Hard to start, yes... I searched.

[GoodSamaritan]

Hello!

Here is a relatively minor, but annoying problem with my 89 4.0L Xj.
It takes way to long cranking before firing up. It starts every time, but I can see this making the difference between driving it home some night with a marginal battery, and standing around begging for a jump start.

It does not bog down at full throttle, and the fuel pressure doesn't bleed off when the engine is stopped. So now I am stumped.

It idles about like any other well tuned inline 6 I have ever has no other negative symptoms that I have noted.

Any ideas?

BTW, great site thus far.

 

[jeepr]

Sounds like fuel to me. Are you sure the pressure isn't bleeding off?

I remember something about the crank sensor needing to read one revolution before it will start? Maybe it is starting to go bad?

 

[Matthew Currie]

Sounds like fuel to me. Are you sure the pressure isn't bleeding off?

I remember something about the crank sensor needing to read one revolution before it will start? Maybe it is starting to go bad?

Actually as I understand it, it needs 4 revolutions even when it's good. More than that points to another problem, but no matter what you do, a Renix XJ will never start instantaneously.

 

[8Mud]

Renix's often take 5-7 (or more) revolutions befroe they fire, especially if the fuel rail is bleeding down some. I've noticed a fresh battery makes a difference, the speed of the starter revolutions can cut down the number of revolutions for a start (probably also gives a little more voltage to the coil during a start). Also waiting for a few seconds with the key in the run position before trying to start also seems to help, by giving the fuel pump a couple of second to prime the fuel rail up some.
I replaced my starter brushes, cleaned all the oil out that had leaked onto and *into* the starter from a leaky fuel filter adaptor "O" ring, bought the biggest battery that I could fit in the holder, cleared the radiator hoses and didn't hit the hood and made sure all my battery/starter connections were clean (shiny). My old battery still held a charge, but was kind of tired. I also changed out the CPS at about the same time I did the battery and starter. I don't really know which one cured the problem, probably a combination of all four, it fires right up now.
A good distributor cap, cables and plugs is also often helpfull. I went to spiral wound solid core plug wires and noticed it started a little easier. Just keep the coil to cap, stock high voltage cable, if you decide to change out the cables. The coil (module) seems to work best with near stock resistance in the coil to cap wire.

 

[GoodSamaritan]

Thanks for the replys!

I guess mine isn't too far from normal then. It takes about 6-7 revs usually before it fires up. I have a thorough tune up, new batt, valve cover gasket, etc. in the works. It will be a couple weeks before I really get time to tear into it though.