Hi all, I’m new here and need some help.
I have a 1997 3.2 XJ. I’ve only had it since Saturday. The problem is this morning it just decided to not fire up. It cranks over just fine but will not fire. I have cleaned the crankshaft sensor but that hasn’t help, you can hear the fuel system pump when the ignition key is turn. The engine management light does stay on when the ignition key is turned and the system have completed there checks which I believe means that the immobilisers has turned off ( was told if the engine management light goes out the immobiliser is still activated). I’ve tried spraying easy start down the intake but still no start and the battery voltage is spot on. The only thing I’ve noticed is that when it’s cranking the rpm gauge reads zero but I don’t know if this is normal on this car. Please help.

PS I left a bit out. Last night when I got home I went and brought some batteries for the key fob, when I brought the both fobs had there batteries removed. Once I fitted the batteries I tried the fobs out by opening and then locking the car. Then this morning I used the fob to unlock the car and this cranking but no start issues started.

 

Oooh, you found the problem! If RPM is reading zero while cranking, its the crankshaft position sensor.

Cheap part, 15 minutes to replace, common problem.

 

😂😂 really, I found the issue without realising I frond the issue. I will get the crank sensor on order now. So do you think that me putting batteries into the key fob had nothing to do with the car not starting and was just a coincidence. I finally got hold of the previous owner and they said they stopped using the key fobs around 2012 when they stopped work so they have just been in a draw ever since so they tell me.

 

Complete coincidence

No way it could have been related.

Does go to show you that the more information you are able to share, the easier it is for us to help!

 

I agree. I thought I was putting down to much stuff in my main post, I’m so glad I did mention everything now. The new sensor will be here tomorrow and I will have it fitted before the sun set and will let you know how it goes. I real do hope that this is the issue. So I take it that these sensors just stop with out any warning at all?

 

This particular one? Yes. It can even strand you, so many people do carry a spare one in the trunk.

This car is notoriously frugal with awarding owners with trouble codes.

 

Hi all. I have some news, the old girl is a live again. It was the crankshaft position sensor. New one turned up today, fitted it and the old girl fired up straight away 😁😁😁
thank you all for your help on this issue I had.
I do have another issue but I’m new to all this, is it best to start a new thread or just continue on this thread?

 

Hi all I lied it’s not fixed just a little bit fixed.
Right the car starts up just fine now and all is good till you hit about 2,000 rpm and the judders, it feels like I’m hitting a rev limiter. Any ideas on this ?

 

Going from bad to worse. It’s now just cranking over again and not firing up 😡😡😡

 

Hi all just to let you all know I have found the issue. It was a break in the 12v power supply wire that goes to the crankshaft position sensor. I found it by pure chance. I got the engine running but it was missing badly. As I was leaning over the engine I touched the sensor cable and the engine ran smoothly the second I let go it started missing again so worked my way along the wire till I felt a lump under the insulation and as I touched it the engine stopped dead. When I removed the insulation that section of wire was all green, white and fluffy. Will be replacing this section of wire tomorrow.