Hi All,

Has anyone got any ideas or experienced a similar issue.

Turn the key, everything lights up on the dash as normal, turn the key to the start position, and nothing. It's like the car is immobilized. No dimming of any lights, like it's a earth/ground issue.

A bit of back ground...The car did this over Christmas, it was trailered to an independent jaguar specialist. On arriving there we took it of the trailer and it started.

He scanned it for codes while we were there. It showed nothing that would cause what I've described above, anyway turned the engine off, then back to no start issue again.

We left the car there, they started checking connections etc, then it started. They were sure it was nothing they had done or found had flagged up what the problem was.

We left the car with them for a few more days, every time they went to look at it, it started. In there words " We can't fix a car that's not broke"

We've had the car back since December no problems until today.

The car had a brand new battery in December as well.

Anyone got any ideas or experienced this.

Any suggestions?

 

have not experienced this , but if i were you id be looking at the inhibitor switch for the shifter it stops it cranking if your not in park or neutral ! i expect yours is an automatic ? try starting it in neutral as well!

 

Thanks for the reply, it is a 6 speed auto and yes I have tried to start in neutral and also turning the key whilst shifting between park and neutral.

Is there anyway to test the inhibitor switch?

 

Check the pats light on the dash is doing what it is duposed to.
1 long flash when you turn the key to acc then goes out ! And fashing when car is locked .
Failing that check all fuses in all 3 fuse box compartments with test light or multi meter ,
Failing that run a wire from the starter solanoid to test light and see if the starter is getting power to the small wire when you crank the key !
If still no power pull the shifter cover and check the inhibitor switch with multimeter for contanuity, the circuit must open and close ! Depending on the shifter positioning

 

Thanks for the advice. I have not had a chance to check anything out yet.

I just arrived home, around midnight. I decided to try turning the key one more time. I didn't even sit in the car, opened the door and turned the key, nothing.

I continued to hold the key in the start position and reached in to pull the gear leaver out of park, forgetting it won't come out of park without pressing the brake pedal and just pulled maybe a bit harder than normal as the leaver didn't move and it started!!

So is the inhibitor switch in connected directly to the shifter and is the switch access able from inside the car?

Because after what has just happened, that seems like the first thing I should check out.

 

or maybe the shifter cable adjustment first as that kind of proves the inhibiter switch indeed works , check the two bolts that mount the cable to the gear box underneath the car that are prone to come loose!

 

+1 on [Datsports] advice. First check shift linkage retention bolts - yours would not be the first where one or both had fallen out and disappeared. Second, if bolts are there but loose, do NOT simply tighten them. Adjust correctly as per JTIS, then tighten to correct tension.

Finally, and only if above are OK, disassemble console to reach J-gate and inhibitor switch. Be very careful to consult wiring guide for your MY and variant. I think you will find the inhibitor switch is B+ connected and switched on the ground seeking side . . . but please check.

Cheers,

Ken

 

When you had the no start condition, did you happen to notice if the P was illuminated on the J gate? I believe the individual P, R, N, D, etc. lights come on depending on what the neutral safety/range sensor thinks it sees at the transmission, not where the shift lever is located. In other words, if the cable was loose or the switch was acting up, the starter will be inhibited unless P or N is illuminated, as opposed to where the lever actually is.

When the car did start, did you have any trouble with the shifter? For example, did you have to fiddle with the lever to get the transmission to go into gear?

If there was any trouble selecting gears, that would point to a loose or misadjusted cable. Lacking any trouble selecting a gear, that would point to an intermittent or misadjusted neutral safety/range sensor switch. (I'm not sure if there is any adjustment at the switch.)

If troubleshooting leads to the neutral safety/range sensor switch, I'd be inclined to just replace it. I'm sure there's a way to test it, but since it's the kind of thing that can leave you stranded, I'd suggest just springing for a new one.

 

Thank you all again for the advice,
Regarding the illumination of the PND as I recall the shifter was illuminating them when going through the selection, I can't be 100% sure but it is something I will pay particular attention to if it stops working again before I get a chance to investigate.

On starting the car I've had no problem selecting gears, it's just as it was no problem at all.

I think it was because I kind of tugged on the shifter, expecting it to move down through the selection and it didn't. That is something I would not have done if I had been sat in the car, does kind of indicate some kind of connection issue?

Checking the bolts and cable adjustment is good advice, ultimately, I think maybe just change the inhibitor switch?

Where can I get the JTIS? And thanks aging for all your assistance.

 

Probably needed foot on brake.

 

My best guess is the switch was right on the edge of being in the correct position. Even though the lever was locked out by solenoid in the J-gate, the lever and cable still moved a smidge (possibly two, smidges are tough to measure) and that was just enough to bump the switch.

It's your call whether to try adjusting the switch (not even sure if that's possible) or just replacing it. I don't like to throw parts at a problem, but after being stranded more than once, personally all bets are off. I have no problem spending $50 of your money.

If you do try adjusting it instead, please watch the P,N,R,D, etc. illumination if you ever get stranded again. If it won't start in P, try N instead as those contacts might be in better condition.

As far as getting JTIS, there's a sticky with directions:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...archive-66031/

Personally, I've never been able to get JTIS to play nice on my PC. I finally just paid for a PDF version, downloadable here:

JagDocs, The Source for Jaguar Documentation!

 

See if this helps.