2005 X type 3.0 automatic. Car runs perfect with no issues 98% of the time. It randomly has times when it will not start. Only happens when we want to start it first time during the day. I drove it Sunday with no issues, this morning no start. This happens once in a while. Last time I took spark plug one out to see if we had spark and when I did it started. Haven't tried that yet. I can hear the fuel pump run on key on, it seems like there is no fuel, the car is in the garage and I smell no gas smell. Haven't tried starting fluid yet either. Really trying to get to the root of the problem and I know if I get it running it may be days or weeks until the symptom shows up again... No Check engine light or codes on the scanner either. Any advice, I am at a loss and growing frustrated as this is my wifes car and she loves it, but each time this happens I grow closer to selling it. Done a lot of searches but am not able to locate anything that is similar to my issue. Thanks

Also it cranks just fine and just put a new battery in 2 months ago when this happened last time.

 

Lets see what we can do to help.
First when you say won't start. Is the engine cranking over and not firing or is it not cranking?
Next when you experience this condition how much fuel is in the tank? The tank design is a saddle and has 2 pumps. The first is to send fuel to the main pump side of the saddle and the second sends fuel to the engine.
Last step for now, check the wiring for the crankshaft position sensor and make sure it has come loose from the sensor or is damaged, clean the contacts for the sensor and remove and clean the face of the sensor.
The sensor can be accessed by removing the passenger side tire and the wheel arch inner cover. The sensor is located behind the crankshaft harmonic balancer on the front of the engine.

 

Sounds like dying fuel pump.
Test:
Turn ignition on w/o starting for 5 sec.
Off
again start.
If pump is weak, it needs a few seconds to pump enough pressure to start engine. Usually in the morning.

 

The engine is cranking when this happens, fuel levels vary and don't seem to have any pattern. I can check the sensor and clean it later on. Thanks for the tips. Somewhere I read about a duel cutoff switch? Also FUSE F92 which I cannot seem to locate, any thoughts?

 

I did try this but will try again. Would this be a random issue? What about when I did this last time and pulled the number one plug then it started?

 

I would start with changing the fuel filter. It can cause intermittent no start fuel starved conditions. When my pump went (was weak from purchase apparently), it drew fuel from the main side fine (LHD passenger's side), but would not draw from the driver's side. I'd run out of gas with 80-100 miles left on range (no warning, no chugging, just died). Drove it like that for nearly 1 1/2 years, then the main side began failing. Cut a hole in the passenger rear seat plate and replaced the pump (see my post on procedure w/pics) & all is well including ability to run it "dry" (not recommended) with appropriate low fuel light illumination and NAV warning of low fuel at 30 miles range.

Do you have an OBD reader? When the main started going, the fuel pressure measurements were all over the place, not steady. And mine did throw some codes, you can read about it in "my kitty died today" thread. Before that, even with no pumping of fuel from the driver's side, my pressure was always steady.

Btw, f92 is pre 2004+ models for other things as well as coils.

 

OK, fuel was low, just below 1/4 tank. Low fuel light was not on, added 5 gals of gas and it started. Now, going to replace the filter, should I consider replacing the pump. Scanner shows 56 psi fuel pressure when car is running. Any other suggestions? Keep the tank fuller will be one I know. Like to get the car back to normal. Thanks so much for the tips....

 

Mine was just like that, at 80-100 miles range at above the 1/4 mark a bit (dist. to empty) it would not start. And btw, it always happened after driving then parking. Was running, stopped, turned key off, came back out or next day and no start. Another member says his does it too. If I put 3-5 gallons in, it fired immediately, no extra turning over. Of course that is subjective as I've always rolled the key, waited for dash lights to extinguish then hit start. So doing that would allow the fuel p.s.i. to normalize.

As I stated, I drove mine for 1 1/2 years monitoring the range, BUT I will say this, since pump replacement it has taken that "tense feeling" away of always looking at the fuel gauge and how far before I pull into a fuel station.

 

Darcy: How many miles? If 80+K miles, I agree with the above comments that the fuel pump may be reaching end of life and working intermittently. Also agree that changing the fuel filter is a good idea because it's cheap and easy vs. replacing the fuel pump, but if won't revive a failing pump. After changing the fuel filter in my X-Type (at ~100+K miles IIRC), it ran reliably for ~6 months until the problems resumed and I replaced the fuel pump.

BYW, you probably replaced spark plug #2 by the oil fill cap because it's the most accessible plug. On our X-Types, cylinders 1, 3 & 5 are on the firewall / bulkhead side, where you must remove the intake manifold to access them.

Vern: I too thought our X-Types had two fuel pumps, until I found this post by astromorg showing how 1 pump does the job of 2: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...7/#post1101975