My lovely Xtype appears to have a very common malaise - I am informed as they age the fuel pump loses pressure and erratic starting results. Certainly I can use the method gleaned from the forum to get it going when it refuses to fire up.
Turn key to position 2 - listen to rear tank relay hum - wait 5 seconds and try to fire up
This does the trick quite often but sometimes not. I get brassed off sitting in the car continually trying to start the cat - eventually the beast leaps into life as if there was nothing wrong at all.
My question - oh lordly and all wise humans of the '
I KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS VARIETY'

What is to be done ?

 

Ray: This may be a dumb question, but have you tried changing the fuel filter? It's relatively inexpensive and accessible, located just in front of the fuel tank, on the right-hand side (viewed from the rear of the car).

Some other suggestions:
+ Determine if the fuel pumps are energized by touching the fuel tank when you turn the key to position 2 without starting the engine. If a friend can help you, have them turn the key to position 2 while you reach under the car and place your hand on the fuel tank. If you're alone, lift the rear seat bottom (pull up hard on both front corners) and move the large circular rubber plug to expose a ~6 inch hole over the fuel tank. Now you can sit in the driver seat and reach behind with one hand to touch the fuel tank while turning the key to position 2. You should feel the soft vibration of the fuel pump turning on to pressurize the fuel rail.

FYI, X-Types have two fuel pumps in a saddle tank that straddles the drive shaft and exhaust pipe. The right pump (as viewed from the rear of the car) supplies fuel to the fuel rail & engine. The left pump transfers fuel from the left to the right-side of the saddle tank. The right pump is critical. The left pump is optional, except when you're low on fuel.

+ Have you tested the pressure in the fuel rail? It should be 40-50 psi with the engine running, and relatively steady from idle up to ~3,000 RPM. Our auto parts stores typically let us borrow a pressure test kit for free, with a small deposit.

 

rayclark, like was mentioned, I would start with the fuel filter first and see how things change from there. But, from there, you are looking at replacing the fuel pump most likely.

DWclapp, are you sure there is a circular plug there under the rear seat. This is common in the XJ's and S-Types, but to the best of my knowledge, it wasn't incorporated into the X-Type for some reason. So, the only way to access the fuel pump is to drop the tank or if you are feeling brave, cutting a hole in the area under the seat to access the fuel pump and then creating a cover to fill the hole back in. The cutting is probably a viable option if you have some good metal working ability. But, I would not advise it if you don't. Too many things can go drastically wrong in a hurry.

 

Thermo: You are correct; X-Types unfortunately do not have access holes for replacing fuel pumps. So the only options to replace the pumps are, as you say: (1) drop the tank, or (2) cut your own access holes under the rear seat.

But.......

There is an access hole under the rear seat that has some limited utility to: (1) feel for a soft vibration to confirm the fuel pumps are running, (2) confirm electricity is getting to the pumps, and (3) confirm power to, and signal from the fuel level sensor.

Unfortunately, this hole is located central to the car, where it's useless for servicing the left and right fuel pumps.

I'm guessing the few folks talented (or foolish?) enough to cut their own access holes above the fuel pumps use the central hole as a starting point.

 

Hi & thanks for the info - very useful indeed.
I will order off for a fuel filter and try that angle and also do the vibration check
on the fuel tank sensors/pumps.
these x types are lovely cars but I must say it always seems that when something goes
wrong getting at the problem usually involves extensive parts removal to gain access. The access hole below the back seat being a great idea in other models, but not incorporated for my cat.
I will certainly do the investigations as suggested - that wise old owl Thermo is probably spot on again with the actual fuel pump replacement - I was trying to avoid that.
keep you posted and thanks again
Ray

 

Thermo
Thanks once again for your input to my start problem. I think you are more than likely correct in saying that the fuel pump itself needs replacing. I am going to replace the filter as a first option and then get more serious if it becomes necessary.
I think I will miss out on the metalworking - making a hole might just dig me into a bigger one - however an interesting option should dropping the tank prove problematic.
regards
Ray

 

Ray,
Just so you know the nice engineers at jaguar thought it would be a good idea to install the gas tank and then the rear sub frame.
which unfortunately for us means to remove the gas tank we have to remove the sub frame first.
I would highly recommend testing the fuel pressure at the rail to confirm you need a new pump.

 

Hi Paul
Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs ! . Even more pieces to remove to replace a little diddy fuel pump. Nice people these xtype designers obviously thought owners of the cat needed extra practice in stripping down their cars. On a similar note - changing the headlight bulbs, removal of the back light covers and even cleaning the inside of headlight lens requires the removal of the front bumper/fender and underneath skirt. A joyous and heartwarming job especially if you have large hands that just don't fit into places where those blessed with mini maulers can get to.
I will not go into the problems with changing lamda sensors - suffice it to say this car is a beast in every sense of the word. It must be my masochistic tendencies that still enables me to actually love the car.
Anyway thank you very much for the info - I have viewed the video on Utube ( brilliant) and will get hold of a pressure testing guage to confirm (or not) mine / cats fate.

 

Just to clear things up, X-type has only one fuel pump which pumps fuel from both sides of the tank.