Hi there,

I was sitting at the gas station (chevron) and was ready to go, turned the key, and all I get is the click....again,...click...

Battery has plenty of juice, I loosened and wiggled the connections on the battery to be sure.....just click, click.

It sounds like the starter isn't kicking out or turning over...

Any advice on how to remove the starter on a 2002 XJ8?

Are there 2 or 3 bolts? I can see 2.

Am I correct that I would just need to disconnect the battery, move the harness out of the way, intake tube thingy and then have access from the top...yes?

I'm not much of a mechanic but I am hoping this is simple enough...
Ordered the part from Napa auto parts and picking it up tomorrow.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

I was just reading through the repair manual. It says two bolts, one upper, one lower. The upper is the tricky one. The manual also says to unbolt the steering rack to move it out of the way. I don't remember if that was necessary. One thing I do remember seeing on those cars were loose starter wires. Make sure both the battery cable nut (13mm) and the starter wire (9 or 10 mm) are tight. The starter is not fun to replace and cannot be done from above.

 

While this was NOT the news I was hoping for, it is very helpful....I'll try removing it tomorrow morning and if I run into trouble I'll just have to suck it up and bring it to my local mechanic who has a lift.


But Thank you for the info-much appreciated

 

How old is the battery?
That might still be the problem.

 

Connection at the false bulkhead??????????????????????????

Melted?????????????????????????

bob gauff

 

Where is this false bulkhead??
I'm assuming it is the original battery, but it appears to have plenty of juice.

 

Hi
Here are 2 new threads that gives information on removing and installing the starting motor and steering rack.

1st one gives instructions & illustrations on the R&I on the starter motor.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...23/#post479175

This other thread gives instructions and illustrations on removing and installing the steering rack.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ack-r-i-69421/

Jim Lombardi

 

Make sure that you have 12V at the starter before you go to all this trouble - it may be a faulty relay way before the starter motor, itself, or as said above, one of the 12V bulkhead pass-throughs that is loose. This is guaranteed to get you a CLICK when you turn the key.

Check these obvious things before going to the serious trouble of starter removal, not to mention the PURCHASE PRICE of an un-needed starter, if the problem is elsewhere.

 

The false bulkhead: the area covered by plastic on the right hand side of the engine bay at the base of the windshield, the front surface of that cubby has a positive lead running off it, on the reverse side is the other positive cable that it connects to, there is a stud joining the two. That joint likes to get loose, arc and melt. You can have 12V showing, but still not enough amperage to run the starter. So, just probing it with a meter is not good enough. You must know that it is tight and clean.

Quick hint: if you jumper between the front and back cable with a jumper cable and everything then works, you know it is that connector.

 

Hi
I also found this Starting System information that has all the componets and flow diagrams:

XJ (X308) Starting System.pdf

Here is the Power Distribution parts listing with diagram:



Jim Lombardi

 

Hah!

It was just the battery !

Since the battery didn't take much of a charge I thought it was the starter, but it just wasn't getting enough juice to kick out.

Thanks again guys