I thought my starting troubles were solved after new battery and new old starter were installed. It started perfectly for two days. On the third day, no joy. It seems I'm back to the starter staying engaged.

The shop that rebuilt my starters thinks there is a problem with the ignition switch keeping voltage on constantly to the starter and wants to install a push button to start the car. I haven't had my car in his shop just my starters. I'm reluctant to do it since that doesn't find the cause.

Further investigation under my dash I found an aftermarket keyless entry a previous owner had installed. I've attached a picture of it. What a mess! The red and white wires had been spliced in to the brown power wire on the bundle that connects to the ignition switch. This of course, broke strands and left them exposed. I'll attach a picture of it in my next post.

I found an installation drawing for the keyless entry, removed all the wiring and made sure that my key would still lock/unlock my doors and trunk. It does.

Any guidance would be appreciated!

 

Here is the damage done to brown power wire to ignition switch by splicing red and white wires from keyless entry.

 

Unless the RKE was wired into the starter circuit I doubt that it is the root cause of your problem.

If the starter is staying engaged it could be the ignition switch or the starter relay.

A starter button could be temporarily installed just to eliminate the ignition switch as a culprit.

Tape up that brown wire so the strands don't short out against something.

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks as always Doug. The starter relay has been changed out too. Forgot to mention that. And yes, I'll tape up the power wire. Do you think it is compromised by having broken strands?

Regarding the starter relay. I know that the white/blue wire on terminal C1 says not used on the wiring diagram, but do you know where the other end goes? Just curious.

 

cooolblu,
The white/blue wire you refer to is on the the C3 terminal which is used on the S3 1985 model & goes to the coil ballast resistor, the blank terminal is on the C3 terminal pre 1982 models, no reference to C1 being blank. I can send you an extract from the schematics i reproduce for the 85 model. if your info still differers i would like a copy of that section to compare.
Your problem seems to point to ignition switch which you could easily disconnect the start wire to relay & replace with a temp push button arrangement.

Tom... jagshemes@live.com.au

 

But only on the models with the 3.4 engine (points type ignition and carburetors!)

Cheers
DD

 

Not really, no. It's a heavy gauge wire and I see only a few brken strands. Probably not significant IMHO


See posts below !

Cheers
DD

 

Just FYI the S57 wiring diagrams for XJ6 Ser III and 80s vintage XJSs do not show a C3 terminal at all! Just W1 W2 C1 C2 C4

Cheers
DD

 

doug,
you are correct, the S57 guide is for the later S3 late 86/87, the info i've posted is for the 85 model, so perhaps coolblu has the wrong guide or a system mod to 87...

 

I have been using the publication S57 in the sticky notes as a guide. Revised 7/88. But when I replaced the starter relay I matched the wiring wire for wire before I pulled the old relay off.
Looking at the relay I pulled off, there is no C3. Do I have the wrong relay?

 

Good, as it's correct about 98% of the time for Ser III XJ6s, 1979-1987, with the 4.2 fuel injected engine. But it doesn't cover non-North American/USA differences. Not a concern for you, obviously.



Good.

Does it work?



I don't think so. I can't see how/where/why you'd need a C3.

The problem you're trying to fix a 'starter staying engaged', right?

Make these checks:

- C2 brown wire. Should have 12v at all times. Constant supply voltage.

- W2 white/yellow wire. Should have 12v ONLY with key turned to 'start'. This is the wire that come from the ignition switch.

- C4 white/red wire. Should have 12v ONLY with key turn to 'start'. This is the wire that goes to the starter.

-W1 black or black/green. Should be 'ground' when transmission is in P or N.

Post back!

Cheers
DD