Hi Guys

Can anyone help, I have recently inherited a Jag XJ V8 executive 3.2 2001, It hadn't run for around 6 months so the battery was flat when I got round to starting it I charged the battery and it started straight away, unfortunately it ran for about 30 seconds and just died as if it was out of fuel which it is not.since then I have gone down the bore wash route removing spark plugs and squirting oil into each cylinder which has not had any effect. I then tried some easy start straight into the throttle body and bingo she fired up but died immediately when I stopped spraying the easy start in so I guess I have a fuel problem, can anyone suggest what my next step should be.

Thanks

 

My next step would be to check the pressure at the Shrader valve on the fuel rail. Unscrew the blue plastic cap, and with the ignition on, if you depress the Schrader valve with your finger you should get fuel squirt out 6"-8" in the air under pressure. (make sure you have clean rags available to soak up any fuel)

Or, a more thorough test would be to attach a fuel pressure gauge to the same Shrader valve, with the ignition on you should get a pressure reading of approx 38-42psi

 

+1

This test will let you know if you have a bad fuel pump, bad fuel pump relay or a badly gummed up fuel filter. Your ignition and compression seem fine.

 

Check fuel pressure

 

Thanks everyone I will try this at the weekend, fingers crossed

 

Thanks for that, I have now established there is not fuel pressure I operated the valve and there was a slight trickle of fuel but no pressure. I can hear a short buzzing when I turn on the ignition which I am assuming is the fuel pump. What next, I have read about a safety cutout switch, is this a possibility and where would I find it.

I have a limited knowledge of mechanics but would like to resolve this without the need of a garage £££££ !

Thanks

 

It is beginning to sound like you do have fuel issues.

The fuel safety switch is in the glove box/footwell area (I assume it is the same on RHD cars), but it is highly unlikely that it has been tripped.

You could check the fuel pump relay.

You could also replace the fuel filter located near the rear axle.

If you remove the padding/insulation boards from the trunk to reveal the fuel tank, you should be able to hear the fuel pump running when you turn the ignition on.

If you do need to replace the fuel pump, you have to remove the fuel tank. This is a PITA due to the difficulty of accessing and disconnecting the fuel lines at the front of the fuel tank. I would recommend having the work done by a good independent shop. It shouldn't cost too much, labor should be about 4 hours, a fuel pump is around $50-$100

 

You can do a simple test of the fuel pump: remove the fuel pump relay (relay panel in the boot). The diagram below shows two pump relays, "relay 1" and "relay 2", which are for supercharged engines but you will have only one of them. Then, plug two wires (preferably having spade connectors) into the relay sockets marked red on the diagram, You can then touch the two wires together and listen for the fuel pump sound (there is no need to switch the ignition on). If the pump is running, leave the two wires connected and try to start the engine.

 

Thanks M. Stojanovic, I will try the relay next.