I have a '05 XJ8L Starter Problem. The car has virtually a new battery and was working fine. It usually sits up a lot in the garage and I had not put a battery tender on it. But the last time it cranked just fine , ran the engine a few minutes put it back in garage, went to take it out last weekend and it want crank. Put a battery tender on the battery in trunk over night and in morning the green indicator said battery was charged. But everything is dead when I open the doors no lights come on or the dash like usual. When I try to crank, everything is dead, it doesn't even try to turn over. Also when I put battery tender on it there's is this clicking sound even when I put the trunk down? Suggestions what the problem is?

 

I would suspect a loose or corroded ground cable. I would remove and clean the ground cable at both ends and clean it. Be careful, the stud is aluminum and easily broken on the body. There are two ground studs just behind the headlights or either side. Remove the plastic cover on the radiator support to see them. Again be gentle! aluminum stud on an aluminum inner fender. Same thing, clean the wire ends with electric spray cleaner, no sand paper or wire brush. Then reassemble.

 

I would make sure that the battery clamps are clean and snug.

 

Battery cables look basically brand new and are snugged. I will try grantorino62 suggestions when back in town. grantorino62 on your quote, "There are two ground studs just behind the headlights or either side."
Is that "or" suppose to "on"? In other words, on both sides?

 

Yes, both sides.

 

These are the studs grantorino is talking about? "I would remove and clean the ground cable at both ends and clean it." If I got the correct end for each side, how do you clean the ground on the other end? Seem like the other end is running back into the car hidden or unreachable? (Excuse me, I'm a newbie lol)

Driver side


Passg side

 

Yes, those are the studs. BE GENTLE! They say that they're easily broken taking the nuts off or upon reinstalling.

 

I cleaned both sides. How do you reach the other end, seems like the other end is running back into the car? Anyway, cleaning both sides of these studs didn't help. Battery tender has battery fully charge but when I open the car door no lights come on nor does the dash mileage doesn't light up either. More suggestions???

 

Can you all give some more troubleshooting that I might can try to get this started? Can't even take it to a mechanic without getting out of the garage...

 

I would start at the battery and the battery earth.

There is a copy of the Jag electrical ciruit on the sticky page.

Diag. 1.1 shows a transit isolation relay and the megafuses.

You will need to check that there is power after the megafuses first.