Sorry for the Jeep question, but I think these engines are similar enough that any answer will help. Thanks.

OK, I'm at my wit's end with this damn '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I sold my brother. We finally traced the problem to a bad CKS and replaced it. Got the truck running and it idles fine, but now it has an intermittent misfire at RPM that is getting worse. Yesterday, it threw a code. Put the reader on and it says the code is "intermittent signal from CKS or CPS." Since we had a known good CPS laying around we swapped it out. Still runs like crap. Put in a new cap and rotor just for grins and giggles. No improvement.

My understanding of the CPS and CKS is they either work or don't, no in between. Is it possible we got a defective CKS that would allow the engine to start, but be misreading the reluctor ring and causing a misfire or intermittent signal that results in poor performance? This vehicle was running perfect before this all started and it got a new cat and 02 sensors 2 years ago. It isn't throwing any codes other than the one previously mentioned. HELP!

 

Anything is possible with parts theses days. Have you traced the wires, checked the plugs on the pcm?

 

My guess would be a shorted wire. On Ram's they both run in rear of the engine bay and just kind of lay there. plenty of slack to rub around on things and create a short.

My only other guess would be a disty that has been twisted to the edge of being in sync. I know once you get past +/- 10* you loose the sync signal.

 

possible, but unlikely.
it sounds like a broken or breaking wire or grounding wire.
is it possible to ohm the sensor wires back to the pcm plug ? and wiggle them around.
especially check where a harness passes anywhere near an exhaust, or sharp edge. it might be grounding there...