Hi everyone,

Great forum! I have been reading your posts for a while and think I have picked up loads of useful info so I hope I am not asking questions that have been answered!

I have a 1999 3.2 XJ8 (I am in the UK so it's RHD).

Was running fine till one morning it just cranks but will not start.

I have charged up my battery, changed the plugs (needed doing anyway).

There are sparks firing at the plugs and I think I can hear the fuel pump in the trunk.

Sometimes when it cranks The display in the car cycles through "Trac not availaible" "ASC not available" while it is cranking. I have read that this might indicate a bad battery, but mine is only a year old.

I tried the trick suggested of using the valve on the injector rail to see if the fuel system was pressurizing, but I am not sure how much pressure I should be seeing, a trickle, a squirt? I will try and borrow a pressure guage, but could someone tell me what sort of pressure I should be looking for.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Paul.

 

There is a real good 'no start' check list here: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=30792

The starter will rotate the engine with voltage lower than that required by the electronics. A fully charged battery is always the first thing to check. Age isn't the issue.

Getting a little squirt out of the fuel rail valve is not a good measure of pressure. It should measure >41 psi.

 

Thanks Testpoint,

I have been using that guide, I will try a new battery and borrow a fule pressure guage. Thanks for the info.

 

I had a similar problem. Ran fine one day, next morning would crank and not start. Checked battery, was fine. Plugs were fine.
Had car towed to dealer and they cleaned the injectors and throttlebody. Runs fine now.