Comanche won't start

[Macrbailey]

I bought a 1991 Comancher 2WD, 2.5L a couple months ago. When purchased it would start and sometimes kick off. PO said he though it needed a new radiator as it would overheat. Fixed the overheating issue and went about chasing a low oil pressure dummy light. When I took off the rocker cover it was super dirty and full of crud. Cleaned that out and dropped the oil pan to clean up the pan and the oil pickup tube. Since putting everything back together I can't get the jeep to turn over. I have verified pressure in the fuel rail and can hear the pump kick on when I turn the key. I have verified spark. When turning the key the engine will crank but will not turn over. Any advice, ideas, or help would be greatly appreciated. 

[89 MJ]

Is the gas still good?

Let me get this straight, the engine turns, but it won’t fire and run, correct?

[pizzaman09]

If you had the valve cover off, did you bump a connection to a sensor like MAP sensor?

[Macrbailey]

2 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

Is the gas still good?

Let me get this straight, the engine turns, but it won’t fire and 

The gas is still good, before it stopped running I was able to put fresh gas in it. And correct it will turn but not fire and run

[Macrbailey]

2 hours ago, pizzaman09 said:

If you had the valve cover off, did you bump a connection to a sensor like MAP sensor?

MAP sensor is still on tight

[pizzaman09]

I'm trying to understand, what do you mean by it cranks but won't turn over?

[Macrbailey]

9 minutes ago, pizzaman09 said:

I'm trying to understand, what do you mean by it cranks but won't turn over?

I'm sorry i guess I said that wrong. When turning the key it'll crank and engine will rotate but won't start

[eaglescout526]

91 would make this an HO. Check engine light on? I know this system still has the CPS on the bell like Renix. I dont much but about 2.5L HO to help out further but to me I would think CPS. 

[Macrbailey]

2 hours ago, eaglescout526 said:

91 would make this an HO. Check engine light on? I know this system still has the CPS on the bell like Renix. I don't much but about 2.5L HO to help out further but to me I would think CPS. 

No check engine light on, I have ordered a CPS and will see if that fixes it when it comes in

[fiatslug87]

Spray some starting fluid in the intake hose and see if it fires up then dies. This would indicate a fuel problem.

[89 MJ]

Are you sure the timing and firing order are correct?

[Macrbailey]

1 hour ago, fiatslug87 said:

Spray some starting fluid in the intake hose and see if it fires up then dies. This would indicate a fuel problem.

I've tried starting fluid and it didn't change anything 

[Macrbailey]

19 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

Are you sure the timing and firing order are correct?

How would a verify that?

[89 MJ]

The firing order should be somewhere on the intake. To set the timing, make sure the rotor is pointed at the #1 terminal of the distributor cap when cylinder 1 is at TDC of the compression stroke. 

[JYau]

Funny thing, I had just recently installed a new thermostat housing gasket as the old one was leaking a bit. When I went to go fire it up for the first time after the new gasket it didn't start. I was very puzzled because that was the only thing I touched. First thing that I check is the CPS and sure enough it was bad. Ordered a new CPS and it fired right up. Strange coincidence, it almost sent me down a wild goose chase. 

[AZJeff]

On 1/1/2025 at 3:00 PM, 89 MJ said:

Are you sure the timing and firing order are correct?

The firing order on EVERY straight six in the entire WORLD is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

 

unless the distributor is loose and turns, timing shouldn’t ever go out of wack

[pizzaman09]

3 hours ago, AZJeff said:

The firing order on EVERY straight six in the entire WORLD is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

 

unless the distributor is loose and turns, timing shouldn’t ever go out of wack

Almost true. Old Jags were numbered with #6 at the front and #1 at the bulkhead.  Thus causing much confusion for people in timing them. 

[89 MJ]

5 hours ago, AZJeff said:

The firing order on EVERY straight six in the entire WORLD is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

 

unless the distributor is loose and turns, timing shouldn’t ever go out of wack

I was thinking maybe a couple of spark plug wires got switched if any plugs were pulled for any reason 

[eaglescout526]

5 hours ago, AZJeff said:

The firing order on EVERY straight six in the entire WORLD is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

 

unless the distributor is loose and turns, timing shouldn’t ever go out of wack

 

1 hour ago, pizzaman09 said:

Almost true. Old Jags were numbered with #6 at the front and #1 at the bulkhead.  Thus causing much confusion for people in timing them. 

 

9 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

I was thinking maybe a couple of spark plug wires got switched if any plugs were pulled for any reason 

Hey goofballs. He’s got a 4cyl. 

[89 MJ]

4 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

 

 

Hey goofballs. He’s got a 4cyl. 

Lmao, do you really expect me to read? I still stand by two spark plug wires possibly being swapped

[eaglescout526]

18 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

Lmao, do you really expect me to read? I still stand by two spark plug wires possibly being swapped

Lol. Yes. Its reading very vital to helping others on here.

[jdog]

Did you mess with the rockets or the push rods at all? This should have the injectors, did you pull any of those plugs? Did you pull the distributor out? Something is amiss what all did you touch when you did the pan and the rocker cover?

[AZJeff]

12 hours ago, eaglescout526 said:

 

 

Hey goofballs. He’s got a 4cyl. 

I checked before I posted to be sure it was not a 2.5L.  I guess I did not check carefully enough

[AZJeff]

13 hours ago, pizzaman09 said:

Almost true. Old Jags were numbered with #6 at the front and #1 at the bulkhead.  Thus causing much confusion for people in timing them. 

That’s interesting.  I owned an E-type at one time, and don’t know if it applied to that model or not.   Leave it to the English to go their own way with things automotive.🥴

[Ωhm]

From Wikipedia: