I'm surprised this happens to so many. I've just learned to deal with it. Never know when it will not start. Lately, after a no start, I take the key out, put back in and turn, she starts.

A few weeks ago I couldn't open the gas cover. I try several combos of sticking key in ignition, starting car, getting out, locking door, unlocking, and finally hit the jackpot and filled my tank.

Quirkiest car I've ever seen but love driving it. I am NOT going to spend money trying to figure it out until it simply will not start and run.

 

All this same stuff happened to me this past week. Replaced the starter relay,nada. Removed the starter $ solenoid, Cleaned up the contacts, and it works like a charm. Iwill say that getting the starter back in and starting the top bolt is a task. No room to work, small hands/fingers win the day. I priced out starters beforehand, around $150. from the usual suspects. You can probably do this on the ground, but a lift sure helps...

 

I have had intermittent starting problems and went through most all of the cures discussed here, when my 98 VDP acted up you would turn the key and no click even. Three years ago I decided to replace the starter and got a denso unit with low miles. When it arrived I put it in my trunk, and the car has started everytime. Are Jags haunted or not? LOL

 

Before I got rid of it, the thing would ALWAYS start normally if i removed and then replaced the ignition relay . This could have nothing to do with the starter itself but must be resetting some logic or software which inhibits starting; probably in the anti theft system. I could find noone with the expertise required to debug the system.

 

+1 for the problem and +1 for all the suggestions! I have had the same failure on my 2001 XJ8L. Twice in 5000 miles and 18 months on a 50K mile vehicle. First time, it started after sitting for 15 minutes after several tries, wiggling the trans selector, etc. Second time, no start after a bunch of tries. I opened the hood, checked connection to various loom branches. Shut the hood and it started right up after about 20 minutes from the first no-start condition. When I got home, after reading this, I ordered a new starter relay since, in my experience, they tend to be the culprit a lot and it's a cheap fix. In the meantime, I used some contact cleaner on the relay and socket. Next step is to check the starter connections and clean them. I also need to get a couple of keys made, so I'll switch out the ignition key. If that doesn't work, I'll have the exciter ring replaced and the trans interlock.

Thanks to everyone for your generous time and suggestions! Of course, this only happens 100+ miles from home. I'll have to tell my wife about it so she's not so shy about driving it. I HATE intermittent electrical problems like this. Maybe even as much as a repair tech. Chasing ghosts!

 

I've gotten so used to it now and so good at starting it, I expect it!

If it is a false start the first time, I turn it all the way off then back to the on position and wait about two seconds for computer to initialize, then start. Works almost every time. Funny thing, if I wait longer than 2 secs., it will not start.

 

Patricia, I had exactly the same symptoms as you describe. My Jag also is a 2001 XJ8.


I took mine to several Jaguar specialists without success. They could not find the fault.


I eventually took it to a Jaguar dealer who diagnosed and fixed the problem.
It was a faulty ECU. It is important to replace it with exactly the same part number and I was extremely lucky they found a second hand one for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
Also when the ECU is replaced there are several other components that apparently can't be reprogrammed to suit.
They are the Module Key Transponder and the Coil-Key Transponder.

 

The V8's use a Denso starter just like Toyotas.

If turning the key results in a click but no starter motion, suspect the solenoid contacts.

Jaguar will sell you a whole new starter.

Toyota will sell you a starter solenoid repair kit consisting of two copper contacts,
two copper bolts, some nylon washers. Under $10. For big spenders, you can spring for a
new plunger as well.

There are 3 different styles of contacts. Some aftermarket vendors will sell you a
kit containing all 3. $20 or so.

The reason it is intermittent is that the contacts arc and burn. Turning the key again
sometimes gets the plunger through the crud. It only gets worse until one day it
won't start at all and you are walking to the nearest Toyota dealership parts
department.

All of the wait 30 seconds, bang on the console, check the relays and other
rituals is coincidental. It's just a delay before trying the key again, the plunger
makes contact this time, the car starts. Therefore, it must be the ritual.

 

I have had problems with the battery draining - intermittently, and the car not starting when I turned the key, even when there appeared to be plenty of battery power or when I had it on a charger in start mode. Today I went to start it but had picked up my wife's key. She had complained for years that the car wouldn't start for her, but it did for me. I went back and got my key. The car started right up. Turned it off, tried it again, no problem. Went back to her key and it wouldn't start. do you think this is a programming issue or a bad key? Both keys are original and I have owned the car since it was delivered new.

 

Kansas: I had the same problem with my 2001; took both keys to my independent to reprogram both keys. No problem since

 

Hi, I'm new on the forum but have found a possible reason for intermittent non-start on this model of car. This one had cut out and the dash display was showing ABS fault and gearbox fault. I checked the 80Amp Mega fuse in the underbonnet fuse box and there was no feed. On the underside of the fuse box the main feed terminal was loose. I tightened the 13mm nut and normal service was resumed. To access undo the two 8mm headed bolts and lift up the fuse box. I wrapped my 1/4dr socket and ratchet in tape to avoid any risk of shorting out as it is permanently live. Hope this helps someone avoid paying the dealer costs for what is a basic fault.

 

I dont know how it is in the rest of the world, but here in Europe/Sweden, our cars suffers qiute alot from the shitty weather we have for abbout 6 month a year..

Since i bought a 1998 Daimler Jaguar, my brother cracked as well and bought one too... Unfortunally i was not with him when he bought it.. then i maybe would have told him not to.. The car proved to be a major electrical alzheimers case..
It did start.. but the keyfob that came with the car was ***** and not even a Jaguar one.. if anything happend at all, using that ugly thingie of a kefob, it was very random.. After getting proper keyfobs it proved to be absolutley not possible to pair them with the car.. so what then?

Bought set of keyfobs from a salvage Jaguar including the sequrity box and with that box replaced, finally everything worked like a charm.. (it is located under the trunk relay/fuse central

I had to open that sequrity box and se what the heck had gone wrong with it, and i was not surpriced to se that the printed cirquitboard had started to corrode at a few places.. it actually looked quite crappy..

Its just to realise the cruel reality of our dear Jaguars electrical installation; most of the boxes in the car are NOT enviromentally protected in any long lasting way.. over time, due to changes in weather, moisture levels and temperatures, the boxes will have to deal with condensation inside.. and ultimately die the "corroded cirquitboard death"..

The printed board inside the drivers side door switches/buttons had died in the same way... with it replaced.. memory, windows and mirrors came back online as well... :-)

-For me it was an eyeopener.. so i figure that the sequritybox and the boxes in the doors might, since they are "out in the cold" so to speak, will last a bit longer if i, on my now well functioning Jag, take a look in theese boxes and clean/retreat the boards with the proper protection laquerstuff...

Engine control, gearbox control, bodyprocessor and chrashsensor boxes seem to have got the proper enviromental protection though.

I cannot (not yet) link starting problems to the sequrity box, but most defenitly to some cases of keyfob alzheimers.

/E