So my '97 XK8 has been laid up for the long, damp Seattle winter and now its high time to get it out. However, when I try to start it, all I get is a quite loud series of 'click, click, click, click' while I'm turning the key, from somewhere under the hood. I had the battery checked and its at full charge and there's no issue with the cabling.

Would this be a stuck solenoid, or a stuck bendix or similar due to it sitting all winter? If so, is is there a quick fix (!) or is the offending stuck component buried deep in the works?

 

I would start with the starter relay. Passenger side. Pop the cover off the package that holds the ECM and TCM, which is the big box near the firewall. Look straight down. The third relay, right most relay is the starter relay. Swap it with one of the relays next to it, which are the windshield heater relays. If you're lucky, the damp weather jammed up the starter relay, but did nothing to the windshield heater relays.

 

Thanks - will give that a try.