETHANOL GAS WON'T RUST IT UP INSIDE. I HAVE A 21 GALLON ONE SO THAT I HAVE MORE RANGE!

WHEN MESSING WITH FUEL- DO THIS STUFF OUTSIDE (NOT IN THE GARAGE)- HAVE A SMOTHERING BLANKET AND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER RIGHT THERE!

THE COIL TEST DID NOT TEST THE COIL!

IT TESTED HOW MUCH JUICE WAS GETTING THERE, YOURS MAY BE LACKING

FOR THE TIME BEING- AND THIS WON'T HURT NUTHIN' WHILE WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GET IT TO RUN

WE'LL SE WHAT HAPPENS ONCE IT'S RUNNING AND HOOKED BACK NORMAL

LET'S GIVE THE COIL FULL 12 VOLTS- SEE MY PICS

THE MEDIC
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Tuesday, June 9th, 2015 AT 6:52 PM
Tiny
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I ALSO MEANT TO MENTION, GET YOU A SMALL PUMP SQUIRT BOTTLE (LIKE FOR PLANTS) PUT A FEW OUNCES OF FUEL IN IT. ADJUST IT TO MIST OR A MISTY STREAM. IF YOU CAN GET IT RUNNING, THIS MIGHT HELP NURSE IT ALONG.

REMEMBER BE SAFE / FIRE EXTINGUISHER

THE MEDIC
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Tuesday, June 9th, 2015 AT 7:24 PM
Tiny
GLENNALLENSLOTH
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
So when I hook the battery up to the coil i'm supposed to try n start him right? If this is the case we tried it, as i'm one to like to see what happens, no change. When we started the project we disconnected the fuel lines as we are aware of what happens to gas over the course of 9 years. Ugh. I happen to have purchased a barbed fuel fitting for my 6 foot fuel line in preparation for the same I.V. You mentioned. Nice to know i'm on the right track. Hit me with the next test boss man!
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Wednesday, June 10th, 2015 AT 1:14 AM
Tiny
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SO IS IT FIRING AT ALL?

YOU HAVE INTRODUCED FUEL INTO THE CARB?

2 MORE TESTS

1st TEST) COIL TEST- FIRST 2 PICS

2nd TEST) DISTRIBUTOR PICK-UP COIL - NEXT 3 PICS

DO YOU THINK THAT MAYBE THE DISTRIBUTOR HAS BEEN PULLED OUT AND JUST STUCK BACK IN (NOT CORRECTLY REPLACED?) I GOT THAT COVERED TOO, I CAN 'SPLAIN ALL OF IT!

I HAVE ONE MORE TEST FOR YOU IN TO TRY (NEXT ANSWER, AFTER YOU RELAY THE PRESENT ATTEMPTS

HOW 'BOUT A VIRGIN (NEW) CARTER BBD CARB FOR MAYBE $100-$150? (CHEAPER THAN A REBUILT ONE - NOT BEEN MONKEYED WITH) JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE IF THE OLD FUEL HAS THAT ONE REALLY GUMMED UP

YOUR TURN-KEEP IT UP!

THE MEDIC
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Wednesday, June 10th, 2015 AT 4:08 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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SO LIKE, WHAT WE GOT GOING ON NOW?

THE MEDIC
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Sunday, June 14th, 2015 AT 8:55 AM
Tiny
GLENNALLENSLOTH
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Sorry its a busy summer! Ive skiped ahead a chapter so to speak. I got a new coil today as there cost is minimal. I will install it tonight and giver her a try.
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Monday, June 22nd, 2015 AT 3:24 PM
Tiny
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ROGER THAT

BUSY OVER THIS WAY TOO

KEEP US POSTED

THE MEDIC
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Monday, June 22nd, 2015 AT 3:39 PM
Tiny
GLENNALLENSLOTH
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So we put the new coil in and this did little to change the turnover. The new plan is to get a new carberator, as well as get a new fuel pump, and rotor. Going to cali next week and there are many scrap yards with high potential for used parts and other goodies. Ill be back in about 3 weeks at which time I hope to have a new update and set of pictures of the shinies ive installed. This being the case im curious as to what your next recomendation is.
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Thursday, July 9th, 2015 AT 6:01 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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HERE YA GO

NEW

VIRGIN

CARB

CHEAPER THAN WORN AND REBUILT ONES!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/159-NEW-CARBURETOR-TYPE-CARTER-JEEP-WAGONEER-CJ5-CJ7-2-BARREL-6-CIL-/121013885831?hash=item1c2cfd5b87&vxp=mtr

PRECAUTION - DO NOT SCREW THE MIX SCREWS IN TIGHT, YOU WILL DAMAGE THE SEATS! I'VE SEEN WHERE PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE FRAMING A HOUSE AND RUINED THE CARB!

HOW 'BOUT THIS POSSIBILITY? MR. IGNITION MODULE

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1977-jeep-cj5-stalling-out/page/5

SORRY IF I REPEAT SOMETHING, I'VE BEEN ANSWERING 4 CJs RECENTLY

ONCE YOU GET HIM GOOD TO GO, YOU'LL NEED TO DO ALL OF THIS. I WROTE THIS ANSWER A LONG WHILE BACK, IF SOMETHING AIN'T MAKING SENSE, JUST ASK!

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/jeep-cj7-1985-jeep-cj7-stalls-when-hot

SEND GOOD NEWS!

THE MEDIC

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Thursday, July 9th, 2015 AT 8:04 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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ANY KINDA UPDATE ON YOUR RIG?

THE MEDIC
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015 AT 5:42 PM

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