Jeep Problems
BusaDave9
Always Off-Roading Jeeper
- Posts
- 8,244
- Thanks
- 81
- Location
- Durango, Crawlarado
- Vehicle(s)
- 1979 Jeep CJ5 with 304 V8, T18 Transmission, Dana 20 Transfer case with TeraLow 3:1 gears, 4.88 axle gears, Detroit Locker up front and Ox Locker in back with 1 piece axle shafts, 36" SuperSwamper SX Tires, Shackle reversal, MileMarker Hydraulic winch, MSD 6A ignition.
Some of you know I had engine trouble in Moab.
Although Ben offered to help me fix my jeep I got it repaired at a shop owned by a friend. I've been too busy.
I got the cam, lifters, pushrods all replaced. We were worried about the cam bearings but they turned out to be in good shape.
The machinist really seemed to know my AMC V8. He recommended I replace the front plate for the oil pump because the original one is aluminium and flexes. Oil in the pump can bypass the gears instead of circulating around the engine.
I got my jeep back and i really wanted to take it into the mountains this weekend. My jeep isn't used anywhere except for the trails. I Wanted to get some miles on it before taking it on the highway. I want to break it in properly.
Yesterday I took it out on a dirt road 5 miles from my home. The engine died. It shut off as suddenly as if the ignition switch was turned off. I had fuel flowing through my filter (Clear fuel filters are great for troubleshooting).
My spark tester showed no spark.
I checked all connections.
I have a MSD 6A ignition module.
Installing it involved a lot of rewiring and I couldn't easily go back to OEM. The MSD module has a red LED that was on indicating it was receiving power.
Both leads of the coil go into the MSD. To troubleshoot I found out to remove the negative wire off the coil. I removed the spark plug wire that goes from the coil to the distributor. I used this with my spark plug tester. THen use a wire to ground that negative post to the chassis. If that produces a spark the problem would be the distributor (since it is now bypassed)
I did not see a spark. At this point I'm thinking I need a new MSD ignition module.
I did this troubleshooting yesterday. This morning I realized the test I did could also mean the coil is bad so I went out to measure the resistance of the coil. Just for the heck of it I tried to start it and my jeep started right up. Buy why? What was the problem? It was not vapor lock. Yesterday the engine had plenty of time to cool off so heat is not the issue. I also did not reseat any more connections.
I don't trust my jeep now. I'm not heading for the mountains this weekend. That's a disappointment.
The MSD 6A ignition module is over $200 but I think I want to have one on hand before I leave town with my jeep. What do you guys think?
The 9th Annual Jeep-CJ trail ride is in one month.
Moab 2019 Trail Report
We had 9 jeeps on the 2nd Annual Jeep-CJ.com Moab trail ride. A million thanks to Posi for planning this and to MrIPlayBass for leading the way on the trails. Ben pulled my Jeep to Moab with his pickup. I shot this picture on the way. Monday we went on SevenMile Rim trail north of town...
jeep-cj.com
Although Ben offered to help me fix my jeep I got it repaired at a shop owned by a friend. I've been too busy.
I got the cam, lifters, pushrods all replaced. We were worried about the cam bearings but they turned out to be in good shape.
The machinist really seemed to know my AMC V8. He recommended I replace the front plate for the oil pump because the original one is aluminium and flexes. Oil in the pump can bypass the gears instead of circulating around the engine.
I got my jeep back and i really wanted to take it into the mountains this weekend. My jeep isn't used anywhere except for the trails. I Wanted to get some miles on it before taking it on the highway. I want to break it in properly.
Yesterday I took it out on a dirt road 5 miles from my home. The engine died. It shut off as suddenly as if the ignition switch was turned off. I had fuel flowing through my filter (Clear fuel filters are great for troubleshooting).
My spark tester showed no spark.
I checked all connections.
I have a MSD 6A ignition module.
Installing it involved a lot of rewiring and I couldn't easily go back to OEM. The MSD module has a red LED that was on indicating it was receiving power.
Both leads of the coil go into the MSD. To troubleshoot I found out to remove the negative wire off the coil. I removed the spark plug wire that goes from the coil to the distributor. I used this with my spark plug tester. THen use a wire to ground that negative post to the chassis. If that produces a spark the problem would be the distributor (since it is now bypassed)
I did not see a spark. At this point I'm thinking I need a new MSD ignition module.
I did this troubleshooting yesterday. This morning I realized the test I did could also mean the coil is bad so I went out to measure the resistance of the coil. Just for the heck of it I tried to start it and my jeep started right up. Buy why? What was the problem? It was not vapor lock. Yesterday the engine had plenty of time to cool off so heat is not the issue. I also did not reseat any more connections.
I don't trust my jeep now. I'm not heading for the mountains this weekend. That's a disappointment.
The MSD 6A ignition module is over $200 but I think I want to have one on hand before I leave town with my jeep. What do you guys think?
The 9th Annual Jeep-CJ trail ride is in one month.