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Car Forum / Jeep / March 2007

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1996 Cherokee 4.0 I6 timing mark.  ??

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Leroy - 09 Mar 2007 01:25 GMT
Hi.  I'm new to the group.  My neighbor has a 96 Cherokee 4.0 I6 MPFI.
The distributor holddown bolt came out and it spit the distributor
out. He has purchased a new distributor (it bent the shaft on his old
one) and has asked me to help him install the new one.

He says the engine has no ignition timing mark.  That being the case,
how do I position the engine to get the rotor button aligned with the
#1 tower at DTC on #1 cylinder??

I am a fairly experienced mechanic on Dodges (and Studebakers  :)
but am short on practical knowledge on jeeps.  

Just trying to help out a neighbor in distress.

Thx in advance.



"Leroy"
Mike - 09 Mar 2007 03:29 GMT
> Hi.  I'm new to the group.  My neighbor has a 96 Cherokee 4.0 I6 MPFI.
> The distributor holddown bolt came out and it spit the distributor
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> "Leroy"

 1.. Remove the No. 1 cylinder spark plug. Turn the engine using a socket
wrench on the large bolt on the front of the crankshaft pulley. Place a
finger near the No. 1 spark plug hole and turn the crankshaft until the
piston reaches Top Dead Center (TDC). As the engine approaches TDC, you will
feel air being expelled by the No. 1 cylinder. If the position is not being
met, turn the engine another full turn (360 degree). Once the engine's
position is correct, install the spark plug.
 2.. Using a flat-bladed screwdriver, in the distributor hole, rotate the
oil pump gear so that the slot in the oil pump shaft is in the correct
position.
 3.. With the distributor cap removed, install the distributor so that the
rotor is positioned correctly. Insure that the distributor is fully seated
against the cylinder block. If not, remove the distributor and perform the
entire procedure again.
 4.. Tighten the hold-down bolt to 17 ft. lbs. (23 Nm).
 5.. Install distributor cap and ignition wires. Insure that the wires are
routed correctly before attempting to start engine.
Mike Romain - 09 Mar 2007 14:39 GMT
>> Hi.  I'm new to the group.  My neighbor has a 96 Cherokee 4.0 I6 MPFI.
>> The distributor holddown bolt came out and it spit the distributor
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
>   5.. Install distributor cap and ignition wires. Insure that the wires are
> routed correctly before attempting to start engine.

The rotor should be pointing directly away from the engine block for #1
also.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos:  Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
billy ray - 09 Mar 2007 14:55 GMT
But as there are helical gears on the bottom you have to off-set the rotor
when you first guide it in.  To get proper placement may take a couple trys
to get it into the right combination of teeth so the rotor is pointing
exactly at the number one terminal..

>>> Hi.  I'm new to the group.  My neighbor has a 96 Cherokee 4.0 I6 MPFI.
>>> The distributor holddown bolt came out and it spit the distributor
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
bllsht - 10 Mar 2007 09:00 GMT
The trailing edge of the rotor should be just PAST the #1 terminal at
TDC.

>But as there are helical gears on the bottom you have to off-set the rotor
>when you first guide it in.  To get proper placement may take a couple trys
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
bllsht - 09 Mar 2007 06:11 GMT
It's on the timing cover where you'd expect it to be.

>Hi.  I'm new to the group.  My neighbor has a 96 Cherokee 4.0 I6 MPFI.
>The distributor holddown bolt came out and it spit the distributor
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
>"Leroy"
Leroy - 10 Mar 2007 16:58 GMT
>>Hi.  I'm new to the group.  My neighbor has a 96 Cherokee 4.0 I6 MPFI.
>>The distributor holddown bolt came out and it spit the distributor
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>>
>>"Leroy"

>It's on the timing cover where you'd expect it to be.

If it was there, we (3 of us) never found it.

Anyway, it was a no-brainer.

The A/C compressor was in the way on #1 so I timed it off of
#6 plug hole and #6 tower on the opposite side of the distributor. Got
#6 on the compression stroke by the "thumb in the hole" method then
ran a screwdriver down the plug hole and could feel the piston
movement when the crank was being turned with a socket (not the
starter!!!).  Got #6 as close to DTC as possible by feeling the piston
stop at top .  Set the rotor button to where the trail edge had just
cleared the #6 tower and locked it down.  

Presto. It ran like a Jeep!   :)

Took about 20 minutes and I now have an extra case of beer-- and a
happy neighbor.    

A great big old Thank you to all who responded.


"Leroy"
Mike Romain - 11 Mar 2007 15:23 GMT
>>> Hi.  I'm new to the group.  My neighbor has a 96 Cherokee 4.0 I6 MPFI.
>>> The distributor holddown bolt came out and it spit the distributor
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> If it was there, we (3 of us) never found it.

