I have a question that's probably been answered a million times, but here goes.

My (soon to be mine) 2003 S-Type with a 6 cyl engine won't start.

The gas gage will show Empty while it's cranking (cranks good and strong, so I doubt it's the battery or the starter), and then will jump to Full. It will almost fire up but die out right away. The car sat for several weeks before today. I finally got it started, drove it about 15 miles, turned it off for about 5 minutes and then it wouldn't start. I let it sit for about 1/2 hour and it fired up, but died right away.

Sure seems like it's not getting fuel -- could it be the fuel filter or the fuel pump?

Any advice on which one would really help me. I had to leave the car at a rental car place (lucky it died there!) and will either fix it myself if it's something I can do in the lot, or have it towed to a mechanic. I've never worked on this car, so consider me a newbie -- don't assume I know where the fuel filter or the pump is located! LOL

Thanks!

Mike

 

Thinking about my most recent experience with gas gauge accuracy, don't trust the reading.

Put in a few gallons of fuel and see what happens

 

My initial reaction when I picked the car up from my mother in law was that the tank was empty -- she had just filled it, though, and I'm sure she's not mistaken. I suppose there could be a leak, but there wasn't any evidence of that where it was parked. Also, after starting it the 1st time we drove it 15 or so miles without a problem. You could still be right, though. Unfortunately, I won't be able to do anything with the car until tomorrow -- it's now about 25 miles from where I am in a closed, secure lot.

 

Sounds like a fuelling issue Mike.

Did you manage to pull any codes at all?

I'm sure some of the in the know guys, will drop by soon for further help.

Good luck

 

Sounds like the battery and/or jet pump..

 

I didn't have my code reader with me, it's in the trunk of my other Jag.

I might just have to have it towed to a shop in the morning.

 

Other than checking the fuel pump fuse, maybe measure fuel rail pressure if you've got the tool.

 

Did you check the inertia switch?

 

If it might be full don't overfill. Fuel pump is maybe #1 suspect but filter's easy & cheap to change and it could be that.

 

I looked under the panel in the passenger footwell (on the side) and couldn't feel a switch or anything that felt like a switch. So the answer is "I tried, but failed!"

As for the fuel pump fuse, I'll have to dig around to find out where it's located unless someone can easily tell me. I'll be around for a little while (maybe an hour) then I'll be on the road to get to where the car is located and then it'll be too late for me to do anything with it other than wait for a tow.

As for the fuel filter -- having no experience with this car, I'll have to research that and see if it's something I can do in the parking lot where the car is located right now. Is there a "how to" on this site somewhere? I'll try doing a search.

Thanks for all the assistance so far, this will get resolved, most likely today, either by me or at a shop. Either way, this car will get back on the road soon.

Mike

 

Ok, I located the Handbook in the S-Type section of this forum, so now I have it on my iPad -- thanks!!!!

I found the page that tells me that the inertia switch/fuel pump fuse is F4 in the passenger compartment fuse box. I'll check that first thing.

Now I'm off to find info about replacing the fuel filter.....

 

I found this write-up for replacing the fuel filter -- looks like a simple job but I might not be able to do it in the parking lot where the car sits rights now -- mostly because they are antsy to have me get the car out of there! I'm tempted to just have it towed a mile to a public parking lot across the street from my office and do the work there. If the fuel filter replacement doesn't fix the problem, I can then have it towed to a shop or even the 20 miles to my house.

Even though it looks like a simple job, since it requires removal of the inner fender liner, I'm going to guess that any shop is going to charge me $100 or more to do it for me. That's not unreasonable, in my opinion, but I don't like to spend money on something I can do myself. I sure wish this car was in my driveway!

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...-s-type-21732/

 

You are right Mike, the filter is a straightforward job but a bit of a fiddle with having to take off the wheel and liner.

I've updated the pic links in that thread to show larger pictures if you need them.

 

I decided to have the car towed to my "trusted" mechanic and told him to let me know before he does anything what he thinks is the problem. He might not be able to do that until early next week -- I just stopped by his shop and he has it in the shop.

 

Just out of curiosity -- do these cars have an inertia switch or what? I found the fuse for it, but couldn't seem to locate an actual switch. BTW the fuse looked fine, as I expected since it would make sense that the car would have never started if the fuse was blown, right?

Now I'm just wondering what to do this weekend, both of my Jags are in the shop! It's lonely around here!

 

Yes they do. On the S Type it's in the driver’s side foot well.

There is a cut out in the plastic and there is a red button in there. I usually smack the panel hard enough to trip the switch and then punch the reset button. Just to make sure I have cycled the switch fully thru off and on. You can't see that the button is red very good but shine a flash light in the cut out to see it better.
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If the switch has been triggered, would the car start and be driven 15 miles without a problem? I'm thinking the switch would turn off the fuel delivery to the engine and it wouldn't start at all. Am I wrong?

Also, if I wasn't such a dork, I'd check the manual first, ask questions later - sorry!

 

Well it shuts power off to the pump. The car will usually run for 30-60 seconds after the switch is tripped. But no way will you get 15 miles of driving out of it. So if the fuel pressure is still high enough you can get the car to start and run for a short time.

I usually do this when I change my fuel filter to reduce the amount of gas that leaks out. It's the simplest way I have found to dump the fuel pressure quickly.
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Thank you -- that confirms my suspicions that the problem is not the inertia switch. Saves me a trip to the mechanic's shop to check it out! LOL

 

I'm anticipating that I'll need a fuel pump and fuel filter. I've read a few threads on this site about replacing the fuel pump - doesn't look all that difficult (famous last words!), but in preparation for this project, I've told my mechanic to NOT order any parts without first checking with me. He knows me pretty well and knows that I like to find my own parts and not have him simply call the Jaguar dealership for them.

So, if you were going to change the fuel pump and fuel filter, what would be your list of parts? I have an '03 V6 S-Type.

Of course, the mechanic might find that the problem lies elsewhere, but my gut tells me that it's going to involve replacing these parts. I'm looking for part numbers and vendors, and any other advice (additional parts, etc.) that you have. Thanks in advance.

Mike