A friend called and said his 2002 4.0 is setting at the golf course and will only click when trying to start.
I plan on checking it out tomorrow afternoon, after a funeral. Will check for good grounds and connection first, then go for the hard stuff.
As I have not been involved with the starter system on any of these, lucky me, after fuses where is the relay, (for cleaning the connections) and the solenoid?
Thanks for your help.
I did look at the wiring harness on Gus's site, but this doesn't always tell you were all is located,


Wayne

 

OK, found enough information to proceed with caution.


I'll let you know how many watts I put out when grabbing the wrong thing.


Wayne

 

Provided the battery is OK, I'd start at the main junction box in the luggage compartment and work forwards. This is my 2005 XK8 but the earlier models are similar:



Check for loose connections.

Graham

 

Graham, Funny thing, no voltage on the drivers side positive connection, none on the ECU cable, and only after a rap with a wrench did I get any on the battery connections.
Battery read 12.68 before hand. Went back to the front and got battery voltage, told him to give it a try and away we go.
I got it back to the house for a complete cleaning of the connections and grounds. This car is pretty much a daily driver and other than the battery, no trouble over the last two years after I replaced the thermostat tower.
Keep on driving them.


Wayne

 

The car was very strange. I checked the front positive contact by the ABS and got zip, the one by the ECU and zip. The battery clamps same, but the battery 12.68. Houston we have a problem. I tapped the battery connections and now I had good voltage up front. I had him try and start it and a way it went. He had the battery replaced by AAA a couple of weeks ago in Atlanta, they didn't wire brush the clamps and didn't clean the big connections in the trunk. Plus the bag with the vapor plastic connector was still on the side of the battery.
I took all connections apart and filed them and wire brushed what I couldn't get too. The top connector by the spare tire was loose and showed signs of arcing.
It now runs like a new one.


Wayne Graham, you can add solved to this one, for now. Thanks

 

Shame on AAA for doing a lousy job on the new battery install. They should be shot for not even hooking up the vent tube. I've been an AAA member since 1979 and I must say that some of their services have really declined in quality during the past decade or so. Sure hope your buddy steps up and reports this one to AAA headquarters....

 

It's back!
I had determined it was the ignition or starter relay on this and told the owner to pick up a Jag one in his travels. Well, 7 weeks later the Gremlin is back with vengeance and he said he has been by a Jag dealer several times, just to busy to stop. So now I had to go over and jack the car up and pull it out of the way, for him to be able to use his SUV.
Things are the same, but not the same. Doors have lost memory and go down not up, fixed that as it was getting ready to rain. This would indicate a lose of power, I can live with that, just WHY.
I couldn't get any response with the key on, nothing would light up. Unable to get it out of park to see if neutral would change the situation. About now I getting ready to climb in the trunk when rain come a calling. Not me.
One more try and now I'm about as confused as ever, Help! When turning the key to start the 3 gauges go to their proper position and red light on oil. What the heck, that is in the start position.
The car has sat for a few days and may be low on battery voltage, but the sky looked like it was going to fall and the moneys from Wizard of Oz where in the trees, so I got the hell out of there.
This guy loves his car and I want to help, but if the key thingy is stuck and a low battery are not it, then I would appreciate some direction for those who know more than I.
Thanks all, Wayne

 

The fact that a rap on the battery fixed it once may be a clue. Perhaps a bad internal connection inside the battery?

 

Wayne,

Are you certain that all of the battery connections are clean and tight, including at the fuse blocks in the spare tire well in the trunk?

And are you certain that the ignition key flap is lubed with graphite powder and operating properly?

 

Jon, Thanks, but the last time it happened that was my first effort. Had to crawl in the trunk to get those and filed most but had to wire brush a couple. The key flap was looked at, but that doesn't mean it's not the problem now, they tend to be intermittent.
That being said I did put some WD40 on the key and work it back and forth.
I'm beginning to think it could be the battery that AAA installed in Atlanta, as none of this started until then. I may stick one I have in just for a check, but I still want a relay first, they do go bad and if I'm going to spend the time working on it, I want to have all I think that is needed there as it's at his house and nothing more aggravating than having to stop and go get parts or tools. We have been there with your cars and that is why HF stock is soring. LOL
Thanks for checking in and hope all is well with your Mom.


