Hi all,

Hope you guys are all well out there in the Covid World...

My XJS has been running almost flawlessly over the last couple of years now but I now have an issue which is concerning me a tad.

Looking for any experience here regarding starter issues??

Started the car fine one morning and drove her 18kms into town... Pulled into a shop and when I started her up again the starter really struggled to move but she did fire.

Thought that was a bit weird, then stopped again at another location, and she decided, that no way was she going to start. (I also smelled hot smoky wires so decided to not keep going with this)

I had to play football, so walked to the park and thought about it on the way. If she starts after my game of football it could be either a hot starter that is starting to pack in or the dreaded start of a ceased engine.

After the game, I was correct, she started up fine and I drove her 18kms home on the open highway and she drove perfectly.

A couple of things I have noticed lately though...

On a cold start up she runs between 4 and 5 bar oil pressure which I would presume means the oil pump is 100% healthy, but lately after she is hot, I have noticed the oil pressure while highway cruising is about 1 bar, where normally she sits at about 2 bar.

I have not done anything different with oil changes or anything else.

• Can an oil pump fail when warm?
• Can it be my starter motor starting to fail? (only 2 years old)
• Could it be my oil sender gauge showing a low reading when warm (I doubt it)
• Should I go to a thicker oil? (I am currently running Castrol Magnatec15w 40 which she seems to love)

Any experience and advice with this greatly appreciated!!

Cheers
Crag

 

Craig,

1) Oil pump issues are lower than a snakes belly.
Oil pipe suction/supply o/rings INSIDE the engine, YES. Most are leaking internally here, and no one knows, or notices, and when the sumps are off, replace them.
That pump is a MONSTER, so a leak here, etc etc, has now real affect on things.

2) Maybe. I would be more concerned with EARTHS, and then the integrity of the White/Red wire from the starter relay TO the solenoid.

3) Oil gauge sender unit, #1 issue with the V12. Attach a master mechanical gauge and see what it really happening.

4) NO. That is what all mine use all year round.

 

Thanks Grant,

I will check out the earths etc. first and see how we go.

Maybe gat a new sender too.

Thanks!

 

It will be interesting what you find.
Keep us in the loop.