Jeep 1996 Grand Cherokee Service Manual - page 291
(11) Note the removed position of the rotor during
distributor removal. During installation, this will be
referred to as the Pre-position.
(12) Observe the slot in the oil pump gear through
the hole on the side of the engine. It should be
slightly before (counterclockwise of) the 11 o’clock
position (Fig. 43).
(13) Remove and discard the old distributor-to-en-
gine block gasket.
INSTALLATION
(1) If the engine crankshaft has been rotated after
distributor removal, cylinder number 1 must be
returned to its proper firing stroke. Refer to previous
REMOVAL Step 5 and Step 6. These steps must be
done before installing distributor.
(2) Check the position of the slot on the oil pump
gear. It should be just slightly before (counterclock-
wise of) the 11 o’clock position (Fig. 43). If not, place
a flat blade screwdriver into the oil pump gear and
rotate it into the proper position.
(3) Factory replacement distributors are equipped
with a plastic alignment pin already installed (Fig.
40). This pin is used to temporarily hold the rotor to
the cylinder number 1 firing position during distrib-
utor installation. If this pin is in place, proceed to
Step 8. If not, proceed to next step.
(4) If the original distributor is to be reinstalled,
such as during engine overhaul, the plastic pin will
not be available. A 3/16 inch drift pin punch tool may
be substituted for the plastic pin.
(5) Remove the camshaft position sensor from the
distributor housing. Lift straight up.
(6) Four different alignment holes are provided on
the plastic ring (Fig. 44). Note that 2.5L and 4.0L
engines have different alignment holes (Fig.
44).
(7) Rotate the distributor shaft and install the pin
punch tool through the proper alignment hole in the
plastic ring (Fig. 44) and into the mating access hole
in the distributor housing. This will prevent the dis-
tributor shaft and rotor from rotating.
(8) Clean the distributor mounting hole area of the
engine block.
(9) Install a new distributor-to-engine block gasket
(Fig. 41).
(10) Install the rotor to the distributor shaft.
Pre-position the distributor into the engine while
holding the centerline of the base slot in the 1 o’clock
position (Fig. 45). Continue to engage the distributor
into the engine. The rotor and distributor will rotate
clockwise during installation. This is due to the helical
cut gears on the distributor and camshaft. When the
distributor is fully seated to the engine block, the cen-
terline of the base slot should be aligned to the clamp
bolt mounting hole on the engine (Fig. 46). The rotor
should also be pointed at the 5 o’clock position.
It may be necessary to rotate the rotor and distrib-
utor shaft (very slightly) to engage the distributor
shaft with the slot in the oil pump gear. The same
may have to be done to engage the distributor gear
with the camshaft gear.
The distributor is correctly installed when:
• the rotor is pointed at the 5 o’clock position.
• the plastic alignment pin (or pin punch tool) is
still installed to distributor.
• the number 1 cylinder piston is set at top dead
center (TDC) (compression stroke).
• the centerline of the slot at the base of the dis-
tributor is aligned to the centerline of the distributor
holddown bolt hole on the engine. In this position,
Fig. 43 Slot At 11 O’clock Position—4.0L Engine
Fig. 44 Pin Alignment Holes—4.0L Engine
8D - 20
IGNITION SYSTEM
ZJ
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)