Ok , I need help again !! My Jag sits 98.6 % of the time in the garage , today I decide to go fill up the tank . I'm cruising and I hit the gas ( blow out the cob webs ) , well I hear a pop ( I thought I ran over something ) then realized the engine died !! I coast to the shoulder . Put the car in park , turn the key , no idiot lights , wont turn over...... nothing , cant even shift to neutral !! . WTF
Called my buddy and we were able to FORCE the shift back far enough to get out of park and pull it home. Any ideas what circuits I should look at ??? ( my jag a 1995 xjr supercharged )
Thanks in advance

Tony
ps
battery is always on a battery tender !! Still has full charge

 

hi dont know whats up with it but you don't need to force the gear lever there is a small starish shape plastic screw 7cm to the left of the p on your gear lever you can undo it with your finger (maybe) then put a screwdriver or a pen down the hole it pushes a lever down and you can move the gear lever were you like.

hope you sort it
Mark

 

youll be lucky if you didnt break the shifter, as Mad mark said you should have unscrewed the torx(star) cover over the park release and the ignition key fits down there perfect to release the shifter. As far as not start or lights, chech the battery water. If you can see the plates get another battery its toast. And if the water level is okay, check the battery power, cables, etc. If a battery developes an internal break or open circuit, its like disconnecting a cable....Got through the basics before you worry about more advanced diagnostics

 

Guys , thanks for the response .
Battery is 3 mo old and is always on a batt tender . What gets me is , I turn the key on and the dash doesnt light up . I hooked my scan tool , turn the key and nothing . This circuit isnt getting energized . Yea I know I shouldnt have forced the shift BUT I wanted to get it off the highway and home !! Im a very savvy gear head but this cat has me stumped . And what REALLY SUCKS is its supposed to get a new paint job in 3 wks . any help please would be great !!!

 

Oh and I check all the cables , loosen , tightened , giggled ,checked all fuses[sm=headbang.gif]

 

check the battery for correct current ampheres, even new batteries can be defective (EVER HEARD OF FACTORY DEFECT?)

 

Ok , bought new battery , 850cca and the result is the same. Im stumped . I turn the key and the only thing the comes on is the radio, no idiot lights , no climate control . Any suggestions where I should look ??
Thanks in advance

 

You didn't have to buy a new battery. You could have taken it to an auto parts store and they could checked it for you.

I think you should probably have the car towed to a good shop or dealership. It sounds like a complex electrical issue.

The batteries you are using aren't Bosch by any chance?

 

AJ16r
Yea , I think yur right, i'm going to take it to a shop !!! I discovered today that if I turn the headlights on they barely glow with a FULLY CHARGED batt !!! My guess is something shorted while I hot dogged it that afternoon . My cat is living up to the Jag reputation .
My wife told me to stick with fast boats .
This isnt fun anymore.

Thanks gang for your suggestions [&o]

 

Keep us posted on what it is. Im curious.

 

I've never had this problem so I'm learning as I go.

I'm looking at the "power distribution" schematics and, using the "you gotta start somewhere" philosophy, here's what I would do:

Battery voltage goes to thru two 250 amp fuses and than branches off in two directions on brown wires. One branch goes to the "+" buss in the trunk mounted fuse box which contains an auxilary igntion relay (blue, black base), which also has a brown voltage wire. The other branch goes to the two heelboard fuse boxes each of which has an ignition relay (also blue with black bases, and brown voltage supply wires). After that the brown voltage wires go the the "+" posts on the firewall and to the starter.

So, first things first, use your test light to see if battery supply voltage is getting to all these places.

I suspect that there's a problem with one of the ignition relays which supply voltage to the various sub-systems, but I'm talking outta my hat, really.

Post back.

Cheers
DD

 

If the headlights barely glow with a charged battery, you are not getting full voltage from the battery into the system. You may have a loose bulkhead terminal where the positive cable exits the interior into the engine compartment or a bad engine earth or loose primary wiring in the trunk. Check all the big wires, + and -,until you are sure the circuit is tight.

 

I agree with the advice (since it parallels mine ) but the dim lights might be a red herring.

With the ignition system "off" (or inoperative due to a defect), turning on the headlights will only give you the low wattage city lights, which aredim by design.

I'd like to hear if this problem was resolved !

Cheers
DD

 

Doug, Oldmots

Excellent suggestions !!! I have never seen a auto, boat with so many freakin fuse blocks !! I will follow your advice to the letter . I just had appendix surgery last Sunday so Im still a little sore but will hit it this week end.
Would inertia switch have some involvement in this ??

Thanks again guys

 

yeah check your inertia shut off switch. its on the passenger side under the carpet by the firewall.

 

Just a follow up on the status of my 95 XJR , I had mentioned that my car just died !! Turns out it was the e-ner-sha switch ( not sure of spelling ) tripped cutting power to the dash !!
Switch is located under glove box behind kick panel.