i recently purchased a new battery after the last one failed. i have been using the car regularly since the new one has been fitted. yesterday evening the car would not start.
when turning the key to ignition position a click can be heard at the front left of the car. i believe this to be the starter relay. and nothing else happens.

can anyone please suggest some possible fixes?

the car can be parked where it is until tomorrow evening...

 

Are you sure the new battery is being charged? A clicking starter relay is usually an indication of a partially discharged or failing battery. A charge or a jump start is likely to get you moving.

Graham

 

when the key turns to ignition position a single click is heard, i've found with a flat battery multiple clicks are heard until the key is turned back. i believe the issue lies between the starter and the relay...

 

i've now found power is going to the starter, any idea why it wont turn?

 

the engine grounding strap is known to fail on the XJS

the woven strap goes from the engine block to the front subframe, and in turn then to the car body , creating a circuit

it could be a loose or broken grounding point causing the problem

BB

 

I get a single click when the neutral safety switch isn’t engaging. With the car in park, lean the shift level to the drivers side and cranks ir, lean it to the right and crank it. Lean it forward and crank it. Wiggle it and crank it.

 

i'll give that a try. the car was an automatic, i converted it to manual. ill have a look at the wiring where the auto shift lever was. i remember i had to do a bit of wiring down there to get ignition when the conversion was done..

 

You can get 12v to a starter, but not enough amps, or good enough ground for the amperage to flow thru the starter and back to body ground, thru to the battery. I would check major ground points, yes the ground strap and at the battery itself,,, where the neg cable bolts to the car.

Have you run a 2nd dedicated ground from the engine (bolted to the alternator fastings, to the body? Hard second ground point from the engine block to the body.

 

You need to try to jump it with a good battery, but before, in case that the starter gear is engaged blocking jammed, you can put it in first or second gear and shove the car around.

 

I had similar issue and power wasn't really coming to starter because the nut that connects thick cable from starter to rail (one below windshield and covered with plastic/rubber) was loose.

To 'debug' :-)
1. connect control lamp to the top contact on starter (on the top of solenoid) - it should be 'on' . What happens when you click the starter? if it goes off - you don't really have enough power coming to starter.
2. connect control lamp to the bottom contact of starter (on the bottom of solenoid) - it should be off. What happens when you click the starter? If it stays off - solenoid is bad. If it turns on - starter/brushes bad.

Here I assumed the click is from solenoid on the starter. If it is not - you need to trace signal to the solenoid control wire, the one on the side between 'top' and 'bottom' contacts. If you connect control lamp to that one(with the wire that is already there) - it should come 'on' when you turn the key and stay on when solenoid makes a 'notable' click.