Hi all

Have a 2001 jag xj exec- for 12 months its run like a dream until today. I drove the car to my local garage to fill up. Once id filled up i tried to start the car and it wouldnt. It cranks over fine but didnt seem to fire. Ive managed to get it home but it start wont start and now the battery is flat.

I want to try to assess the problem myself before i go down the garage route. Any help would be great. Thanks in anticipation.

Please note the following- car has run perfectly till today----yes i put in the correct petrol!

 

Hi Steve, You'll have better luck getting an answer if you post this under the model section for your car. People there will be more familiar with the oddities and what to look for.

 

Steve, the first possibility would be cylinder wash although I thought they had just about sorted that problem out by 2001. Does it sound like the engine is spinning fast ? (when the battery was good) You can search around for cylinder wash, but basically it is when the injectors wash the oil coating off the cylinder bores and the engine cannot get enough compression to start. It usually happens after a short trip or moving the car around and the engine never got up to temp. The cure is to squirt a shot of oil into each spark plug hole and give it a go.

 

Also check for fuel pressure once the battery is fully recharged.

You may have a fuel pump fail - to check lift the bonnet and locate the fuel pressure test valve, like a tyre valve on the fuel injection rail, I think it'll be on your passenger side from memory. A thin screwdriver to push down on the valve, if petrol squirts out with the ignition fully on the pump's ok, if it dribbles, then a pump is likely.

Be careful, use rags around the valve. Optional extra - missus with fire extinguisher at close quarters..

 

thanks for that- i thought theyd sorted this issue as well- but you never know with manufacturers. will try ----and hope! appreciate the advise

 

Steve,
If you've got fuel pressure below should work as suggested.
The oil squirt in plug holes will work. I would suggest 1 squirt, crank engine over for a few seconds, with fuel relay pulled in trunk fuse block (so you don't wash the oil away again). Add a second squirt, button up and start. I did this after car sat for 10 months waiting for me to do the secondary chains & tensioners.
I had previously had a no start, presumeably to wash, and I finally got it going by going through a series of crank cycles of 30 seconds or so, followed by 5 minute cool down so as to not burn up the starter. It finally took about the 5th cycle. Either method also kills the local mosquitoes once started. Good luck!