Installing distributor in 97 jeep 4.0

this is found 2 ways , googled or RTM read the manual service?
I had 99 with that inline 6
yes painful fixing cars others have hacked up,. or left asunder.
amazing facts, in the SM
shows firing order is cast into the intake manifold metal. clear as day, 153624
next is rotor direction needed. is CW clock wise not CCW (counter CW) knowing this HV wires laid down in correct order
next is crank pulley front set to TDC mark 0deg. so that cylinder #1 is at compression top not at exhaust stroke.
as in both head valves closed #1 and #1 is front end.
what is cool in the year car is spark timing can not be adjustable, the dizzy plants down only one way
so finding #1 on the cap is all we need
CKP sensor sets spark timing, and is fixed
the inside DIZZY sensor only does injector timing sync.
not spark. the CKp does that
so the dizzy mount is fixed heard.




jeep SM page. XJ jeeps
sm words distrubed dizzy

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.

see the bold words above, for jeep missing a distributor.
chapter 8D in the jeep manual. cover this.

Question edited for clarity.

The timing is messed up. Normally it has to be TDC on the Compression Stroke of Cylinder 1. It is a FOUR stroke engine so there are 4 lots of TDC. Or you lock everything using a timing kit, which locks the crank and the cam sprockets..

A P0320 code indicates an issue with the signal that indicates the speed of the engine. This means that the ECM (engine control module) doesn't know where the crankshaft or camshaft is, so it isn't able to distribute fuel or fire spark plugs at the right time.

p0320 Code - Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit

Try adjusting distributor to 5 degrees after TDC.

Your timing is locked. (distributor is installed with no adjustment feature... on 02's you may not even have a distributor as it's replaced by the cam sensor) All timing and fuel mixture is controlled by the engine computer. Main inputs to the computer that influence changes are the throttle position sensor and MAP sensor but all sensor inputs are evaluated.

4.2L 6-Cylinder

1. Set parking brake. Shift automatic transmission to Park or manual transmission to Neutral. With A/C off, start engine and attain normal operating temperature.

2. With ignition OFF, connect an ignition timing light and a calibrated, expanded-scale tachometer.

3. Disconnect 4 " and 10 " Hg (CEC System) vacuum switch assembly wire connector (located at top of valve cover). Disconnect and plug distributor vacuum advance hose.

4. Start engine, increase engine speed to 1600 RPM and check ignition timing. Adjust timing to specification listed on Emission Control Information label (if necessary). Tighten distributor hold-down clamp and recheck ignition timing.

5. Turn engine off and remove timing light and tachometer. Connect No. 1 spark plug lead, if disconnected. Unplug and connect distributor vacuum advance hose. Connect vacuum switch assembly wire connector.

NOTE: If timing light has an adjustable advance control feature, turn control to OFF position.

Timing is set per the emissions tag under hood.

loosen bolt holding distributor and turn the distributor till you get the right timing

1998 Jeep Cherokee 4WD 4.0L MFI 6cyl

To avoid confusion, tag and remove the spark plug wires one at a time, for replacement.
If a distributor is not keyed for installation with only one orientation, it could have been removed previously and rewired. The resultant wiring would hold the correct firing order, but could change the relative placement of the plug towers in relation to the engine. For this reason it is imperative that you label all wires before disconnecting any of them. Also, before removal, compare the current wiring with the accompanying illustrations. If the current wiring does not match, make notes to reflect how your engine is wired.



Fig. 1: The firing order can usually be found cast onto the intake manifold



Fig.: 1989-98 2.5L engine Engine firing order: 1-3-4-2 Distributor rotation: Clockwise



Fig.: 2.8L engine Engine firing order: 1-2-3-4-5-6 Distributor rotation: Clockwise



Fig.: 4.0L engine Engine firing order: 1-5-3-6-2-4 Distributor rotation: Clockwise



Fig.: 5.2L and 5.9L engines Engine firing order: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Distributor rotation: Clockwise

Also, here can review the Jeep XJ Service Manual.

I hope help you with this, Good luck (remember rated this help).

Replace each wire individually from plug to distributor one at a time and they will be in the right order. Or make yourself a diagram before you start, very carefully marking the first one you take off the distributor and where it came from and where it goes. Hope this helps..

As far as I know, timing is "fixed" and cannot be adjusted on that one. To verify see if your distributor has an integral holddown not a seperate piece as you would find on an adjustable one.

if you overhauled the engine and replaced the timing chain & gears, as long as you installed them properly and have installed the ign wires in the right places, the distributor is "locked in place" and is non adjustable (unless you are me, but that's another story) Computer makes all timing changes.