I've got a 99 XLT with 4.0L SOHC engine with 137K miles. For quite some time now it takes several seconds or more of cranking before the engine starts. When it does starts it sometimes stumbles until I press the gas pedal once or twice. After that it idles and runs fine. The cranking is fast, not slow like with a battery that's going bad. It doesn't seem to matter whether the engine hot or cold (at least as cold as it can get here in Phoenix).
Since the problem started I've replaced the battery (which WAS going bad) and the plugs and wires. No change. Any suggestions on where to look next?