Renix random engine cranking without starting problem .... SOLVED!!!!

Yep, and it had bugged me for a couple months now: I'd try to start my 89 XJ
with the (numerous expletives considered but not said) Renix MFI and it
would crank fine but no start.

Always before it would start up after I'd (A) moved the vehicle out of a
parking stall in case I needed a tow/jump, (B) slammed the hood ( I have a
liftgate cylinder helping prop it open and for lifting it), or (C) slammed
the door.

And I was always in a moderately high noise area, i.e. parking lots.

But this last Tuesday, it happened in my driveway in a nice quiet area of
town.

And I noticed there was no fuel pump noises.

Pump has less that 10,000 miles on it, btw.

So I bled the rail and no noise.

Fuses were all ok so I suspected the pump relay as I had some spare relays
from a 92 XJ I'd scrapped out. Popped in a relay with less than 300K miles
on it and now it starts faster and the pump sounds healthier and a random
idle rpm miss I had has dissapeared..

So ... if your Renix MFI system acts weird with no starts and there is no
pump noise, I suggest carrying a spare relay or two.

--
Budd

" I looked into an exercise plan at a local gym but they didn't
offer my favorite exercise: Diddly Squats.

So I can't do Diddly Squats."




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Budd Cochran wrote:
> Yep, and it had bugged me for a couple months now: I'd try to start
> my 89 XJ with the (numerous expletives considered but not said) Renix
> MFI and it would crank fine but no start.
>
> Always before it would start up after I'd (A) moved the vehicle out
> of a parking stall in case I needed a tow/jump, (B) slammed the hood
> ( I have a liftgate cylinder helping prop it open and for lifting
> it), or (C) slammed the door.
>
> And I was always in a moderately high noise area, i.e. parking lots.
>
> But this last Tuesday, it happened in my driveway in a nice quiet
> area of town.
>
> And I noticed there was no fuel pump noises.
>
> Pump has less that 10,000 miles on it, btw.
>
> So I bled the rail and no noise.
>
> Fuses were all ok so I suspected the pump relay as I had some spare
> relays from a 92 XJ I'd scrapped out. Popped in a relay with less
> than 300K miles on it and now it starts faster and the pump sounds
> healthier and a random idle rpm miss I had has dissapeared..
>
> So ... if your Renix MFI system acts weird with no starts and there
> is no pump noise, I suggest carrying a spare relay or two.

Those dang relays cause all sorts of problems.
Usually you can trade AC/Fog/Fuel relays.

My first suggestion if you can't hear the pump is to just bypass the relay. It's also the easiest way to test for pressure on the
rail
without having the engine running. A vac pump can then fool the
pressure regulator to kick in and give you idle vs. wot pressures.

--
DougW

"DougW" > wrote in message
...
> Budd Cochran wrote:
>> Yep, and it had bugged me for a couple months now: I'd try to start
>> my 89 XJ with the (numerous expletives considered but not said) Renix
>> MFI and it would crank fine but no start.
>>
>> Always before it would start up after I'd (A) moved the vehicle out
>> of a parking stall in case I needed a tow/jump, (B) slammed the hood
>> ( I have a liftgate cylinder helping prop it open and for lifting
>> it), or (C) slammed the door.
>>
>> And I was always in a moderately high noise area, i.e. parking lots.
>>
>> But this last Tuesday, it happened in my driveway in a nice quiet
>> area of town.
>>
>> And I noticed there was no fuel pump noises.
>>
>> Pump has less that 10,000 miles on it, btw.
>>
>> So I bled the rail and no noise.
>>
>> Fuses were all ok so I suspected the pump relay as I had some spare
>> relays from a 92 XJ I'd scrapped out. Popped in a relay with less
>> than 300K miles on it and now it starts faster and the pump sounds
>> healthier and a random idle rpm miss I had has dissapeared..
>>
>> So ... if your Renix MFI system acts weird with no starts and there
>> is no pump noise, I suggest carrying a spare relay or two.
>
> Those dang relays cause all sorts of problems.
> Usually you can trade AC/Fog/Fuel relays.
>
> My first suggestion if you can't hear the pump is to just bypass the
> relay. It's also the easiest way to test for pressure on the rail
> without having the engine running. A vac pump can then fool the
> pressure regulator to kick in and give you idle vs. wot pressures.
>
> --
> DougW

Ok, I will print that out because I didn't know I could test it that way.

I'm also looking at doing an R&R on my cam and lifters because the lifters
on #3 have decided to collapse (ticking noise in vlve cover).

Makes the idea I had of swapping a carbed 258 with torq-command sound better
and better ... and my older brother has this old Eagle wagon sitting in his
driveway . . . . . . . .if only the T-case will swap
--
Budd

" I looked into an exercise plan at a local gym but they didn't
offer my favorite exercise: Diddly Squats.

So I can't do Diddly Squats."



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Budd Cochran wrote:

> I'm also looking at doing an R&R on my cam and lifters because the
> lifters on #3 have decided to collapse (ticking noise in vlve cover).

A weak oil pump can do that too.
32 psi on the I6

Worn valve guides.

Other tick (the one I have) is a itty bitty hole in the exhaust gasket.
(I'm just to damn lazy to fix it)

> Makes the idea I had of swapping a carbed 258 with torq-command sound
> better and better ... and my older brother has this old Eagle wagon
> sitting in his driveway . . . . . . . .if only the T-case will swap

JEEP
Just Empty Every Pocket

--
DougW

"DougW" > wrote in message
...
> Budd Cochran wrote:
>
>> I'm also looking at doing an R&R on my cam and lifters because the
>> lifters on #3 have decided to collapse (ticking noise in vlve cover).
>
> A weak oil pump can do that too.
> 32 psi on the I6

I have 40+ psi at any rpm over 1000 and 35 at idle (20W-50 oil/ summer,
10W-40/winter ... I like thicker oil on 300,000 plus engines), so rods and
mains are still pretty good

>
> Worn valve guides.

Unlike so many renix engines, my airfilter stays pretty dry (little oil on
paper) and sloppy guides cause more seal wear resulting in exhaust smoke
and/or oil on the filter from leaking exhaust vaporizing valve cover oil.
Just eyeballing with a timing light after pulling the cover, those rockers
don't lift quite as high as the others.
>
> Other tick (the one I have) is a itty bitty hole in the exhaust gasket.
> (I'm just to damn lazy to fix it)

A mechanic's stethescope zeroes the noise to the valve train but I need to
do a check on the manifold also.

>
>> Makes the idea I had of swapping a carbed 258 with torq-command sound
>> better and better ... and my older brother has this old Eagle wagon
>> sitting in his driveway . . . . . . . .if only the T-case will swap
>
> JEEP
> Just Empty Every Pocket
>
> --
> DougW

Yep, and I thought the A604 trans issues my 95 Lebaron GT convert had were
too expensive to be worth fixing . . .


--
Budd

" I looked into an exercise plan at a local gym but they didn't
offer my favorite exercise: Diddly Squats.

So I can't do Diddly Squats."



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