Wayne

 

It will be couple of days before the relay shows up, they are now black according to Jaguar of Greensboro. Replaces the old brown one. OK.
I could not let this set for a few days without trying something. The key FOB locks the car and unlocked the trunk. The key flap in the ignition switch was in place and still nothing. A couple of turns of the key and the dash lite up only for a second as he was not watching and was very surprised when the starter engaged. Only for a second as he was more intent on turning it on and off, AGHHHH. It would not do it again. I replaced the battery with one of mine and a known good one, not different, so that theory is out. All the connections under the hood were good and tight, so it's down to the relay for my thoughts. If not the Jaguar dealer will be able to add an extension to the show room.
Wayne

 

Ok I am not sure I fully understand the situation but this is my take.

You do not have power to the engine compartment fuses near the ABS, no power to the fuse box at the ECM and loss of power to the seats. I want you to look at the link below.

Link http://jagrepair.com/images/AutoRepa...7PowerDist.jpg

It will show you the feed to all of them from the High Power Protection Module (Fuses) you need to check them. They are located in the trunk. To do so first disconnect the battery then take the fuses out and check for cracks or damage. At times items in the tire area get loose and crack the fuses. If it is questionable replace them I found them at local parts stores so should be easy to find. If you find the fuses are ok then you need to check the Tunnel Stud Connector and that is not going to be easy to find.

Link http://jagrepair.com/JaguarXKXJSTypeNoStart.htm

 

Just my experance, I had not quite the same but simalar experance and it turned out to be the main ground strap from the battery or at least replacing the ground strap fixed the issue, this was almost a year ago and no more issues. Might have been connections might have been the strap, who knows. I was getting repeated corrosion on the negative terminal and have not had any corrosion buildup since I replaced the ground strap.

 

Gus, that chart shows me I missed a large connection in the tunnel and the false bulkhead one must be hidden, so back to the drawing board (chart).
I was getting no power at first but after cleaning most (LOL) of the battery distribution connectors, I got power and it worked for 7 weeks.
I will get with him soon and jack the car up, it's on a bit of a slop and this will take some time to get it safe. Not looking forward to it.
Learning all the time and thanks again Gus.


Wayne

 

Do your self a favor and check the fuses in the tire area first.

Gus
www.jagrepair.com

 

Before you go any further, have you checked the positive battery cable for 'crunchiness' indicating internal corrosion to the positive battery cable? If when getting a start out of it, the positive cable is moved about, enough to establish a good enough contact to start the car, then it eventually reverts back to previous behavior. If the cable is corroded inside this may explain all the problems. I would replace the cable, or peal back the insulation to check for corrosion, and the crimp connection on the end of the cable as well. It may be that simple.

 

03 XKR, Thanks for the recommendation, but al this was done on my first attempt and have checked the crimp on the connector. As my good battery made no difference, I can only think it is a bad connection somewhere else. As Gus has made me aware of my lack of knowledge in the location of these little "gotcha", made by Jaguar placements, I now have a chance.
I will update as I go, unless it's so embarrassing I won't admit to it. LOL
Checking fuses next.


Wayne

 

+1 on the positive battery cable, I had a similar problem worked for weeks followed by no voltage, tap the connector and power restored, cleaned the connector power restored.
I took the cable out and used the bench vise to tighten the crimps. No more failures for over two years.
Good luck.

 

Gentlemen, prepare to be amazed. The relay arrived this afternoon and after a few minutes to refresh my mind as to which relay I was going to change, I headed to his house. He was standing in the driveway with the Jag running and everything working as it should. He just decided to try one more time and it started right away. I checked the couple of connections I didn't check and they were tight.
I can't fix what's not broken, now it will be impossible for me to know if I made a difference or not.
He will take it to a dealer next week and see if they can find out, I think they will be chasing their tail, so to speak.
If you guys and gals can come up with anything else, let me know and I will try.
Only good thing is, it started before I slipped in the relay, other wise I would have claimed a false victory. I bet he would have cussed me out when it happened again.
Only thing I have left is the fuses, that I will do, just curiosity on my part.


Wayne

 

Please be sure to tell us what they find.