Seating a new Distributor

[xjtrailrider]

Do you suggest manually turning the motor another 180 degrees, and then resetting the distributor?

No, If you are confident you are TDC compression stroke then drop the dist in. Remember the dist turns clockwise as it falls in due to the cut on the gears, so back it up a tooth before you drop it in.

Have you checked the wireharness and plug going to the distributer. I have seen people do damage to them when replacing motor mounts.

Do you have the corect rotor/cap, there was a change in the mid 90's somewhere.

Check the coil/coil connection as well.

You are getting fuel, correct?

It sounds like you are making some progress if it is at least coughing for you.

This is going to turn out to be something simple, don't let it fool you into thinking its a major problem like the ECU. Check every connection under the hood to make sure the plugs are securely connected.

Keep diggin'!!

 

[AaronsJeep]

All you guys AWSOME!! I am starting to believe that TDC is wrong, I will do all that you all have advised,,,, I will let you know in a little bit THANK YOU!

 

[AaronsJeep]

Well I want to start by saying THANK YOU to you all, for all of your patience and advice :yelclap: :wave1: with my XJ/distributor problem. And I want to inform you all, that we all were correct. But unfortunately the Taliban had started making distributors for the our XJ's, and after 4 of them, (yes I said 4) @ the 5th, it started right up. Everything new now, but more importantly your valuable assistance, and humor, (keep cursing) And I was even sent a phone # to call if needed. Please keep up the nice XJ community service, I will surely do my part, as much as I can. THANKS again. :: is the only place to be.

 

[xjtrailrider]

Congrats dude, fortitude always wins out. Glad we could help!

Dang those foriegn parts suppliers!

 

[corbinafly]

Cool man!:cheers:

 

[in2fords]

good deal man, glad you got it worked out. I bet your a pro at replacing them now huh? What was wrong with them all? I can imagine the CPS inside it being bad or the gear teeth in the wrong position, what was it?

 

[walton3]

I do not have any advide for you but i am having the same problem with the dist and getting the timing correct. i would like 2 thank everyone as well for the advice on the dist problem. i just put a 99 motor in a 96 xj and had to swap almost everything except the timing chain and cam shaft pulley.

 

[AaronsJeep]

I cant tell for sure what was wrong, other then my jeep not starting(MAJOR FREAKIN PROBLEM), but it ran great today. I didnt do anything different that we all havent done, but the damm thing just wouldnt start. Have you ever seen that weird kid that can do that rubics cube, yeah Im the dork who can do distributors,, Thanks Again.

95 XJ
Detroit Rear
Ox Front 4.56's
6" up, long arm=FUN!

 

[sixditchoffroad]

Im about to replace my dist. shit I hope I dont have this much trouble

 

[AaronsJeep]

Well if you do, you know where to look, and we can help.eace:

 

[sixditchoffroad]

Ok, Well I did it. I replaced the distributor. It was easy for me, so I'm gonna tell you how I did it. 'Cause somone out there is gonna want to know. Know your firing order! Disconnect the batt. Remove the coil pack from block with a 13mm socket (2 bolts). Take off the cap and mark off right where the the rotor button is facing with a magic marker. Take a 13mm wrench and take out the bolt that retains the Distributor. The dist. is kinda tight in there, but pull up and turn clockwise and it should pop out. Take the new dist. spray some wd-40 in the cap, a dab will do ya. Turn the rotor to point to your mark, and then turn the rotor counter-clockwise a bit because the gears turn clockwise and when you slide her in shes gonna turn on ya. ( the slight turn is gonna correct that.) Put the 13mm bolt in a get her tight, pop the cap on, bolt the coil pack back to the block ( 2 13mm bolts) hook up all the wires to the pick up on the dist, and the coil. Plug wires are next connect clockwise (153624). Connect the battery. It should fire up. Mine did the first time........If not double check everything and try it agian if no firre re-seat the dist. to point to the mark you made. there ya go

 

[xjtrailrider]

Ok, Well I did it. I replaced the distributor. It was easy for me, so I'm gonna tell you how I did it. 'Cause somone out there is gonna want to know. Know your firing order! Disconnect the batt. Remove the coil pack from block with a 13mm socket (2 bolts). Take off the cap and mark off right where the the rotor button is facing with a magic marker. Take a 13mm wrench and take out the bolt that retains the Distributor. The dist. is kinda tight in there, but pull up and turn clockwise and it should pop out. Take the new dist. spray some wd-40 in the cap, a dab will do ya. Turn the rotor to point to your mark, and then turn the rotor counter-clockwise a bit because the gears turn clockwise and when you slide her in shes gonna turn on ya. ( the slight turn is gonna correct that.) Put the 13mm bolt in a get her tight, pop the cap on, bolt the coil pack back to the block ( 2 13mm bolts) hook up all the wires to the pick up on the dist, and the coil. Plug wires are next connect clockwise (153624). Connect the battery. It should fire up. Mine did the first time........If not double check everything and try it agian if no firre re-seat the dist. to point to the mark you made. there ya go

That is protocol when just replacing the distributer. If you have to rotate the engine for any reason after the dist. is out then you must index it with #1 at TDC compression stroke.

That was some good info to add to this thread though.

 

[sixditchoffroad]

That is protocol when just replacing the distributer. If you have to rotate the engine for any reason after the dist. is out then you must index it with #1 at TDC compression stroke.

That was some good info to add to this thread though.

Oh yeah. It's a B and a half as it is to get to TDC. Imagine an average Joe with average knowledge about mechanics. Good luck, haha. Thanks for the props tho.

 

[Redsnake]

This is GREAT info as I'm another one who has to replace the Dizzy on my '96 XJ in the near future.

I replaced the cap/rotor this past weekend and noticed that the shaft my rotor sits on has a lot of slop and play in it. I was actually suprised the XJ started up and ran after putting everything back together. I've not replaced a dizzy before, but know I'll have too get it done in the very near future, say this coming weekend if the XJ keeps running until then.

Hopefully mine will be in 'easy' in/out swap. I know however that NOTHING seems to go that way when working on my XJ. Heck, it took me about 3 hrs to swap in MORE motor mounts this past weekend because of adjusting here, moving there, bending/grinding that or this... you get the point.

I'll post back here when I'm done. Perhaps a "sticky" and pictorial on a 'how-to' for distributor swaps would be a good idea..??

 

[ChiXJeff]

I'll concede that it would certainly be a good write-up for a tech page, but it's not going to get turned into a sticky.