This is a project 89 XJS that I had running (poorly) this summer and stored outdoors under a car cover for a month or more. When I tried to start it recently it would fire but not start. I have checked for damp connections and removed the distributor cap and cleaned the inside of the distributor and timing wheel and set the gap to the pick up coil. Still I have a weak intermittent spark at the plugs and coil. Any Thoughts??????? Pick up, coils, amplifier, cap???

 

Being early 89 is this a Marelli or Lucas ignition car? Marelli is identifiable by the 2 orange ignition modules on the radiator top cover.

 

It's a Lucas Ignition system. When I had the timing wheel out the tips were banged up pretty bad from I imagine hitting the pick up at some time in the past. Anyone know where to get just the timing disk or reluctor, if you prefer? Also, would disconnecting the capacitor in the amplifier help this diagnosis?I would hate to spend alot of money on parts that are not the problem ie amplifier, pick up coil or a rebuilt distributor. HELP

 

If the tips of the star wheel are broken, then a replacement is pretty important, I believe. I also do not think the part is any longer available (could be wrong of course), so getting a dizzy from a breaker is your best chance, lots in the UK and the item weighs nothing so airmail cheap enough. If the pickup is a bit iffy too, (likely) these are available new, or you could just buy the entire dizzy from a breaker. Removing the condenser from the Lucas unit will do no harm, and may help, but the Great XJS Prophet (turn to the Southern Hemisphere and genuflect at all mentions of the name) Grant Francis is the guy to advise on that aspect, as indeed all others!
Greg

 

Yes it's important, without this pulse the Fuel ECU does not know when to squirt.

 

Thanks all for your input. Gregg is a breaker a used parts dealer? I tried to get a star wheel here in the U.S but no luck. Do you have an E Mail address for a breaker that you use? I was looking for an immediate fix to get the car running to secure it indoors for the winter. Looks like I'll have to push or pull it to cover and research the parts I may need in the spring as I'm heading out of Michigan to a warmer climate. AS a last effort, I'm going to try to clean up the edges of the star wheel and set the gap as close as possible without hitting the pick up and cut the condenser out of the circuit and see what happens. Any comments would be appreciated.

 

Kro


Grublogger: Grublogger | Used Jaguar Parts | Used Jaguar Spares | Jaguar Breakers | XJ-S | XJR-S | XJS


Just XJS: Just Jaguar XJS Parts and Spares, all models 1975 to 1996


UK Ebay: jaguar xjs spares in Car Parts | eBay


If you contact any of these, or the loads of breakers on UK Ebay, you will find what you need from someone; yes, breakers = car used parts supplier.
Greg

 

On the lucas ignition on this 89xjs. I tried the closing up the gap on the star wheel with no effect on starting. It does fire seemingly on one or two cylinders. I tried to verify the timing by placing the timing mark on the crank at 10 degrees btdc and the rotor was pointing seemingly in the right direction. However the point of the star wheel wasn't close to the pick up magnet. It was off more than a few degrees like in between the points of the star wheel. Is this the way the lucas ignition works? It certainly doesn't look right to me. I tried rotating the dizzy to match up the magnet and the point of the star wheel but there is not enough rotation in the fine adjustment. I would have to remove the dizzy and move a gear or two. What do you think???