I parked my cj one nite, and got up the next morning and it wouldnt start. It has fuel and spark. I had to advance the timing for it to start but it would backfire under any load. I checked the timing and it showed over 12 degrees. I tried adjusting the timing, but I couldnt get it anywhere near 3 degrees without it dying. Its a 77 cj5 with a 258 6 cylinder. Any help would be appreciated.

how many miles on the motor? something must have happened to change the timing like the timing chain slipping or something-one way to check this is to check the relative position of the rotor to the #1 position on the distributor cap when #1 piston is up on TDC. figure anything out yet?

I found tdc by holding my finger on #1 cylinder and bumped it over untill it blew off, and the rotor was pointed at the #1 on the distributor cap

that should be close enough to fire up-there is a similar thread on here with the same problems. You should have compression, spark ,and fuel. It's gotta run with all of that. Maybe it flooded or the plugs became splash fouled. I've started engines by changing the plugs before when every thing else was good.

Engine had no spark or a very weak spark. I changed the coil, ignition module,complete distributor,spark plugs, checked the timing, and it ran for 3 days.This morning it wouldnt start again,doesnt even try to kick, like no spark again. Never saw anything like this.

anybody know what the condensor on the side of the coil does, this is probably the only item I havent changed.

Controls the arc across the points if you put in new points you should put in a new condensor. I have ssen them go bad and short to ground alot. it would cause what you have described.

Wayne

no points. Its an electronic distributor. But it does have a condensor on the outside of the distributor.

I could be wrong -but I'm thinking it's to reduce radio interference. If it ran for 3 days and then quit-you must have fixed something the first time, possibly had a failure of a new part. Freaky and frustrating yes-just go back to basics and recheck fuel and spark and timing (like before). Try replacing the old parts back in, one at a time and recheck. I'd be really suspicious of the ignition module box, just plug back in the old one and try that first.

I just went to the junkyard and bought a G.M. H.E.I. distributor. I put it in and it started right up. I believe you were right and one of my new parts failed. Thanks to everybody for there help.

nice!