Hi, scratching my head. 98 xj8 was in storage. Took it out of storage and after replacing a few items ( tires, fuel pump etc) started right up and drive fine. Had the new timing chain installed. Drove fine but did go into limp mode off and on. But no smoke. Was fast enough to get me a ticket at 95 mph even. Then one day stopped it. Then tried to start it and engine turns. Their is spark and fuel but will not start. Codes were about compression. I would think even with low compression it would at least start. I thought compression issues begin over time and not just a sudden go or no go. Changed both cam sensors and still no go. Thinking a simple wire or fault could be the culprit? Any ideas? Thanks

 

Bore wash? Did you start it for a minute or two and stop it again?

Cranking at WOT sometimes works, otherwise a teaspoon of oil down the plugholes.

 

An XJ8 only has one cam sensor, does it not?... But it sure sounds like bore wash to me, assuming everything you say is checked is OK.

 

+1 on probably bore wash

 

Just because unanswered questions bug me, here you go:

Up to VIN 853935, the X308 has one camshaft sensor mounted at the rear of the LH or B bank, and the part number is LCA1646AD.

From VIN 853936 (start of the 1999 MY), there are two camshaft sensors, one on each bank, and the part numbers are:

LH or B bank: LRA1646BC
RH or A bank: LRA1646DB

I presume this change took place at the transition from the AJ26 to the AJ27.

Cheers,

Don

 

Yep, Don, it is the change from AJ26 to AJ27 with the accompanying change from discrete two position cam advancement to proportional cam advance on each side. I also don't know what codes are "about compression". I just wondered what the story behind the story is here! Maybe I can learn something.

I assume jd might have been referring to the cam and crank position sensors, but he seems to have gone missing!

 

I should have mentioned that you were right, Ross, that jd's car should only have one cam sensor. I don't know what codes refer to compression either, so maybe jd can tell us the exact codes when he visits again and we'll both learn something.

 

Everyone thank you for the responses.

My friend who is a real mechanic is going to provide more information under my name. He has better facts than I do. I really appreciate y'all's help. I really hope not to have to part out the car because I like it and have put money in to drive it again. I am retired and really don't want to have to get another car at this time. Thanks Jd

 

Searching the DTC Summaries manual, low cylinder compression is mentioned among the possible causes for the misfire codes P0300-P0308, and P1313 and P1314, but lots of other possible causes are also given.

You can download the AJ26 DTC Summaries here:
http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Auto...%201997-99.pdf

And the AJ27 DTC Summaries here:
http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Auto...7_ECM_2000.pdf

Other years are available at jagrepair.com (thanks to the generous time and effort of the website creator, Gus).

Cheers,

Don

 

Sir, Will P here, I have a 2000 xj8 vp with the 4 liter engine. I don't know on what site I learned the following, and if it is not on this site maybe this could go in to some kind of info heap.

One day I cranked my xj8 and moved it about 6 feet and cut it off, the next day I went to crank it and it wouldn't fire period. I tried and tried, I thought maybe a fuel pump but when researching this on the web, a guy said there was a program error it those models, I assume yours might be like mine. He said the factory reset of the computer was to be sure you battery is well charged and put the petal to the floor and hold the crank for 15 seconds, don't raise the petal from the floor, wait about 60 seconds and do it again, then while pressing it still crank again. Then let off the petal and crank normally. I was thinking this is crazy but, desperate people, and guess what the thing cranked normally and I was one happy camper for several years till my current tranmission woes, Will P good luck, worth a try.........

 

that was 30 seconds not sixty Will P

 

It's not any form of factory reset.

It's cranking but not adding any more fuel (to shift air through to clear flooded engine but also to restore compression).

You need WOT (fully wide open throttle) because that tells the PCM not to add any fuel. Near WOT will not do, as it will add yet more fuel.