Please help im stranded. Ignition not turning. Clicking noise by glovebox when trying to start car lights work windows work battery on but when turn key nothing.... Any ideas?

 

I was able to get it started by putting it in neutral but it was a real rough start followed by a low faint idle for the first 30 seconds.... Anyone have this happen?

 

Applying a bit of "older car thoughts", it sounds like an ignition switch "electrical section" failing, which on the early cars (our 'XJ-S for example) is a seperate item to the locking area, and is a known failure item and easily cleaned/repaired.

The fact it started in "N" is interesting and leaning to a neutral start switch problem. I do know on the XJ40 (J gate also) the switch pack on the RH side of the gearlever assembly has the neutral switch incorporated inside it, so the X300 may be the same.

The rough running is from fuel that is squirted in on each and every ON of the ignition switch, so you effectively partially flooded the engine. This quickly cleared once started.

 

Thanks a lot for the great info Grant! Really appreciate your help over the years. Beers are on me should you find yourself in Hawaii sometime. Gunna look into this once work clears up a bit.
Mahalo

 

I know this may be a really obvious thing but are you sure the gear lever was all the way into "Park" when you tried to start your car? Sometimes the lever just needs a good push towards the clock and that would cure your problem.
If it happens again, have a look at the "P" at the top end of the gate. If the "P" is not lit up in red, take the lever down to Reverse and then back up into Park, making sure it goes all the way.
Cheers,
Steve

 

It was def in park haha thanks for the input though! I appreciate it. I could see how that could be the problem if i hadnt checked

 

The gearshift may be in Park but it the "P" doesnt glow red it means the electronics don't recognize that it's in park.

Cheers
DD

 

What about when you put the stick in a position and then move it just a fraction and then back again? I can do this in certain positions and the respective letter will stop glowing, but everything seems to work OK.

 

As far as I know, at the moment, IF yours is a 3.2ltr, like mine, the trans is a mechanical style (kickdown cable) as versus the 4ltr, with electronic change (no kickdown cable) and with those 4ltr cars the "electronic" bit Doug talked about is relevent.

I do know from the XJ40 days, that if the "D" did NOT light up on the instrument section the cruise control would not work, mmmmm, maybe the X300 are the same, I am not sure.

I had my ski slope off for a stereo upgrade some years back, and removed that switch pack, just because, and gave it a general clean out/up, and was quite surprised at the gunk that came out of it. I reset it after installation, and ensured ALL the lights did what they should, and never had an issue since, or before that either, just housework as they say. Lubed all the gearlever bits at the same time.