[xj40] Won't turn over

XJ40
1

Hi all…HELP needed! before have to scrap!. I have a 94
Daimler 4.0L. It was running fine- never had a problem only
done 80kmiles and FSH. Parked it up and left it for about 3
weeks. Then tried to start it- turned over fine but would
not fire. Checked all the usual but no joy. Ran battery
down trying to start it. Took it off to re-charge. Put it
back on but battery now no good- wouldnt even turn it over.
Had car towed to garage. They tried a new battery on and
now tell me it won’t turn over at all !!-seems seized.
Tested starter motor which is fine. Now I can’t believe
that the engine could just have seized whilst stood and the
garage want ME to tell them what to do!? any ideasd most
welcome…thanks–
alfiepanda
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2

Hi First thing I would try is to take all the spark plugs out and see if it
will turn over, however you state that you ran the battery down initially
trying to start ?
Seems strange that a new battery will not turn the engine over, perhaps the
garage connected the battery incorrectly.
The other option is the isolator switch located in the righthand? footwell.
Make sure the plunger has not tripped.

All the best, hope this helps.
Regards, Robin O’Connor
'92 XJ40 4.0L
Auckland NZ----- Original Message -----
From: “alfiepanda” alfiepanda@gmail.com
To: xj40@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 8:07 PM
Subject: [xj40] Won’t turn over

Hi all…HELP needed! before have to scrap!. I have a 94
Daimler 4.0L. It was running fine- never had a problem only
done 80kmiles and FSH. Parked it up and left it for about 3
weeks. Then tried to start it- turned over fine but would
not fire. Checked all the usual but no joy. Ran battery
down trying to start it. Took it off to re-charge. Put it
back on but battery now no good- wouldnt even turn it over.
Had car towed to garage. They tried a new battery on and
now tell me it won’t turn over at all !!-seems seized.
Tested starter motor which is fine. Now I can’t believe
that the engine could just have seized whilst stood and the
garage want ME to tell them what to do!? any ideasd most
welcome…thanks

alfiepanda
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

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services and resources including Photo Albums, Event Diary / Calendar, On
Line Books and more !

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3

In reply to a message from alfiepanda sent Wed 18 Feb 2009:

Couple places I’d check.

Verify clean, tight battery connections. Do things like the
headlamps, wipers, interior fans and radio still work?

Inertia switch. Drivers side footwell above the fuse block.

Verify the security system has not immobilized the car.

Verify the Neutral Safety Switch is working correctly.

Check the starter relay. One of 4 built into a relay pack.
Under the dash, passengers side blue base. Very easy remove
the cover of the relay pack and manually close the circuit.

EMS Main relay, under the bonnet, passengers side of the car
on the firewall. Black base.

Fuel pump relay. In the boot, right side of the car, just
forward of the tail light behind the carpet trim.

O2 Sensor Relay. Under the bonnet, passengers side of the
car on the firewall, yellow base. This powers the fuel pump
relay!

Ignition ON relay. Under the dash, passengers side black base.

Crankshaft Position Sensor. Very front of the engine, just
above the crankshaft pulley.

Good luck!–
The original message included these comments:

Hi all…HELP needed! before have to scrap!. I have a 94
Daimler 4.0L. It was running fine- never had a problem only
done 80kmiles and FSH. Parked it up and left it for about 3
weeks. Then tried to start it- turned over fine but would
not fire. Checked all the usual but no joy. Ran battery
down trying to start it. Took it off to re-charge. Put it
back on but battery now no good- wouldnt even turn it over.
Had car towed to garage. They tried a new battery on and
now tell me it won’t turn over at all !!-seems seized.

–
91 XJ6, 93 Sov, 97 Sov – Driveway’s crowded!
Tampa Fl, United States
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4

How did they test the starter motor without the engine turning?
NW

Tested starter motor which is fine. Now I can’t believe
that the engine could just have seized whilst stood and the
garage want ME to tell them what to do!? any ideasd most
welcome…thanks

alfiepanda
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Visit the Jag Lovers homepage at http://www.jag-lovers.org for exciting
services and resources including Photo Albums, Event Diary / Calendar, On
Line Books and more !

