Golden eagle turns over but wont run

[Sgt ED]

Hello everybody, got to putting my CJ7 back together and after i got my wiring harness back in and dash i tried starting her up and all i got was the engine turning over sounding like it wanted to run but immediately dies. Im getting fuel and spark and i never touched the distributor before the tear down so its not the timing. Ive checked all of the spark plug wires and replaced the ignition module and still no results. My father in law said if your getting spark and fuel then technically it should run, but im guessing maybe its something with the ignition switch when it goes to the run position after you try to start it, or maybe its a ground, just wanting to hear opinions or if anyone has had this problem before, thanks

 

[elwood blues]

Did you mess with the carb during your tear down? I'm thinking its in the carb, vacuum leak maybe, or the carb just needs to have a little carb cleaner ran through it...

 

[BusaDave9]

Im getting fuel and spark

That's what's confusing.
Your father in law is right: it should run if your getting fuel and spark. Are you sure your getting both? Pour a little gas down the carb and see if it starts. If the timing is way off that could do it but thats unlikely if you never removed the distributor.

Elwood makes sense

Did you mess with the carb during your tear down? I'm thinking its in the carb, vacuum leak maybe, or the carb just needs to have a little carb cleaner ran through it...

 

[Sgt ED]

all i did was take the body off to repair the body to frame mounts and replace the fuel lines. Like i said its getting fuel but i didnt think about it needing cleaning, i will try to shoot some starter fluid in it tomorrow and see how it goes . It sounds like it wants to crank but as soon as i let the ignition go back to run it dies.

 

[elwood blues]

It sounds like it wants to crank but as soon as i let the ignition go back to run it dies.

Does it studder and die, or just die immediately?

 

[JR74CJ5]

Sounds kind of like this: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f2/jeep-only-runs-start-8922/

Maybe something there will give u a clue...

 

[Sgt ED]

it dies immediately when it goes back to the run position no studder or anything. I also checked for spark again today and it seems pretty week so im going to check my coil voltage again.

 

[Sgt ED]

ok just checked voltage at the coil with the ignition in the run position and no voltage at all so im thinking maybe the ignition switch under the dash on the steering column needs to be adjusted?

 

[CJ]

ok just checked voltage at the coil with the ignition in the run position and no voltage at all so im thinking maybe the ignition switch under the dash on the steering column needs to be adjusted?

Or the switch is bad.

Run a jumper from 12v to the + side of the coil to be sure it runs. If it runs, start to trace back from the coil to the fuse box using a multi meter. You'll find the culprit.

 

[Sgt ED]

ok hooked a jumper up to the coil and she fired right up, i also noticed my tach, oil pressure gauge and voltmeter arent working so im guessing i have a problem with harness.

 

[CJ]

ok hooked a jumper up to the coil and she fired right up, i also noticed my tach, oil pressure gauge and voltmeter arent working so im guessing i have a problem with harness.

Sounds like an ignition switch problem. The tach, oil and vm don't power up unless the ignition switch is in run. Start at the harness where the ignition switch plugs in, check the 12v going to the switch, if it is ok then check the 12v from the switch. If it drops off, then the switch is bad.

 

[BusaDave9]

Sounds like an ignition switch problem.

Agreed

 

[Sgt ED]

well i finally got it figured out, went to take my steering column back out to make it easier to troubleshoot and when i pulled one of the plugs off of the ignition switch i saw what getting into a hurry will get you. when i first installed the steering column i pushed the connector on wrong and one of the prongs was grounded out on the column itself, so after straightening it out and reinstalling the column she runs like a top. I appreciate all the help and this was definetly a crash course in CJ ignition circuits

 

[yleefox]

This might be a good time to mention that (at least with carb equipped vehicles) statistically when a engine will not run it will be electrical 90% of the time, fuel system related 9% of the time, and mechanical just 1% of the time.

Hope this helps you in the future when troubleshooting.

Yleefox