Dude,
The distributor "cap", being the thing with wires (7 for a 6 cylinder, 5 for a 4 cylinder), is what distributes a blast of electricity from the ignition coil to the spark plugs at just the right time to the right spark plug so that the spark plug "sparks" at just the right moment. If water, goo, sludge, muck or dirt is interfering with the "rotor" (the thing that is inside the distributor cap that, like Big Jim mentioned, goes round and round in a "rotary" fashion) with constant connection with the center pin that comes from the ignition coil, the center and additional wire if you were wondering from above... It spins around; typically arcing rather than making contact which makes it possible for it to spin around and last so long because there is never any friction. If any of the inhibitors mentioned earlier happen to "foul" this connection with the center pin, or between the rotor tip and the pins that are connected to the spark plug pins, then there is a really good chance that no electricity or not enough is making it from the ignition coil, through the "coil wire" through the cap, out to the pins that go out to and then through the spark plug wires and eventually down to the spark plugs.... where they "spark" inside the individual cylinders at just the right time. Without getting too technical, there is a firing order that determines the "just the right time" thing. Anyway, ensure that the cap and rotor are clean without any debris to include even a little moisture. Then check to make sure that all of your "wires" are firmly seated on the spark plugs, on the cap, and on the ignition coil. Once this is done, attempt to start your Jeep, pictures of Jeeps are available on line by doing a search on Google for "Jeep" or "Jeeps".... Once this is done, disregard any soot or goo coming from the exhaust, just check for performance increase to "normal" as before your endeavor, and the absence of "glowing" cat converter.
Any questions, feel free to post and also let us know what you find after all this....
We are here to help in any way that we can, It's a Jeep thing!
Happy Jeeping!
thnx nc
yea i understood what had to be done after my nap and looked at the jeep, i was really hazy hadnt slept for 2 days but iam better now going to work on it tom after i leave my country house. but i do enjoy your new presence, btw im in NC, we should meet in wheel sometime. maybe plan a trip to uhwarie?
