So, after 4 years or so of my 01' XKR Convertible being parked up in the garage, I've at last had a chance to go back to finishing the overhaul of the rear suspension unit which has all been blasted, painted, re bushed and is ready to be re assembled and re fitted.
The other day I decided to try and start it and it cranked fine, fired but wouldn't run. I immediately suspected a fuel pump problem based on previous experience with a 01' XKR. Sure enough, neither pump responded when I applied power to them directly via the relay sockets and work to remove the fuel tank commenced!
I have two questions for the group.
What is the best way to drain the tank? I'm guessing there is about 25-30 litres in there.
Having disconnected everything as per JTIS manual, I was surprised to find I couldn't get any movement of the tank, despite pulling quite hard, both on the two small 'straps' near the top of the tank and also the filler tube. I appreciate I'm not helping myself by having about 20-25 kg of additional weight in the tank, but I was surprised there was absolutely no movement. Can the tank 'stick' in place?
Thanks.......

 

I believe that the rubber sound deadening material around the tank can cause it to stick pretty solid.

Can you apply upwards force with a crowbar or similar, wrapped in tape. That should start to break the adhesion.

Richard

 

To drain, use a 1/4 inch (8mm) tube of 4 foot, that lets it lay flat on the tank floor to get it below the tubes that come out of the tank.
A hand pump will work, but you will be a lot happier with a small battery powered one.
You never mentioned disconnecting the tubes at the tank, with the rear out, not a problem, just use the right tool.

 

Thanks for the reply.
Can a hose be fed down the filler pipe or is there an anti syphon unit fitted in there?

You're right, I haven't disconnected the fuel pipes from the bottom of the tank yet, but without the subframe / diff assembly in place and having the correct tool to hand, I don't anticipate any problems with that.......hopefully!

 

I remove the fuel lines from underneath and drag the whole tank back into the boot area.
Remove the EVAP FLANGE and drop a working fuel pump (the same ones you are going to replace) and pump the gasoline through a plastic pipe fitted into a 35 gallon plastic barrel I keep for this occasion.
It's worked since 1991 when Jaguar decided to put the pumps in the tank.

 

I have a rigged 12v pump I built for this purpose. Works great whenever I want to empty fuel tanks. Essentially, I bought a $5 Chinese riding lawn mower fuel pump from eBay and I just connect the terminals up to a small lawn mower battery set away. And have a hose on each end. Something to catch it on coming out and something in the tank. It's quite fast. There are many ways though.

 

Thanks for that, but I didn't want to disconnect the fuel hoses from underneath without first emptying the tank. I'll have a go at getting a hose through the filler tube and see if I can empty it that way.

 

There is a check valve in the filler tube. You cannot siphon.

 

I shove a hose in there and have to go gently to get it out using a long screwdriver to keep the flap pushed to the side.

 

To be clear, I do have to get at the fuel pump and undo the cap and everything and pump from that hole. Not always easy or doable at all, but where it is easily accessible. The anti-rollover (some call it anti-siphon) device in the filler neck makes it near impossible to do it "easy".

 

I have siphoned fuel out via the filler tube with no problems at all - no evidence of an anti-siphon. I used this: https://www.screwfix.com/p/hilka-pro...pump-kit/580HP