No spark 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee

I'm not getting spark and I changed the distributor cap rotor and the coil – and when I discovered the problem I found a pair of pliers on my negative cable end on the battery terminal – can you help me

My car has 1350000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello – your symptoms suggest someone may have "worked on" this without your awareness of what might have been done. Hate that! You will likely have to get out a voltmeter and start following the electrical path to the plugs. Is the battery charged and at a reasonable voltage (12v or better)? Headlights appear to be strong? Any fuses blown, especially those related to ignition? Power coming out of the ignition relay? If yes, check power to the coil? If not, and there is power to the ignition relay, the relay is bad – replace. If no power to the relay, check ignition switch and neutral switch. for assistance with this process, I recommend a no start inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

The most common reasons a Jeep Cherokee won`t start is because of a bad battery, corroded battery terminals, or a bad starter. Other common reasons a Jeep Cherokee won`t start are a bad alternator and a broken or failing fuel pump.
The most common causes for a Jeep failing to start despite its radio and lights working are issues relating to its battery or other cranking/start-up components, such as the ignition switch, starter, or spark plug. These pieces might be damaged, dirty, or corroded.
If no spark appears, check for broken wires, shorts, grounds or a defective stop switch. Once you have confirmed that the stop switch is working, reconnect the spark plug lead.
You`ve been working hard on that Jeep Grand Cherokee and have determined you need a Spark Plug Wires part to finish the job. Your first stop should be Advance Auto Parts with an inventory of 15 Spark Plug Wires parts for your Jeep Grand Cherokee.
If your vehicle won`t start, it`s usually caused by a dying or dead battery, loose or corroded connection cables, a bad alternator or an issue with the starter. It can be hard to determine if you`re dealing with a battery or an alternator problem.
The three main reasons why an ignition key will not turn include: problems with related components, issues with the key itself, and ignition lock cylinder problems. Tip: Always make sure your parking brake is on to keep the vehicle secure when following these steps.
A Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor

The crankshaft position sensor monitors the position and rotational speeds of the crankshaft. Without the crank sensor, the engine control module (ECM) wouldn`t know when to fire the fuel injectors and ignite the spark plugs.

A Bad Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor

If the crankshaft position sensor has failed completely, it will not send a signal to the (ECU) at all. Then, the computer won`t send any fuel to the injectors. This will leave you unable to start the car.

If the ignition relay shorts, burns out, or otherwise fails while the engine is operating it will cut off power to the fuel pump and ignition system. This will cause the vehicle to immediately stall due to fuel and spark being cut off.
Many modern car engines use coil-on-plug ignition, which eliminates the need for spark plug wires. Diesel engines do not use spark plugs, and therefore do not use spark plug wires either.
Blown Fuse

If there has been a surge, a fuse that controls the fuel pump, the fuel injectors, or another component that`s vital for your car`s functioning, it may be the cause of your car`s failure to start. Unlike most of the other problems, this is one that you can check yourself, if you want.

An engine that refuses to start can be another sign of a bad ignition switch. The ignition switch sends power to the the starter motor, engine controls, and ignition controls. These systems may not receive the power they need to start up if the ignition switch isn`t working properly.
It could be a bad battery, failing starter, or some other component in the electrical chain that comprises the starting system. The starter typically consists of two main components: the motor itself and a solenoid used to switch positive battery voltage to a motor terminal.
Try Cycling the Key

To heat up the battery, terminals and starter, try the key cycling trick. The trick is to turn the key to the start position repeatedly about 10 times in a row. Stop and wait five minutes. Then try to start the engine.

