XJ excessive cranking

[Baja Jim]

I bought a 1989 XJ for my condo in Cabo and it has only 82,000 miles with a 4L engine. But it cranks over for 10 to 15 seconds before starting... any ideas. This has to be hard on the starter!

[bigjim350]

Could be a weak fuel pump.

[Baja Jim]

A fellow jeep friend of mine said that this was a problem with pre 1991 XJ .

[dagr8tim]

Try turning the key to run, but not start 3 times.

There's a check valve in the fuel pump assembly that goes bad and allows the system to depressurize. Turning the key repressurizes the system.

A down and dirty fix is installing an inline check valve near the tank.

[4.3LXJ]

This is common with Renix era Jeeps. Blue XJ is the expert on this here. but you have to have sufficient fuel pressure for three complete revolutions and sufficient voltage I think before the injectors will fire.

[89Laredo]

This is a normal crank time for a renix. First one is my new jeep, second one is my old jeep. Both 89s.
1989 Jeep Cherokee cold start - YouTube
Jeep Cherokee Start - YouTube


If yours is longer than this, I would try the "poor mans prime" (cycle key three times) and see if it changes.

[89Laredo]

This is common with Renix era Jeeps. Blue XJ is the expert on this here. but you have to have sufficient fuel pressure for three complete revolutions and sufficient voltage I think before the injectors will fire.
300rpm before fuel and spark.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/6797122201_d40073b706_b.jpg

[Baja Jim]

mine definitely takes longer to start. Thanks for taking the time to send the videos