I have 99 XK8 with 55,000 on it. I took a short drive and parked my car. I left it for 1 1/2 hours . I went to start it and it was like I had a low battery. It turn very slowly. I tried again and it fired right up. When I parked it in the garage and shut it off , I tired to restart it. Nothing happened, the second time just click , the third time it fired up after making popping sounds. I shut it down and then restarted it and it started right up.

I checked the voltage on the battery it was good . I went to use the scanner on it and I can not get it to read. Which I see other people has had the same problem. Anybody have any clues ???????

Thanks in advance

 

Hi.


Check the following for poor contact:


- Battery posts, both positive and negative.
- Megafuses in trunk.
- Ground connection from battery to chassis.
- Ground between gearbox and chassis.


Positive cable from battery to megafuses may deteriorate inside without being visible from outside, may feel warm under load.


Battery clamps are the thin walled type, not very rugged.


Voltage measured somewhere in the engine compartment should be almost the same as at the battery.


How old is the battery? May be bad despite good voltage.

 

ok will check them in the morning. I had chance to throw it on a lift for a bit today. The grounding cable between the behind the starter and the body is a little green. I went to restart the car and had nothing , ended up jumping the starter to get to run so I could get home.

Question is the starter controlled through the computer or key switch ? Is the starter bad maybe ?

Thanks again

 

Hi again.


Be very careful when jumpstarting. You may fry the electronics.


Always disconnect battery when working on the electric system.


I don't think your starter is bad with that mileage.


The starting sequence is controlled by the key. a relay and the ECU all together as far as I remember. Very complicated.


The car has a large number of connectors, relays and fuses which after 16 years may have marginal contact.


One of the indications of a poor battery is loss of window memory.