My 1999 XK8 has a grinding noise in the starter Just as the engine starts and the key is released. I am thinking the drive return spring has bit the dust. I'm not sure a Jaguar solenoid has a spring. The battery is 1 1/2 years old but it has been discharged dead cold two or three times. Anyway I can't make out any logic that a weak battery will start the engine but won't let the drive disingage. Oh... also...If I take special pains to release the key fast, no grinding noise.

 

I agree with your comments on the battery but that is the easiest, quickest, simplest place to start. Drive the car to an auto parts store and ask for a free battery test.

The starter is not all that easy to remove so I would put it low on my list.

Any difference between a cold engine and a hot engine?

 

I have had the battery tested. Says OK. I'm not in love with thier tester.
It didn't have a way to put a load on the battery. Like a carbon pile or big honken resister. I put my old Sun charger on the battery, it didn't draw much power.
That is one way of seeing how dead the battery is. I've finally found a shop that will work on Jaguars. I told him to get a new stater...... Just a point of interest, A new starter is $700. Rebults are $200. and lower. One of the reasons I started a thread, I thought somebody would tell me it is the ingition switch and they have had the same problem. Jaguar starter must hold up pretty well. I could not find much info on the forum. Thanks for your input.

 

True martin, I haven't heard much on problems related to starters, and their ultimate failing. But, I can see how a starter can be killed prematurely...say your car had a cylinder wash scenario...and won't start. If the starter is engaged for long periods w/o resting, the excessive heat can damage it.

I think a rebuilt unit is a good choice based on your diagnostics. Post back with your results, would ya?

 

Check the battery connection at the starter motor as well as circuit from the alternator for good connectivity. If correct, your problem may be mechanical between the starter drive gear and flywheel (whatever passes for one on an automatic transmission) ring gear. As you noted it could be a return spring or the drive gear engaging at a slight angle due to a worn bushing on the drive gear housing. Couple of points to check on the rebuilt starter, look at wear on the drive gear and wear at the bushing. Also while the starter is removed inspect the ring gear for bad spots, you need to crank the engine by hand to see all surfaces.
Hope this helps.

 

A rebuilt starter fixed the problem. The only difficult part was the top bolt. There was only enough space for one click on the wrench.

 

That's good news. And I bet that bolt took quite awhile to get seated!

 

Just a note on the top bolt. You can use a ratcheted box end stubby wrench and get more turns, also you can grind notch on the inside neck of a half moon wrench and that will get you more turns also. The problem is that nub that the bolt hides behind, and the stubby is short enough and the notch on the half moon will get around it.

 

I tried to image what the heck you were describing, and failed... I'm more of a visual person

 

Okay I'll take a picture. Maybe we should start a new page just for tool mod's?

 

Did you remove the steering rack to get at the starter?