My lovely old Jag wouldn't start up in the middle of nowhere the other day - all the accessories and lights were working but the engine wouldn't crank. The RAC man came and connected a battery straight to the starter motor and it started. Got it home fine, is there anything obvious worth checking before taking it to a garage (fuses/relays)?

 

The starter solenoid relay must click closed to close the solenoid attached to the staret assembly , there are swapping options

You must put your finger on the relay and feel it click as other things click at the same time

This relay clicking splits your troubleshooting in half

In hooking up starter jump cables they may have bypassed certain things

Which engine do you have as there are some small differences in the starting system

 

So you have the supercharged engine with the GM transmission that does not have a transmission attached rotary position switch

 

Try waggling the gear selector in park. There is a switch there too

 

Failing which, engine bay earths.

 

Place your finger on the key barrel and move the shift lever out of park and you should feel a click on the key barrel confirming the not in park switch working

 

I have the 1996 XJR6 with the AJ16S/C. Supercharged straight-six and General Motors 4L80-E trans.

Thank you, I will check the solenoid.

He bypassed practically everything to start it, I'll post a pic tomorrow.

 

Check fuse # 12 / 10 amp right engine bay fuse box

and

Fuse # 3 / 25 amp left engine bay fuse box

These are the 2 fuses for the starter solenoid relay

 

 

Thanks Parker, I checked the two fuses (fine) and the relay (clicking) then plugged the starter back in, and it fired straight up! Strange. But happy to be driving again.