Hi all,
I have the following issue which I think is either the starter motor on its last legs or a wiring problem related to it.....your advice would be appreciated.
When starting the car one of the following happens....
1.) The car cranks and starts normally.
2.) The starter makes a whine and stops...if switched off and try again it cranks and starts normally.
3.) (New one this morning) Switch ignition to start and completely dead...nothing. Wait a minute and cranks and starts like nothing's wrong.

Is there some wiring or a relay that could be the problem or should I start looking for a starter motor?

Thanks Jim. Series 2 4.2l carby.

 

This might help. It's written for a Series III so a couple details might be different....but a lot will be the same

Engine Will Not Crank Checklist

Post back if any questions

The 'whine then stops' suggests a failing starter but the checklist will help eliminate the other possibilities


Cheers
DD

 

Thanks doug I'll go through the checklist tomorrow and get back.....is the starter located passenger side on mine? RHD

Jim

 

Starter motor on the 4.2 is on the right side, from a sitting-in-the-car-looking-forward perspective


cheers
DD

 

Hi Jim, the starter motor is under the intake manifold and rear carby. Left arrow in the pic is the very back of it. Best way to reach the leads from above is to remove air filter and reach under the front of the rear carby(right arrow).

 

Thanks Clake sure sounds like a connection somewhere ......I'll check them all tomorrow . I know the battery and related grounds are all good as just been through all of those with Grants help.....maybe at starter or at relay.

Jim

 

Try this one, front wire on right side of relay. That was my problem.(right side looking towards front of car). It goes to starter motor.

 

Thanks.....Are those cans degreaser ?

Jim

 

I'm kind of new to old Jags, but in general that's exactly how a bad starter goes. A sure sign is if you get no crank at all, but then after you hit the starter (literally) it cranks fine for a little while. The brushes wear down until they barely make contact anymore; hitting the starter jiggles them, they make contact for the moment and vroom.

Do you otherwise have good electric power, like good lights and horn, even when the car won't crank?

I imagine that a bad starter relay would also sometimes work and sometimes not, and would sure be worth testing, since it's cheaper and easier than the starter.

-mB

 

Thanks Mike I am just in the process of checking all starter connections and believe the starter is the problem....all other electrics are good and have just purchased a new battery due to recent no start issues whereby all relevant live and ground contacts were checked. It is currently giving that no start whine/twang when cranking on every third try, the totally dead/nothing on trying to crank her only happened once yesterday.

Jim

 

Only the best "Export" brand degreaser,($1 cans from supercheap). I but it by the box. Great stuff for cleaning up before working under the bonnet.
When it comes to cleaning the bikes the complete bike gets soaked with about 3 cans then hosed off before cleaning. It gets all the road dirt and grime off before I start washing.
Best thing is it good on the paintwork too,never had a problem with it.

 

Know where I'll be getting my degreaser in the future!!!...at that price no excuses for grime

Jim

 

Sign up as a Club Plus member and keep an eye out for member specials, degreaser is usually $2.50 but I always buy a box or two when it is $1 a can.
Also the loyalty credits are worth while, and if something goes on sale within 14 days of your purchase they credit the difference to your card. And no need to hang on to receipts for anything either.
Often oil and filters are half price to members to.

 

Thanks for the tip. I am registered with Repco for a similar deal, but they arent very active in using it. May as well register with Supercheap as well and just pick the deals as they come up. I usally pick up those cans in the specials bin at Repco, but by the box sounds better.

 

Yeah, very familiar territory !!!


A couple of years ago, I went to visit my daughter, drove my Jeep. summer. Cool AC is nice. In a parking lot, it failed to crank. No rattles, nothing, just dark instruments.
I did the clean the contact bit. They were clean. Nada. so, I got out my shileleagh. (SP). A walking stick from a liquid amber branch. Gave the starter a whack or more from topside. It's location is similar to A Jaguar DOHC. Daughter in car cranked. Vroooom. good thing the Jeep usually fire easily. Dropped daughter off at home, so engine shut down and straight for home. yeah, no more crank in safety of driveway at home. Not that hard a task to replace it.


Anecdotal evidence. The Jaguar starter relay in the tin can does not enjoy a good reputation. They can be opened and the contacts cleaned. Mine fussed during the lump process. it got dumped in favor of a 5 pin Bosh type relay. utterly cheap and reliable with widespread availability.


Carl.

 

And, the ground strap under the car. From the transmission tot he body. Very important.


The cable from the post on the firewall to the starter solenoid is kinda puny. Mine quit on me. but, it was over 30 years old, so? It's new generic replacement is far more sturdy.


Carl

 

Well went through the checklist and it's the starter motor as with direct power twangs sometimes and starts straight away sometimes.....the lead from the relay to the starter was slightly loose. I can't make it go totally dead again and am thinking that one time I may not have turned the ignition onto start...not sure. Just one question...will the starter just die on me and leave me stranded somewhere? In which case I won't drive it...I want to source one or find somewhere that will exchange/rebuild.....not sure which way to go.


Thanks
Jim

 

when a starter dies completely. I dies! doesn't matter where you are, at home in your driveway, or at a rest stop in the middle of nowhere. There are times that a jump start will get you started for the last time, but also, I have been known to have such a bad starter that it has hurt the car giving me a jump.
Just my expiriences or 2 cents, however you want to perceive it.

 

True!!!


A really dead starter is a huge electrical load. A jump can do no good and as stated, can damage either or both car's electrics.


In the case at hand, if attention to the relay doesn't improve things, markedly, it is time for attention to the starter.


They are tough, but their life is finite. A lot depends on the car's history. Lots of cranks on short trips or a lot of time on the road?


The starters on each of my cars have now been replaced. So far, so good....


Car