Hello folks,

I appear to be cursed with my 1983 Series 3 VDP, having just spent three weeks attempting to get it started, in the process replacing just about everything related to fuel and spark.

It ran faultlessly until a few days ago, when one day driving home a huge fountain of fuel began gushing out of the right hand filler cap.

I switched tanks and it continued to run fine until last night when it died completely and I had to have it delivered home on the back of a tow truck. Mobile mechanic found spark, a pulse at the injectors and I had plenty of fuel. Fuel pump and associated componentry are okay (according to him).

I am aware of all the return valves etc, and the history of this happening, including the bulletins from Jaguar in 1979 warning owners/dealers of the problem.

The issue I have is that the car is booked into a local Jaguar specialist on Monday for a stakedown kit and valvetrain repair, so I need to get it running to at least get it to his workshop so he can make whatever repairs necessary. It has taken me ages to wait for a free slot in his schedule and I don't want to miss out.

Is it possible to temporarily bypass this overly complicated system? I have a pair of Series 2 tanks and the joining pieces, so was wondering if I could plumb the Series 3 tanks together - self levelling as it were, and just having one supply line and one return line?

Whatever is happening to my car, it now will not work properly on either tank. It will fire, then die. Sometimes with some creative throttle work, I can manage to keep it running, but it 'hunts' badly and is totally undrivable.

Is there a quick temporary fix I can adopt to get the thing to my Jaguar mechanic?

Many thanks.

 

in my experience, idle "hunting" (up and down revving of the engine by itself) could be an issue with the Coolant Temp SENSOR. (not the Temp SENDER).

2) it could also be caused by loose air intake hoses after the air filter,
3) it could also be caused by a clogged Auxiliary Air Valve,
4) and there could also be an issue with the AFM, for which years ago there was a "fix" which entailed soldering a resistor.

I have never experienced the gushing of gasoline through the filler cap.

 

A problem in the changeover system is allowing fuel to be drawn from the left tank but returned to the right tank




Yes



Yes, they can be plumbed together by taking the changeover valve out of the system ....leaving you with a supply line from each tank which you would "tee" together to feed the fuel pump.

Both return lines can be left intact but of course at least one of them must be operational.....which shouldn't be a problem in your case

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks guys, I will plumb the tanks together in order to get it running again. I have already replaced the AFM and coolant temperature sensor, but have not had a look at the AAV, might as well replace it for piece of mind.