Jeep Cherokee 2000 Service Manual - page 366
INSTALLATION
(1) If engine crankshaft has been rotated after dis-
tributor
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 position of slot on oil pump gear. On the
2.5L engine, it should be just slightly before (counter-
clockwise of) 10 o’clock position (Fig. 35). If not, place
a flat blade screwdriver into oil pump gear and
rotate it into proper position.
(3) Factory replacement distributors are equipped
with a plastic alignment pin already installed (Fig.
32). This pin is used to temporarily hold rotor to cyl-
inder number 1 firing position during distributor
installation. If pin is in place, proceed to Step 8. If
not, proceed to next step.
(4) If 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 plastic pin.
(5) Remove camshaft position sensor from distrib-
utor housing. Lift straight up.
(6) Four different alignment holes are provided on
plastic ring (Fig. 36). Note that 2.5L and 4.0L
engines have different alignment holes (Fig.
36).
(7) Rotate distributor shaft and install pin punch
tool through proper alignment hole in plastic ring
(Fig. 36) and into mating access hole in distributor
housing. This will prevent distributor shaft and rotor
from rotating.
(8) Clean distributor mounting hole area of engine
block.
(9) Install new distributor-to-engine block gasket
(Fig. 33).
(10) Install rotor to distributor shaft.
(11) Pre-position
distributor
into
engine
while
holding centerline of base slot in 1 o’clock position
(Fig. 37). Continue to engage distributor into engine.
The rotor and distributor will rotate clockwise during
installation. This is due to the helical cut gears on
distributor and camshaft. When distributor is fully
seated to engine block, the centerline of base slot
should be aligned to clamp bolt mounting hole on
engine (Fig. 38). The rotor should also be pointed
slightly past (clockwise of) 3 o’clock position.
It may be necessary to rotate rotor and distributor
shaft (very slightly) to engage distributor shaft with
slot in oil pump gear. The same may have to be done
to engage distributor gear with camshaft gear.
Fig. 35 Slot At 10 O’clock Position—2.5L Engine
1 – 10 0’CLOCK POSITION
2 – OIL PUMP SLOT
Fig. 36 Pin Alignment Holes—2.5L Engine
1 – DISTRIBUTOR HOUSING (TOP VIEW)
2 – PULSE RING
3 – 4.0L 6–CYLINDER ENGINE ALIGN. HOLE
4 – 2.5L 4–CYLINDER ENGINE ALIGN. HOLE
5 – MATING ACCESS HOLE IN DISTRIBUTOR HOUSING
6 – PLASTIC RING
XJ
IGNITION SYSTEM
8D - 19
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)