Topic: The eternal question...why won't my 2.5 start and run

[seedless61]

I feel like i'm in AA. Hi my name is (******) and my four banger jeep comanche won't start and run. Turns over but no fire. Got it for an affordable 200 bucks but because the previous owner couldn't get it to start lol. New crank position sensor and ICM later it still gets no runnin. Put a timing light on it and it shows spark. Turns over merrily. Coughs once in awhile but no run  Any ideas guys i can try?

[jrollings]

have you got fuel and compression? if u have all 3 it has to start. make sure you have good spark at the plugs and make sure you have decent compression with the lowest reading being 20% of the highest.

[aw12345]

If the spark is good and fuel is supplied to the engine, and you chacked compression. its time to look for exhaust restriction or maybe a jumped timing chain. exhaus restriction to the point where it will not run is easy take the oxygen sensor our or loosen the exhaust pipe at the manifold. Oxygen sensor is easiest it should idle once it can get rid of some exhaust gas

[jfrabat]

You may also want to check that the spark plug wires are connected in the right order; since did not do the connection, the previous owner may have connected them in the wrong order, which would cause the engine not to start...  It's probably not this, but worth taking a look at it anyway.

[oldjeep]

Another thing to check would be to pull a plug and actually take a look at the spark.  You can trigger a timing light with next to nothing, there still could be bad plugs, coil, cap, rotor.

[neale_rs]

Make sure your fuel pump is running.  You can press that valve on the fuel rail and see it you get a squirt of gas (into a rag).