Visit the Jag Lovers homepage at http://www.jag-lovers.org for exciting services and resources including Photo Albums, Event Diary / Calendar, On Line Books and more !----- Original Message -----
From: “alfiepanda” alfiepanda@gmail.com
To: xj40@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 7:07 AM
Subject: [xj40] Won’t turn over

5

In reply to a message from Robin and Maureen sent Thu 19 Feb 2009:

Hi…thanks for the input- most appreciated.Garage have
taken spark plugs out and tried to turn it over manually
but it won’t budge. It was turning over fine and continued
to do so until battery went flat. I must have overcharged
the battery because it then wouldnt retain the charge and
there was just a click when I re-connected it. That’s when
I had it towed in. The garage put another battery on - cant
believe they’d put it on wrong! but it won;t engage the
starter- just clicks. Disconnected starter and tested it
workes OK and it is fine but won’t engage or turn engine
over…con’t believe engine has siezed, makes no sense as
not run or driven so no load on it but what could stop the
engine even turning over? I will get them to check the
isolator switch but I asked them about that and they say
that can’t be the problem.
Regards
Tony–
alfiepanda
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6

A engine with the plugs removed should turn fairly easily by hand. Often I
can turn them just by grabbing the belts. Alternatively you can usually get
a wrench on the crankshaft bolt.
If it really won’t turn by hand I would suggest the following.

  • I have heard cases of engines locking up from extended cranking which has
    completely flooded the cyclinders and removed all traces of oil. You might
    want to put some oil into each spark plug hole, let it sit and try to turn
    manually.
  • remove the valve cover and check the timing chains. If something has
    happened there you could have a valve contacting the piston.
  • remove the belts in case one of the accessories has locked up although I
    would think the starter should be able to overcome this and squeal a belt.----- Original Message -----
    From: “alfiepanda” alfiepanda@gmail.com
    To: xj40@jag-lovers.org
    Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 7:00 AM
    Subject: Re: [xj40] Won’t turn over

In reply to a message from Robin and Maureen sent Thu 19 Feb 2009:

Hi…thanks for the input- most appreciated.Garage have
taken spark plugs out and tried to turn it over manually
but it won’t budge. It was turning over fine and continued
to do so until battery went flat. I must have overcharged
the battery because it then wouldnt retain the charge and
there was just a click when I re-connected it. That’s when
I had it towed in. The garage put another battery on - cant
believe they’d put it on wrong! but it won;t engage the
starter- just clicks. Disconnected starter and tested it
workes OK and it is fine but won’t engage or turn engine
over…con’t believe engine has siezed, makes no sense as
not run or driven so no load on it but what could stop the
engine even turning over? I will get them to check the
isolator switch but I asked them about that and they say
that can’t be the problem.
Regards
Tony

alfiepanda
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7

In reply to a message from Dave Boarder sent Thu 19 Feb 2009:

The first thing I’d do is take it somewhere else! I’d damn
well push it if need be, just to get away from them. It’s a
bit rum if so-called mechanics can’t work out any of this
basic stuff for themselves…–
JagFab,1989MY JaguarSport XJR 3.6 (RHD) + 1998 3.2 XJ8 (RHD)
London, United Kingdom
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8

In reply to a message from JagFab sent Thu 19 Feb 2009:

Agreed! Get it out of their hands and to someone that is
mechanic.–
John 90 XJ40
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9

In reply to a message from Dave Boarder sent Thu 19 Feb 2009:

Hi all again… thanks for all your input. Just an update…I
went to have a look at the car. Definitely won’t turn over
either by hand or with a spanner on the crank. Not
electrical either. All lights are on and starter engages
but doesn’t turn it over even with plugs out - just maybe
half a turn then stops. So seem to have no option but the
start stripping down. Cannot imagine how anything could
have seized up without moving- makes no sense to me. No
water around, oil is clean and bores and plugs all dry. Any
more thoughts most welcome. Putting a little oil and wd40
down the bores and leave over weekend- see what happens if
anything.–
alfiepanda
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