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Engine Missing At All Speeds Suddenly

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by gotime, Jun 2, 2017.

  1. Jun 2, 2017
    gotime

    gotime Sick with the car bug

    Minneapolis,...
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    Oct 22, 2007
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    F134 - All new everything running great with 100 miles on it so far. Today it started missing all of the sudden (over the course of a block). I tried adjusting the timing and air mixture screw at idle and that didn't help, I swapped plugs and plug wires, that didn't help.

    Any ideas? I'm suppose to bring it to a car show tomorrow morning!

    Help!

    I was thinking I'd check the carb to see if it was plugged up or maybe the condenser? What could cause such a quick change?
     
  2. Jun 2, 2017
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Could be another case of condenser-itis. It's been bad this year.

    Joking aside, put your old condenser back in. If that doesn't do it, try your old coil.
     
  3. Jun 2, 2017
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Is it missing on one cylinder, or all cylinders? Important to differentiate.

    If all, check the points are both clean and correctly adjusted.

    For some reason no one ever wants to do this, but it is absolutely fundamental BEFORE doing any diagnosis, tuning, or parts swapping. And certainly before timing, since the the point gap affects the timing. And it is extremely easy.

    A bad condensor can quickly burn points, as will the wrong coil if it lacks a voltage reducing resistor.
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2017
  4. Jun 3, 2017
    gotime

    gotime Sick with the car bug

    Minneapolis,...
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    Well, pulled the points and they were burned a bit and slightly off. Replaced, re-gapped and it's purring. I've never seen points go from hero to zero that fast. Crazy.

    Question - I switched to resistor plugs and plug wires for the radio to work. Could that be a contributing factor to this issue? The coil is an internal resistor type from Walks also...
     
  5. Jun 3, 2017
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Like Pete stated, a bad condensor can cause issues. The new ones have been absolute garbage lately. I'd seriously consider putting your old one back in if it still was good. It will most likely outlast your new one even if the new one is currently good.

    Doubtful.
     
  6. Jun 3, 2017
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Bonney Lake, WA
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    The quality of the points and condensers are just junk now. Not uncommon to only get a few hundred miles out of them. Then you can happen on to a set that will run really well with no way to differentiate.
     
    FinoCJ likes this.
  7. Jun 3, 2017
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Also, if the coil is designed for an external resistor, but does not have one, points will degrade within hours.

    Enjoy your car show.:D
     
    Alan28 likes this.
  8. Jun 3, 2017
    gotime

    gotime Sick with the car bug

    Minneapolis,...
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    Last question. Is it ok to run resistor type plug wires with non resistor plugs or vice versa, or should they always be run together?
     
  9. Jun 3, 2017
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    You can mix and match resistor wires and plugs and it will not affect the running of the engine. The resistor plugs/wires are to eliminate ignition noise being picked up by a radio/stereo. Without resistor wires/plugs, you will get varied amounts of clicking or whining sounds on the radio.
    -Donny
     
  10. Mar 19, 2019
    gotime

    gotime Sick with the car bug

    Minneapolis,...
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    Closing the loop on this. It wound up be a bad condenser as suggested here. Thanks guys.
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  11. Mar 20, 2019
    70cj5134f

    70cj5134f Member

    East Tn
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    And carry a spare points and cond in glove box!
    Ps- could we not use a condenser from a 4cyl of any type, maybe a farm tractor?
    Or some kind of nos part instead of the new junk?
     
  12. Mar 20, 2019
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    I think so - jeep used to have the same part number across many applications and years.

    Someone posted here a few weeks ago about a high quality part that would cross over from another make.
     
  13. Mar 20, 2019
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I've always wondered about what condensers would be compatible myself. I'd probably go for NOS also.
     
  14. Mar 20, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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