My 1972 XJ6 has been hibernating for the last 10 years and this week I've tried to get it going.

It's cranking fine and there's a nice fat spark but no fuel is reaching the carbs. I've checked the pumps and there isn't any voltage at either pump, so there's an electrical failure somewhere along the line.

Any suggestions as where I should start?

 

Start with the fuel safety cutoff located on the forward right hand door jam.


Than make sure you have voltage to power the pump at the tank switch.

 

Thanks icsamerica. Is that the inertia switch? It wasn't fitted on series 1 cars in the UK. I think it appeared on the left side (UK passenger side) from the series 2.

I will check voltage to the tank switch. The battery died yesterday so I'm recharging it now.

 

If battery is 10 yrs. old break down and buy new.

 

Good advice. It's a spare that I dragged down to the workshop to get the car running. Not old but not perfect either. It's not even the right size so will certainly use a new one as soon as the engine lives.

 

On the series 2 at least there's a switch sensor beside the oil pressure switch which is activated by the oil pressure. It needs the engine to start before the fuel pumps operate. Strange I know but it was some sort of safety device.

You can earth the wire going to the sensor or may get away with putting a little fuel into the carb reservoir chambers. But with 10 year old fuel it would help to change the fuel out first. I only found out about the switch after I spent a lot of time getting my engine started and resorted to filling the carbs manually.


There's a thread here somewhere with more detail.
Found it https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ts-out-116791/

 

Thanks Anjum. That switch wasn't on the Series 1.

But I do have an update. I went back to the car with a fresh battery and proper multi-meter today.

I discovered there IS a good voltage to each pump according to the position of the tank switch - 12.6V to both sides.

So I've removed both pumps for repair/replacement.

Can anybody suggest any quick fixes to a pair of seized Series 1 fuel pumps before I start spending more cash?

 

Here's my own update. I opened up the electricals cover on both pumps and cleaned the contacts thoroughly. First with electrical cleaner spray, then fine emery paper then more spray. I hooked each one up to a battery and they burst into life. Thanks to David Marks in Nottingham for that advice.