Weird: My wife's '07 STR wouldn't start after work yesterday. The engine turned over very strong. After several attempts over a 15 minute period, she tried again pumping the accelerator pedal and it fired right up and drove home fine.

Check engine light was on and set code was P0128 - "Coolant thermostat (coolant temp below thermostat regulating temp)." I had just topped off the water level the day before, so I'm guessing there's a connection. There's no sign of the thermostat housing/piping leaking (car has only 33K miles) and there have been no overheating issues.

Obviously, the code and non-start must have been related, but for the life of me, I can't see how - anyone have an idea on what happened?
BTW, the car is starting/running perfect and has not reset the code (at least yet).
Thanks for your input

 

The no start condition and setting a code at the same time are probably a coincidence. I'd wait to see if either condition returns.

BTW- pumping the gas doesn't work on fuel injected cars, only those with carburetors.

 

If the thermistor is reading incorrectly the car won't fuel correctly for relevant temperature. Think of it as an old fashioned auto choke. Cold engine extra fuel for cold start. Warm engine less fuel.

Looks like you have a code reader. Disconnecting the thermistor and see what happens to the car, see if it will start, see what code you get.

 

I know, that's what makes her able to start the car by doing this ridiculous. I was wondering if the TPS (throttle position sensor) went wonky (I assume these cars employ them), although regardless, I still can't understand the code and no-start condition connection. Because they happened at the same time, it's hard for me to consider it a coincidence.

I've owned Jaguars long enough, I guess I shouldn't be surprised by stuff like this...

 

You'd get different codes for faulty TPS (uses two and cross-checks), so it isn't that.

Makes sense to go for the item that flagged.

 

That makes sense. Car is doing fine at this point, so I'll probably never know.

UPDATE: Spoke too soon. Wife called and said the readout screen was black when she left this morning. After stopping by the bank the car turned over but didn't start until she pumped the accelerator. Car started, nav screen was back on and car runs fine. No check engine light. There's obviously a short somewhere, I guess. When I'm back in town after next week I'll take it to British Automotive so I can make their monthly rent payment.