2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

IS THE CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING CENSOR THE TIMING ON A 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE?

• i have a 2000 jeep grand cherokee laredo...it will not start. the head gasket was blown..we fixed that,, and now there isnt any water in the oil, but the jeep will still not start. i have been told that the crank censor is a comman prob with jeeps but i was also told that it could be the timing. so i wandering if fixing the crank censor if that fixes the timing as well. or if you can give me any suggestions as to y my jeep will not start. thank you. and it has a full tank of gas, fuel pump an fuses are fine. it is sparking. just back firing.

• Answer:

  Replacing the crank shaft sensor will not fix the timing. Backfiring is caused by timing being retarded recheck the timing. Also recheck the vacum lines and electrical connectors make sure they are in the proper places. Easy way to check timing is to pull the #1 spark plug and put a screwdriver down in the spark plug port (hand crank the engine using the harmonic balancer bolt (crank shaft pulley) when the piston just starts to go down that should be TDC then pull the distributor cap off and the rotor should be pointing towards the #1 spark plug terminal. Even though you are getting spark you can be still be out of timing, if you where not getting spark then I would suspect the crank shaft sensor