Having just fitted a Brand New (Ate) Brake Master Cylinder, I got a good hard pedal virtually straight away, where I also found a way to Bleed it, which was mostly done from inside the Car, with no Assistant required

Where loads of Bubbles of Air came out and then the Pedal went hard, although I haven't tested it with the engine running, as when I changed the Battery the Dashboard Lights went out and also the Engine wouldn't turn over, as all the Electrics were dead except for the Clock

First I Checked the 2 Fuses on the Fuseable Link of the Battery Positive Terminal but don't quite know what I should try next and so could do with some help if anybody knows

I'm thinking it must be a Fuse somewhere or maybe the Starter Relay although I can't remember where that is

 

OB,

Check voltage on battery terminals (the clamps, not the posts), then compare with voltage measured at the bulkhead +ve and -ve terminals.

If voltage 12.5v + at the bulkhead terminals, does it have one of these little push-in immobiliser slots fitted under the ignition barrel?

If the dashboard lights are out, it's not the Starter relay, or the inertia switch, but the late factory immobiliser cuts the voltage circuit to the dash

Paul

 

Hi Paul

I've never looked for or ever seen that Ignition Immobilizer 'Thingy'

Too dark to have a look tonight but I'll have a look Tomorrow but if it hasn't got the immobilizer what should I try next, as I am quite literally in the Dark on this in more ways than one

 

OB,

Tell us the voltage readings on the battery terminals and specifically the bulkhead terminals.

Paul

 

Ok Paul will do

But the way my Lucks been going, I am thinking the Battery may be dead!

 

Hi Paul

I am getting 6.5 Volts all round

Its enough to hear the Bells when you turn the Key but NO Lights on the Dash or Instrument Panel

 

, it's OB,

Had you not charged up the battery before fitting? What voltage was it showing after you charged it? I'm amazed 6.5v does anything. Maybe time to try a desulphation routine on the battery followed by a cell topup. Then if that fails, it's time get on the Tayna website.

Cheers

Paul

 

Hi Paul

I did Charge the Battery but I didn't check the Voltage. as I should have done!

So Tomorrow I will try and Jump Start her off the Merc and 'if' She Starts then I will get a New Battery

 

OB,

Try a desulphation if it won't charge up to 12.5v. An easy way is to try and put a large number of amps into the battery for a number of hours to agitate the sulphation off the plates. So, use an old-fashioned charger that can push a high number of amps. Then topup any low cells with battery acid, and try a normal recharge. I have recovered a number of failing batteries over the years by this.

Cheers

Paul

 

Sounds like a good idea Paul

But I did charge this one from my Petrol Generator, although I want to try a Jump Start first just to get the Dash Lights back on, then I can go from there

 

OB,

Yes good idea to get the car started first.

As regards getting a lot of amps across the plates, your petrol generator probably still only loaded 5-10 amps max? I'm talking about ramming 20+ amps, maybe 50amps+ using a mains jump starter to start the process.

Paul

 

Hi Paul

Yes! I think it was about 10-12 Amps

But a Mains Jump Starter would probably cost as much as a New Battery and I don't want to be putting an 'iffy' Battery on my XJS

'Been there done that' and then if it doesn't start straight away, it could be bad news and could leave you stranded

So I would rather put a New Battery 075 on my XJS and then the Suspect Battery can go on something Static where it won't do any harm, if it fails

I'll let you know tomorrow how I get on and hope the Dash lights come back, as I don't know much about Auto Electrics

 

Hi Paul

I've finally sussed it!

Went to give her a Jump Start, without the Flat Battery in Circuit and All the Lights Came on, although there wasn't enough Power to turn the engine over because I've got very long Jump Leads, that were sapping the Power

So what made the Battery go Flat?

Somehow and I don't know how, the Cigar Lighter had been pushed down causing a massive parasitic drain and so I've got her back on charge with the 'Genny' at 10-12 amps

So I'll see how the Battery is looking before I order a new one

 

OB,have got

Remember if the battery is in your late Celebration Convertible, it needs an 096 battery, not the earlier 075 size battery. Nearly all of the battery sites and parts suppliers quote teh wrong size batteries for various XJS models because the size changed over the life of the model.

So, it's an 096 for the late convertible. If you do need one, Tayna have got good prices today on a Lucas model and an Exide model which are 780 CCA & 760 CCA which are very good CCA figures.

Cheers

Paul

 

Hi Paul

Nice Find! Both 096

Exide 067TE 760A 71-36

Lucas LS096 780A 76-83

Either one of these should do but the Lucas might be worth an extra £5

 

Hi Paul

Just about to order: Lucas 096-780AH L=278 W=175 H=190 £84-82

Do you think this is the best one to get for my 1995 XJS

My fault if I order the wrong one but if you get time to confirm then that would be good

 

OB,

That's absolutely the same size that I fitted in my 95 4.0 Convertible and I've just checked the photos of the battery in my car to verify. I also wrote up the correct size for JEC members some years ago. Most battery sites quote the wrong size for late XJSs.

I have no reason to believe that the battery tray changed in 95, so I feel confident that you're good to go with an 096.

Cheers

Paul

 

Hi Paul

Excellent!

I know I could rely on you to come up with the right Answer!

So Cheers for doing that