Thanks for the follow up!

You and your 2 friends are correct about there being no timing mark on
the 4.0 engines.  I own 2 4.0's.

I just saw bullshit's photo over on alt.binaries.pictures.autos.4x4 and
it is bullshit just like his posting name.  He has shown a photo of what
appears to be a 4.2 engine with it's V-belt pulleys and timing mark.

He is a hard person to follow, sometimes his advise is right on, other
times it is complete bullshit.

The 4.0 does not have adjustable timing, the distributor fits a notch so
there is no need for anything above a TDC mark.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos:  Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
bllsht - 11 Mar 2007 21:08 GMT
>>>> Hi.  I'm new to the group.  My neighbor has a 96 Cherokee 4.0 I6 MPFI.
>>>> The distributor holddown bolt came out and it spit the distributor
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>it is bullshit just like his posting name.  He has shown a photo of what
>appears to be a 4.2 engine with it's V-belt pulleys and timing mark.

There he is, once again proudly displaying his ignorance!

That picture was the only one I could find, and it's not a 4.0L, but
it was meant to indicate loacation, and that's what it does. It may
not look exactly the same, and it's hard to see with the serpentine
belt in the way, but it is there whether YOU can see it or not.

>He is a hard person to follow, sometimes his advise is right on, other
>times it is complete bullshit.

Unlike you, I only post when I'm sure I'm right on. You need to go
take a closer look at your Jeeps. Maybe find a good mechanic to point
it out to you.

Or, ask DougW. He will tell you it's there.

>The 4.0 does not have adjustable timing, the distributor fits a notch so
>there is no need for anything above a TDC mark.

The notch locks the housing in. It doesn't, however, insure that the
rotor will be pointing in the right direction. You need #1 at TDC to
install a distributor correctly.  The OP found a way around it, but
the marks are there if you need them.

In fact, around 1988, they issued a TSB that dealt with a crossfire
condition caused by rotor misalignment. The fix was to use the timing
mark on to put #1 at TDC, then cut the notch off the distributor
housing so it could be rotated to properly align the rotor with the
terminal in the cap.

The mark is there, it always has been, and was still there on the last
4.0L used by Jeep.

>Mike
>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>Canadian Off Road Trips Photos:  Non members can still view!
>Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
DougW - 11 Mar 2007 21:40 GMT
> Or, ask DougW. He will tell you it's there.

Yep.

Hard to see though.  It's hiding below the water pump.

http://www.revbeergoggles.com/temp/4.0-timingmark.jpg
http://www.revbeergoggles.com/temp/4.0-timingmark2.jpg

Signature

DougW

Leroy - 11 Mar 2007 22:31 GMT
>> Or, ask DougW. He will tell you it's there.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>http://www.revbeergoggles.com/temp/4.0-timingmark.jpg
>http://www.revbeergoggles.com/temp/4.0-timingmark2.jpg

Guys .. Hey... I believe you (sounds lke some threads in the Dodge
group ..  :).  After looking the situation over, I didn't need the
mark, anyway.

Bllsht's post:
"The trailing edge of the rotor should be just PAST the #1 terminal at
TDC."

That post saved the day for me.  When I put it in the first time I
centered the tower and it ran like crap.  I thought I remembered about
the trailing edge .. re-checked the posts.. and set it like Bllsht
said.  That cleaned it right up.  

Thanks Bllsht!! :)  

"Leroy"
bllsht - 12 Mar 2007 01:07 GMT
>>> Or, ask DougW. He will tell you it's there.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
>"Leroy"

You're welcome. Glad you got it handled.
Lon - 12 Mar 2007 00:16 GMT
Even a timing notch on the vibration damper that aligns with the
modestly well hidden timing scale.  A good bendable mirror and you can
see it with everything installed.  Not that the timing is adjustable
other than with the engine controller.

DougW proclaimed:

>>Or, ask DougW. He will tell you it's there.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> http://www.revbeergoggles.com/temp/4.0-timingmark.jpg
> http://www.revbeergoggles.com/temp/4.0-timingmark2.jpg
Mike Romain - 12 Mar 2007 15:12 GMT
> That picture was the only one I could find, and it's not a 4.0L, but
> it was meant to indicate loacation, and that's what it does. It may
> not look exactly the same, and it's hard to see with the serpentine
> belt in the way, but it is there whether YOU can see it or not.

Well you are right, I went out and looked again and still had no marks
so I took a scraper to the area and sure enough, the marks are down
there under the mud and crud.  Mine have never been cleaned because they
aren't used normally.

Mike
bllsht - 13 Mar 2007 03:50 GMT
>> That picture was the only one I could find, and it's not a 4.0L, but
>> it was meant to indicate loacation, and that's what it does. It may
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Mike

So for the record then, you posted the "complete bullshit", not me.
Correct?
 
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