I was driving my car up onto a ramp to fix a pesky exhaust leak and it started fine. 10 seconds later I tried to start it again and...nothing. Just a single clicking sound as the key is turned.

This happened once before and I moved the shifter from park to neutral and it started right up, so I assumed it was a sticky safety switch. However this time it didn't work.

So, I'm not familiar with how this system is set up. Where is the switch? Also, would the solenoid click if it was the switch? It's a newly rebuilt starter and never made any noise or struggled to turn the motor...

 

Check battery terminals, ground connection on battery wire and firewall terminal on the right. If any of them are loose, you will have occasional clicking and no turning. There is also a chance of bad starter, which will provide a wonderful opportunity to install gear reducing Nippondenso.... I love mine!

P.S. do not forget main wire on the starter itself, maybe it is not tight enough, after rebuild?

 

I already checked battery terminals and the firewall terminal...didn't think to check ground yet, I'll do that in the morning.
It better not be the starter...this is the 3rd one since I started putting the car together!

 

This happened to my car as it was about to be loaded onto the transport for its 5000km trip - ended up being the starter motor. Starter motor replaced and the next one started to play up within 6 months I now have a new reduction gear starter and no more problems. Not to mention the weight saving

 

Before I change the starter I'll check the ground wire. If that doesn't work I'll jack the car up and tap on the starter while someone turns the key.
BUT, I'd still like to know about the neutral safety switch? Where is it and what is the easiest way to override it?

 

Yep, old on was like a tank shell. New starter's motor was exactly the size of old starter's solenoid

 

The neutral start switch is on the gearlever bracket.

That "click" you are hearing is the starter relay, on the inner guard panel, near the RH bonnet lock, under a plastic cover. Remove the heavy White/Red wire and apply 12v to it. The starter should rotate. If it does then the contacts inside that relay a arced and dirty (very common), and need cleaning. Also pinch the female spade terminal on that same wire a tad to tighten its grip on the male spade of the relay as they do come loose over time.

If the 12v applied to that wire still has a silent starter, then other issues are involved.

 

Jamey,

Late thought.

That White/Red wire has a joiner in it. On our RHD cars it is right next to the brake booster, and is encased in a thin white rubber looking cover, and they SEPERATE real easy, especially if you have been messing at the rear of the engine on the RH side.

 

hmm...I'll check that out tomorrow if I can. It seems to me it's more likely to be a wire issue, especially since I've been messing with the wires in there. The starter is new and has only been on the car a few months, and in that time it hasn't been used but maybe a hundred starts? It showed no sign of weakness or difficulty engaging.

 

i would be willing to bet you jerked something loose when you drove it up onto the ramp.

 

Grant, I'd just like to say, you are a genius. Wiggled those wires and it came back to life!
Now I have to rebuild the wiper motor...ughh..

 

I agree Jamey, him and several others. The ability to help via black font is quite an art. I'm glad it's running again, I was about to put 100 bucks in the tank and take a ride over there, he saved me money as well!

 

HAHAHAHAHA, Jaguars LOVE a wiggle you guys, THEY ARE ALL FEMALE, or had you forgotten.

Glad its fixed, so now I have an excuse for another Merlot, or 2 or 3.

 

It still causes a problem once in a while, but at least it's easy to bypass. Is the relay something I can pull apart and clean or just replaceable? I'm not even sure what to call it so I can look up a replacement?

 

Jamey,

Its Lucas, and British.

Remove the relay, NOTE WHAT WIRE GOES WHERE FIRST, then straighten those crimp thingies around the edge, and lift the lid off, and CAREFULLY clean the contacts. I use 1500 wet and dry paper (dry), and then some contact cleaner or metho to rinse the crud out after.

Whilst the wires are off the relay, give them a "squeeze" with some pliers, to just close the tangs a tad, so they are a tighter slide on the spades.

Then locate that joiner in the Red/White wire to the starter, and seperate that joint, clean and tighten the spade also.

A universal "starter relay" will do the task, no worries, but you just need to figure out the wiring terminal differences. Not rocket science, but can be testy if you try and hurry the job.

 

Thanks again!

 

 

Heh heh, you guys are too rough on old Lucas!


Cheers
DD

 

maybe so Doug, but most British cars with early Lucas engineering of electrics, can be be annoying,, seems they are at fault 90% of time.

at least on my 33yr old XJS,, and i have little Lucas left, but what is, gives connection problems, i'm running out of Dielectric grease.

 

do you guys know why Brits drink warm beer??, they had Lucas refridgerators! hehe