HELP! My Jag will not Start! We are all packed to visit family for Easter and now we are stuck!

I have 2000 S-Type. It was working just fine until I did some work on it last night. Now it will not start. When you turn the ignitition key, it makes a very fast clicking sound (it clicks continuouly as along as I move the key to the ignition position). Then all the instruments gauges (speedo, tach, etc.) jump to max and back to zero. Then a red light at the center of the dash at the very front is flashing very fast. When I remove the key, the intrument gauges jumps to max and back to zero again. Then the red light flashes as if the alarm system is on. If I open the door, the alarm sounds and I have to put the key back in to turn off the alarm. I also hear a faint clicking sound (1 click every .5 seconds) over the audio system.

The work I did was the following:
- Partially removed the center floor console to replace the ashtray and cup holder
- Replaced a blown fuse for the cigarette lighter (it was blown a long time ago)
This doesn't seem like any of this work would have caused this but who knows.

BTW, attempted to jump start it (with one of those emergency jump start batteries) and that did nothing to fix anything. I was hoping a battery with a low charge was the culprit but I guess not.

Sincerely,
Jim

 

Have you tried taking the fuse out again?
Maybe clutching at straws but worth a try.

 

Is the trunk floor got water in it?

 

IT WAS THE BATTERY AFTER ALL!

I noticed that while I attempting all the restarts, the lights were getting dim so I went to Autozone and purchased a new battery and WAL-LAH, it starts.

I recently purchased this S-type so I had no idea how old the battery was. I guess the work that I did last night put the battery over the edge. It's interesting that the jump start battery didn't help. I have had strange electrical stuff happen to my BMW motorcycle all related to a bad battery so that also led me to replace the battery.

Thanks for your help. Gotta get on the road.

Sincerely,
Jim