I was on my way home today, driving on the highway. When I gave it a little gas, the engine stalled. I had pull to over. I tried to start the car but no luck; the starter would crank but the engine would not turn over. I decided to not crank endlessly and had to get it towed with a flatbed truck.

I then opened the trunk and pulled the rear cover. The fuel tank and fuel pump were quite visible in there. I asked my neighbor to set the key to the II position while I listened. I could clearly hear the fuel pump working. Thank god because I found out my car, being an ‘04 4.2L XKR Coupe has the expensive fuel pump.

I connected my OBD II reader and it found no codes.

Now I’m stumped. What should I check next? Is there a way to check fuel pressure at the fuel rail?

I’m going to replace the fuel filter this weekend because I might as well and it is inexpensive. I pray that the filter is clogged and that that fixes the problem.

 

You should be able to read fuel pressure over OBDII. Should be about 55psi.

Any possibility of a massive air leak? Smoke test!

Possibility of bad gas, were you near empty? Filled up recently?

 

About half a tank full. I doubt a massive air leak. I don’t know if my OBD II unit can read fuel pressure. I will check.

Last month, when I replaced my valley hoses and all the other cooling system hoses, I also replaced the throttle body elbow gasket, the throttle body gasket, the supercharger actuator valve o-ring (I might have the wrong name for this one), the supercharger charge cooler hoses (two small ones) and the supercharger V8 cover gasket. My intake tube is the Mina Gallery aluminum tube. Air filter has about 2,000 miles on it. I didn’t break any vacuum lines when I worked on it.

The car had been running fine afterwards for the past month without any problems.

About the only place it could leak air from is the intake manifold gaskets, which I didn’t replace because I decided not to remove the charge coolers.

My last fill up was last week at Shell with 91 unleaded.

That is why my main suspect is fuel related. If fuel pressure ends up being fine, I will then do a smoke test.

 

Easiest thing to do would be remove the intake pipe and hit it with some starter fluid or carb cleaner. If it starts then your problem is fuel related.

 

Thank you! Should I be spraying into the throttle body?

 

Yes

 

Spray for 2 full seconds then go try and start the car.

 

Thank you! I will buy a can of carb cleaner tomorrow!

 

Another vote for using OBD. Even an elm327 can get fuel pressure.

Also check other readings such as IAT, ECT.

 

It seems my OBD II reader can only read fuel pressure after a few minutes of driving.

 

For the price I'd get a better tool but if yours shows the right pressure it's up to you.

 

I would definitely NOT do that on my own car. Your car, your call, but any type of back firing could damage something.

 

Normally, there is that shrader (tire) valve somewhere on the rail. Should have a (small) green cap on it. Some have reported not having it, though. With precaution (rags, etc.), you can depress the center pin and verify there is pressure. 55psi is over 3 bar, so it should spray pretty good. If it does, maybe you can flush the rail some, and then add fresh gas to the tank.

You can also crank with the gas pedal to the floor to vent the cylinders. Do you smell any fresh gas through the exhaust?

Check the ground strap under the engine. Although if your starter works, it is probably fine.

Check that immobilisation relay in the driver side foot well in case it tripped, somehow. Not sure you can crank if it tripped.

Check the battery connections in the trunk, including the power block near it.

 

I tried the starting fluid before reading fmertz’s suggestion and... the car started, threw a rod through the block and now I need a new engine....












Just kidding



I did try the starting fluid and the car did start and after maybe a second or two it stalled.

Since I already know the fuel pump works, and now I know that the coils and spark plugs are good, my three main suspects are: clogged fuel filter, clogged fuel injectors, or clogged fuel pressure regulator.

Also upon inspection, I did find the fuel rail’s schrader valve. If the new fuel filter doesn’t work (changing it regardless), I will check the pressure at the valve.

Still no MIL or codes, pending or otherwise, showing up except for P1000

 

That's cruel, man. My heart dropped to my stomach.

 

Google Jaguar Borewash or bore wash.

For example https://www.jaguarforum.com/showthre...l=1#post764400

Hope this helps.

 

You might also find this an interesting read, though its a bit late for yours now.............

Sorry somehow posted wrong link. BRB with proper one.

Here you go. https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...8/#post1191520

 

not to mention the possible fire damage. Shops I've worked in would see an average of one "starter-fluid-fire" per month in the fall - winter.

Z

 

Isn't hindsight wonderful? Back in the 70's and before in the days of carburetors, points etc I usually had a tin of damp start, or similar named product, on my shelf. Used it on lawnmowers, cars etc. I think it all depends on common sense. If you stick in 30 seconds worth you will get a back flash. Those were the days where you had to use your brains if you did not want singed eyebrows, or worse. Now it seems everyone has to have a safety directive or a health and safety officer for everything. Some of us in the older generation find it insulting, either that or the young are stupid, to see on a cup of coffee .......... "the contents of this cup maybe hot" I should hope it is or "suffocation hazard if you put this plastic bag over your head" gee I would not have thought of that. Just thought though ............ listening to quiz shows can be enlightening. A university student was recently asked. "what is the main material in a silver dollar" she answered "copper". A geography university student............... " Name a country beginning with A"................. Africa. She seemed surprised when she was told it was continent. That reminds me to of another one "Name a continent"........... he replied in all seriousness "in".

Sorry to go off subject. Its a habit of mine. Lateral thinking.

 

Installed a new fuel filter. The car started and then sputtered a bit. Increasing the revs kept the car alive, but as soon as the revs dropped below 1200 it would sputter and stall.

I did get the P0191 code for a brief moment. I erased it and restarted the car. It didn’t come back but everything else happened the same. Now it won’t start.

The old filter was definitely clogged. But I don’t know what the problem is now... a weak pump?