1981 CJ-7 California Wiring Diagrams, Nutter

[ElGranadaWheeler]

Hello All,

Trying to figure out the emissions wiring on my 81 California CJ7 AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . Found vacuum diagrams but need the wiring diagrams. Trying to do the "Nutter" but the write-up info is not for the cali 81 258. And it's different. Seems to have the smog gear and computer but it's not wired at all like the Nutter info or other's that I can find. Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[hole]

Most auto parts stores will carry aftermarket manuals that have wiring diagrams.

 

[Torxhead]

The "John Nutter Bypass" eliminates signals to the computer from the distributor. Therefore affecting information to the computer controlled carb. Some guys are quite happy with its operation though, I think it just masks off other problems in the later model CJs complex emmissions system. In your case you might have issues with the California smog man when you go for a visit if you have to. I tried it and was able to get by. There is information on it located on the www. The best distributor changes I have done are replacing the old tired unit with a remanufactured one from Omix and adding the "Team Rush Upgrade". If you do have problems with the smog man you can always convert back.

 

[ElGranadaWheeler]

Hello Hole and torxhead,

Thanks for your replies

picked up the chilton and it does not have the specific connections (wire colors or diagram) for the 81 cali. In fact, it has other years but skips the 81 cali.

Here's is a schematic (thanks to my son for drawing this up!).
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10105341/1981 California JEEP CJ7 258.jpg

We found a green wire next to the dist that was not connected and looks like it has been pulled out of the dist. Any ideas where it goes and what it's for? Also, any idea what the mystery module is on the left front qtr panel?

Seems like to "nutter" the cali 81 timing advance I would just cut the green wire from the CPU feeding the ignition module and run the dist vacuum to the "ported" line on the carb. Make sense? Figure i can just disconnect the stepper motor without any trouble.

Any help on the 81 California AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l computer operation greatly appreciated.

 

[Torxhead]

So I did some research:The "Nutter" Bypass. This seems to indicate that the Nutter By-pass only applys to the '83-'90 CJ & YJ. Your distributor is not controlled by the computer as in the later model rigs, you can see this by comparing your drawing to the after the modification drawing in what I sent. That loose green wire that comes off the coil is for the tach. In "My Gallery" under my name on this forum is a picture of an underhood wiring schematic that shows how the later model vehicles are wired.

 

[hole]

You said it's on the left quarter panel, but for clarification, it's inside the engine compartment, right? Can you take a pic of the mystery module and it's location on the CJ? I've looked at the Chilton and Haynes manuals, and don't seem to see anything but an ignition module. Does it look factory, or could it be remnants of aftermarket stuff?

 

[ElGranadaWheeler]

So I think ur correct. The green wire from the coil is a tach signal to the computer and also feeds to the ignition module. Not having it connected to the ignition module might have been what was causing me problems under load at speed. I soldered it back on and will take a test drive tomorrow. I still need to trace the vacuum lines to the distributor since i read somewhere the vacuum is switched to ported or manifold by the computer. Maybe the 81 had the stepper motor carb only and the ignition module timing control was added in later years. Pics of the computer and the mystery module (which i now think is the idle speed control).

So I did some research:The "Nutter" Bypass. This seems to indicate that the Nutter By-pass only applys to the '83-'90 CJ & YJ. Your distributor is not controlled by the computer as in the later model rigs, you can see this by comparing your drawing to the after the modification drawing in what I sent. That loose green wire that comes off the coil is for the tach. In "My Gallery" under my name on this forum is a picture of an underhood wiring schematic that shows how the later model vehicles are wired.

 

[ElGranadaWheeler]

yes in the engine compartment on the passenger qtr pnl inner fender. i now think it's the idle speed control.

You said it's on the left quarter panel, but for clarification, it's inside the engine compartment, right? Can you take a pic of the mystery module and it's location on the CJ? I've looked at the Chilton and Haynes manuals, and don't seem to see anything but an ignition module. Does it look factory, or could it be remnants of aftermarket stuff?

 

[hole]

I think your right, the diagram shows a "Idle Speed Switch" that has 7-8 wires coming out of it, and the ignition module shows 6 wires. It looks like the module above the power steering pump has a bar code, that might shed some light onto things as well.