Help! My Jaguar XKR 4 litre, 2002 model, will not start. I had last used it 2 days before and it was running fine,( it runs on LPG but needs to come up to running temperature on petrol). It has done 110,000 miles.
On attempting to start it, it fired and ran for about 3-4 seconds, and continued to do this repeatedly, but would not keep running. I read some tips on the forum and checked the fuses in the boot (Trunk), which are intact. I then substituted the relay and still the same thing happened, so i checked for voltage at the relay and bridged terminals 3 and 5 and the car started and ran perfectly. i drove it for 10 miles or so and it was running fine, but i then put the relay back on, as it had been bench tested and seems fine, and now the car won't even fire at all, it seemed to run all the fuel which was in the fuel lines then nothing! I have tried bridging the terminals again and it makes no difference, i can't hear any pump running and i have repeated all these procedures on the other relay for the second pump, both relays have power to them but no fuel is getting through!
Is it possible that both the fuel pumps have failed at exactly the same time? are there any other checks anyone can think of, everything else on the car seems to be working and the battery is fully charged. The car has not misfired or lacked power prior to this. Any ideas please?
Also, if i plug in the relay whilst it is "live", should i not hear it switching? (I don't!)
Thanks in anticipation,
Paul

 

The fuel pumps seem to have the amazing ability to calculate to about 100,000 miles and then FAIL.
Almost all the pumps I have replaced in the X300, X308 and X100 fail at about 100,000 miles! (design life expectancy?)
Could be a harness fault or a 'burnt' EVAP flange connector but pumps do fail at about the mileage you describe.

 

As you pointed out, the car comes with 2 fuel pumps. To my knowledge, if the primary pump fails, the car switches to the secondary pump after a number of unsuccessful attempts at starting the engine (4 or 6?). Maybe the car switched to the secondary pump as you were tinkering. Maybe the primary pump was dead all along.

To my superficial knowledge (I drive the later XK8 with 1 pump), the XKR secondary pump typically dies quietly as it is not used all that much, and then the car stops when the primary pump eventually dies. Your situation seems different.

Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

HI, "To check the Primary and secondary pump"
Make a jump wire with a spade end to fit into the relay holder..
Remove the relays for both pumps (ignition off)
Insert the jump wire spade in to 5/87 (keep ignition off) and touch the positive battery terminal with the other end of the jump wire ( for two seconds )
You should easily hear the pump running..If not then you have a problem with that pump.
Check pumps one at a time and keep the ignition off...
Good Luck.

 

How did I get so lucky to have my XKRs $700 fuel pump fail at about 72,000 miles?

To the OP, that sounds like failed fuel pumps to me, similar symptoms to what mine had, but your pumps are a lot less expensive than mine.

 

Thanks everyone, i have tried all suggested actions and there is no sign of life from the fuel tank, so looks like i'm in for 2 fuel pumps! My last chance will be to remove the cover plate and whack the tank with a mallet to get me to a garage, but i'm not holding my breath!

 

Spider589,

What? Hit it with a mallet...…………..Where did that come from?

Billy Clyde

 

The early TBI Chevy/GMC trucks had an electric pump in the bottom of the tank.
When the pump eventually failed, many people found that it could be 'jarred-loose' by kicking living $h!t out of the bottom of the tank while cranking the engine to get it to work ONE LAST TIME!!

One person cranks the starter and one person kicks living $h!t out of the bottom of the tank.

I had a neighbor call me about his son in a 1989 C1500 stuck in the local High School parking lot and the truck would not start.
I drove out there with him and met the son in the parking lot. I determined that the engine was not getting fuel. I remembered the 'trick' and told them to crank the engine while I laid on the ground and kicked living $h!t out of the bottom of the tank with both feet like I was running uphill.

The engine roared to life. I told them to drive the truck straight home and replace the pump. I warned that the 'trick' usually only worked ONE TIME!!!!!!

Next day I get a call about the truck stuck again with no fuel pressure. The son thought that the 'kick-start' would work repeatedly.
They kicked the bottom of the tank until their feet hurt. I reminded them that it would usually only work ONCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wrecker came and picked up the truck for the ride home!!

 

Hi guys,
I had the dreaded p1646 code which when researched indicated Fuel Pump Relay 2. Research suggested it was the fuel pump so replaced both.
I have a 2001 XKR Vin 20861.
After removing the fuel tank and changing both fuel pumps, can I say I have a lot of respect for anyone who has done this job, a nightmare.
Anyway pumps done and performance great, forgot just how quick it goes, BUT orange engine light on and code read of p1646.
In order to check both pumps I took out the primary fuel pump relay and after turning over the car a few times it started and ran fine on the secondary fuel pump. Did the reverse and the primary fuel pump works, so a little confusing when I have checked, and both fuel pumps are working, great performance and the car runs so smooth.

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks for any help.

 

Hi Daren,
your P1646 is complaining about the relay & associated circuit:



Try swapping pump relay2 # with #1, or the rear fog relay as a quick $0 check:

 

Shoot... I don't know what your time line is for repair,,, I don't even know how much a new set costs,,, but I have 2 new, still in boxes, and the lot, that I would be willing to give up for what I paid for them... I paid $50... Might be worth it,,, if your not in New Zealand,,, that is. Let me know.



​​​

 

Thanks for the reply Michael, tried swapping relays over but had no effect the code remained.

I can run the car on primary fuel pump having taken out the secondary relay and vice versa the car runs on the secondary fuel pump. Strange.
Some have mentioned O2 sensors and more thoughts?

Best regards

Daren

 

Shame that didn't have any effect. If it wasn't setting the MIL I'd possibly let it be. Both pumps are obviously working fine and the ECM is switching to 2 when it senses 1 fail.

In its infinite wisdom, Jaguar changed the meaning of P1646 in the 2001 MY, causing much confusion as it only applies to the XKR. Other years where it applies it is, as you note, an issue with the bank A HO2 sensor:



but that just sets the MIL and no message? Does the code return if you clear it and just turn the ignition to position ii (on)?

 

hi, everyone, just to let you know my fuel pumps have now been replaced and all is well again! I am fortunate to have an honest mechanic who charged me 2 hours' labour, much of which was making up a tool to remove the fuel pipes, i bought 2 new pumps off eBay, so the total wasn't as disastrous as it could have been, so thank you for the helpful tips about relays etc, they pointed me in the right direction!