A car`s battery is a 12-volt lead-acid system which allows the car`s starter and voltage regulator to act in unison. Most car models require at least 9 volts (about 40 per cent charge) of electricity to start, although some with more advanced electrical systems may require up to 11 or 12 volts.
Before Starting,The minimum voltage needed to start a car should measure at 11.9V, and after starting, You have to check or replace your starting battery if voltage between 12.8 to 13.2V.
Some current Wranglers lack durability and dependability, while the older generations are entirely reliable to this day. Well-cared-for Jeeps can last for ages and continually perform at a high level.
Are Jeeps Easy to Work On? The reason why older Jeep models are such a popular choice is their dependability. Aside from being dependable vehicles, they`re also extremely simple to work on.
Car Will Not Start: Over time, as the camshaft position sensor fails, the signal it sends to the engine control module weakens. When the engine no longer receives the signal, you will not be able to start your car.
The crankshaft position sensor monitors as a multifunctional sensor used to set ignition timing, detect engine RPM and relative engine speed.
The engine control module does what its name suggests: It controls the engine. If the ECM has died completely, you won`t be able to start your car. Your engine could cut while you`re driving, as well, if the ECU malfunctions. Once you`ve coasted to a stop, you won`t be able to get your automobile started again.
Fundamentally, the engine ECU controls the injection of the fuel and, in petrol engines, the timing of the spark to ignite it. It determines the position of the engine`s internals using a Crankshaft Position Sensor so that the injectors and ignition system are activated at precisely the correct time.
As a camshaft position sensor weakens, so does the data it transmits to the ECM. Eventually the data signal becomes so weak the ECM switches off fuel and spark delivery, and your engine will not start.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I have 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee it runs and shut off while driving.I change the spark plug and ignition coil and and clooged exhau
ANSWER : When the engine will not start then you will need to verify if you are losing fuel pressure or losing ignition spark. You may have a bad fuel pump or crankshaft sensor. Have the computer scanned to see if you have stored codes and if there are codes for the crankshaft sensor and replace it and see if it corrects the condition.

I have a 2000 jeep grand Cherokee limited 4.7L V8. I was gone for a month in a half tried starting my jeep up yesterday and nothin
ANSWER : It may be normal engine electrical drain on the battery if the vehicle sat for a month or more. Once the battery is recharged fully then you can see if it will idle again. Just jumping off and only running a few minutes may not charge the battery enough to let it idle on its own. You should use a battery charger to recharge battery and retest it to see if it still stalls. You may have a bad battery and need to relearn the idle. If it still stalls then the idle control valve may be stuck closed and need to be replaced.

Have a jeep grand cherokee it cranks but has no spark started a few times then nothing what sensor went bad
ANSWER : There could be a bad cam sensor, crank sensor, coil, or even a wiring issue. It would be best to test the components individually to determine which is causing the problem. My recommendation would be to connect a diagnostic scanner to the vehicle and view the information for each component. This way, you’re able to figure out the precise problem instead of replacing parts that you don’t need to. If you still need help looking into why your car isn’t starting, YourMechanic offers an inspection service that is preformed by a certified mechanic that will commute to your location.

Spark plug chaos. Rubber stoppers are preventing the spark plugs from coming out.
ANSWER : Hi there. Try using a pair of small needle nose pliers to pull off the rubber boots from the spark plugs. As you pull, twist the rubber boots to break them free. If you cannot get the rubber boots off, then try using some mineral oil on the boots to aid them off, then clean off the oil with soap and water with degreaser. If you need further assistance with removing the boots from the spark plugs, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

Are transfer cases engine specific? For example can I put a used 3.7L Transfer case in my car if my car is a 5.7L 4WD 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
ANSWER : Hello – transfer cases tend to be specific to the transmission, not the engine. In your case, your 5.7l Grand Cherokee has the 5-45RFE transmission, while the 3.7l equipped models use the W5A580 transmission. The major differences in the transmissions are the torque capacity they are designed to handle. This will also be true of the transfer cases – they have design limits for the power they can handle. The transmission rear case will be designed for the transfer case it is designed to use as well. I would recommend using only the transfer case designed for your engine and transmission.

Jeep is having a hard time starting. 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
ANSWER : Hi there – your symptoms suggest a fuel supply issue, quite likely a fuel pressure check valve or fuel pressure regulator issue. Either of these can allow fuel pressure in the injection system to leak down while the vehicle sits. This makes the fuel pump work harder when the vehicle is next started, taking longer to get fuel pressure up to specs. I recommend a hard starting inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

No spark 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
ANSWER : Hello – your symptoms suggest someone may have "worked on" this without your awareness of what might have been done. Hate that! You will likely have to get out a voltmeter and start following the electrical path to the plugs. Is the battery charged and at a reasonable voltage (12v or better)? Headlights appear to be strong? Any fuses blown, especially those related to ignition? Power coming out of the ignition relay? If yes, check power to the coil? If not, and there is power to the ignition relay, the relay is bad – replace. If no power to the relay, check ignition switch and neutral switch. for assistance with this process, I recommend a no start inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

How do you put a 1996 Dodge Dakota 5.9 360 motor in a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with a 4.7 in it or a 4.0?
ANSWER : Hi there. You will have to swap the engine and transmission as a unit with the computer and harness to the other vehicle. There will be a need to fabricate engine mounts if the old mounts will not mount up and the exhaust will have to be swapped over. All of the sensors will have to be swapped over along with the cooling system. If you need further assistance with swapping your engine over from a Durango to a Jeep, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.