Hi People, my name is Thom. New to this whole forum thing, but looking for some help with my 86 Xj6. I just got this car a couple months ago. It’s the car I’ve always wanted. I happen to stumble into this one. It’s in great condition and only has 46,000 miles on it. It was put into storage 10+ yrs ago and the rats decided to feast on the wiring. Well I’ve taken a large amount of time splicing all the wires back together. I have s as Lao done a total flush of all systems prior to trying to start. So the day I’ve been waiting for is here. I go to start my car for the first time and it won’t start. So I try a shot of starter fluid and it fires right up and then dies again. So it will run and start with starter fluid but not without. Any

 

Thom, that is typical for a car that has sat for years. I am sure you will get help here. You need to go through elimination process until it starts again.

make sure your battery is fully charged because you will be cranking and cranking.

 

Hello, Thom,
Congratulations on your new Barn Find!! Every day there are fewer of these out in the wild.
What Fun!!

I'll bet the fuel in your system has turned to jelly. That means you get to do a flush of the entire system from back to front, And, tanks too until it runs clear and there are no rust flecks. Then add fuel and see if it will run now.

I wish you success.
Welcome to our playroom from ElinorB.
(';')

 

I once resurrected a gas Mercedes and some of things that stopped it from running was a clogged fuel return line and a fuel filter that sounded like a maraca when I shook it after it was off the car. You have spark, so that is one third of the equation. Sounds like you have compression if it runs on starter fluid, just need good fuel. As others have stated, I would go through the entire fuel systems, tanks, pump, filter, lines, injectors, etc... Everything needs to be clean and debris free.

 

And check the fuel pump, which would anyway it would be be wise to replace it.

 

Have you drained the fuel tanks and got rid of any old fuel? You need to remove the cover rubbers under each tank and use a 9/16 spanner to undo the bungs.
Really old fuel loses its iso octanes and is more like kerosene (lamp oil?) and won't start an engine.
Check if the fuel pump is running. Select any gear except N or Park. Open the trunk/boot lid. and get somebody to activate the ignition key all the way to start. The starter won't activate but you should hear the pump run.
This trick of running the pump is also a good way to flush the fuel lines after you put in new fuel prior to attempting to start the engine
While you are at it give consideration to installing an in-line filter prior to the pump as old tanks will have some crud and those fuel pumps are not tolerant of any contamination.
One other thing is to make sure when the pump is running that you are getting fuel pressure. My son had aS3 XJ6 and the pump motor was running but it had sheared the pump internally.
Cheers

 

Do you know it was parked up for 10 years?
Have you confirmed that you had any spark when you first tried to start it? if yoru have no spark then go back and check you wiring
When you take the cap off the fuel tank- how does it smell? Did you do anything to the fuel system before you tried to start it?
Also have a quick look through the service history to see if any work was done prior to its parking up.

If all is fine- use start spray, any doubts then take it apart before going any further