My 1998 Jaguar XJ8 4.0 has been sitting idle on the street for about 3 months and I can't get her to start.
I've put in a new battery, very nearly fires but not quite. I'm thinking maybe a problem with the fuel getting into the engine. I'm a complete novice any tips would be appreciated.

It does crank, just tried with full throttle and it very nearly started but not quite.
Quite strong smell of petrol now

Many thanks
Will

 

Will,

I've moved your question from General Tech Help to X308 forum. This is the place for technical questions about your model.

Graham

 

Thanks Graham. Much appreciated

 

For your possible fuel issue, review this... https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...j8-vdp-237505/

Once you've done this and gotten back to us, ..and if it isn't the issue, ...we may be moving on to a possible bore wash. But one thing at a time.

 

Fuel pressure good.
its it possible it could be a fuse? When I had some work done at a garage, they knocked something in the fuse box under the back seat and that stopped the car from starting. (not ideal when your picking up a car that's meant to be fixed)
Not sure what to look for in the fuse box.

 

Disconnect the maf harness and try to start it . A obd scan tool is helpful you May have bad crankshaft sensor or bad ignition coils . Big vacuum leak

 

Your fuse configuration is in the owners manual if you have one.

 

For a possible bore wash condition, review this tutorial...
Source... JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource (highly recommend bookmarking it)
Said article using the Search... JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource

To what mobile1 stated, if you disconnect the MAF and try to start it...it will go into a default (thus throwing a code). It will then put your fuel trims and air flow readings at a fixed drive-able position. This is just to allow you to get to a safe place if on the road.

The CPS he speaks of can get dirty and will cause a no start condition as well. It needs to be removed and cleaned, but requires some under the car work.

 

Given that it is trying to start, sure sounds like bore wash (lack of compression due to gasoline -- at startup -- washing oil off the cylinder walls). Since it is trying to start, help it out: put the accelerator all the way to the floor and hold it there (this shuts of gas flow -- like opening the choke on older cars); then crank it in short bursts. Works often as not for bore wash. If not pull a couple of plugs and eye dropper oil into the cylinders . . .HH's tutorial is a great source.

 

The check valves in the fuel lines may not be holding the proper pressure as you start

The # 1 pump will only run for 4 seconds and then off by design from the ignition switch

It will turn on again for the duration of your drive by the CKPS seeing engine rotation

This is a crash / safety design

You can overcome a leaking check valve by rotating the key several times

This may charge the fuel lines high enough to get a proper fuel injector charge to the cylinders

But then again if not a successful light off you put yourself in a bore wash condition

 

Thanks for the guidance all.
Reading the article I'm inclined to think its going to be this dreaded bore wash situation, the extract from the article below describes exactly what happened.
'When you move the car from the driveway to the road, starting the car then turning it off and or taking short trips that the engine does not get to the optimum operating temperature'
So looks like I'll need to introduce some oil to the cylinders although think maybe should check the inertia switch if I can find it.

 

First try holding the pedal to the floor, which stops fuel flow, crank in several short bursts, then back off pedal and see if it stars.

 

I'm over the moon
Bore wash did the job (I had my doubts). I took of all the spark plugs and squirted oil in the cylinders.
May have gone overboard on the oil but once the smoke cleared everything was running perfectly.
Thanks for all the help

PS. Anyone know how to put life back in the things that are meant to keep the bonnet open, had to make do with a stick

 

Replace the hood struts.

 

Good deal, glad it worked....and a +1 to Addicted's post.