1. Home
  2. Jaguar Autos
  3. Non Starter

Non Starter

Hi all.

I'm hoping this is the place where a person like me can get a clue. The car is 1988 XJS V12 HE Sport (Fixed Head) (UK). It hasn't been driven for a couple of years due to being put in the garage waiting for the restoration. That time has come. During the time I was driving it (2 years ago) the car would run fine unless it was a damp day, then it would be a pig to start and wouldn't run well for the first 5 mins. Since it's been in the garage I start it regular, then for the last couple of months it just would not start. In the past few days I have put in all new sparks and leads and dist cap and rotor arm, and it still wont start. It will spin on the starter no problem, but will turn quite slow until I floor the acc pedal. then it will speed up (still on the starter) but will not run. It will sound like it's very nearly starting (With the throttle wide open) but as soon as the key is released the engine will stop, not even going quarter turn on it's own. I have checked the spark at a few of the plugs and it's got a good spark. I have double triple checked that the leads are all put in correctly. So, it will nearly start if the throttle is wide open. One thing I have noticed since changing the high tension electrics is that the distributor will move backwards and forwards (by about 3mm) while the engine is spinning. I don't know if it was like this before I did the work, and if it wasn't then I can't think of any thing I did to cause this. Has anyone got a clue as what to look for?

Thanks

Ivar

Reply to
Ivar
Loading thread data ...

Did you replace the coil wire? Check the coil for hairline cracks at its high tension wire connection.

If nothing found at the coil remove any spark plug to see if it's wet with fuel - it ought to be after all that cranking!

If not, there's a fuel starvation problem and the fuel filter ought to be replaced if there's any doubt about the fuel delivery.

But, if the spark plug is wet then I'd suspect the ignition timing, especially given the wonky distributor action. If the distributor is that loose then it has probably rotated as well.

Reply to
T.G. Lambach

I'll check it all out.

Thanks for the feedback

Ivar

Reply to
Ivar

Also, the fact that it quits just as soon as you release the ignition key points to a possible electrical problem; not sure about the XJS, but most cars have a resistor that comes into play for the circuit feeding the coil while the ignition is in the starter position, but an alternate path to the coil is taken when the key is released... so that alternate path may be broken.

Reply to
WayneC

Sorry, I had it reversed: the resistor circuit is used when the ignition key moves to the "on" position, so it is the resistor circuit that may be bad.

Reply to
WayneC

Stale petrol.

Lee D

Reply to
Lee_D

Hi Ivar,

I would double check to see if your ignition amplifier is hooked up and working.

DieInterim

Reply to
Blake Dodson

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.