1987 xjsc. Turns over just fine but will not run .
Vince,
Your engine will run if it has spark, fuel, and compression in the correct amounts at the correct time. Check to see if you have a nice blue spark at the spark plugs when.you crank the engine. If you do then connect up a fuel pressure gauge to verify your fuel pressure at the fuel rail is around 36 PSI.
What is the history of this car? Did you buy a non-running car, or was this a car that you have owned and driven for years and this no-start condition just happend?
BTW the more common reasons for no-start seem to be fuel delivery problems (failed fuel pump, clogged fuel filters, bad fuel injectors) and ignition failures (ignition amplifier, wiring harnesses). Cars that have sat for a while are usually more difficult to sort out and can have more than one failure.
If you haven’t already done so, download Kirby Palm’s excellent “Experience in a Book” from Jag-Lovers (it is free) and read up on the fuel and ignition systems.
Paul
Don’t forget about the crank position sensor too
Jason,
The car is a 1987 XJ-SC with Lucas ignition and doesn’t have a crankshaft position sensor. The crankshaft position sensors came with the Marelli ignition system in 1989 or so.
Paul
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Have owned car for three years . Blew injector hose , removed entire rack and sent to specialists to replace hoses and prove all injectors . Replaced rack and injectors , started up ran rough for two or three minutes but smoothed out , ran for fifteen mins . , and was pleased with my work . Tried to start next day for Sunday drive but was refused that was two weeks ago . Have spark and fuel pressure .
You might try furiously pumping the throttle. If you can get it to fire while pumping the throttle but it stops as soon as you quit, it’s probably that pesky coaxial wire across the top rear of the engine compartment. Peel back the sheathing, the wire underneath is probably brittle and cracked. What’s harder to tell is that it’s a coaxial.
It’s also possible your ECU has failed. Let’s hope it’s not that.
Tried pumping throttle but made no difference. Also pinched return fuel line to increase pressure to no avail.
Ah oops my bad. I kinda wondered
Pulled cruse control bellows to look down in the valley of the twelve to see if there was a thing amiss . Found a pair of sheathed wires coming from the coil fwd to a strapped down soda can size object with a rubber boot on one end just behind the grill ??? Also decided to pull distributor cap , replaced six months ago . The inside was of cap was quite damp. Plastic tube on top was broken off . May have spilled some coolant in it knocked over half quart while topping of system . Hope this is problem !
Bought new distributor and installed it . The beast started right up . Seams to have small stutter on b side of motor , may have screwed up a spark plug wire . Took for a drove , has more zip than it ever did . Thanks for all input !
Who still sells new Lucas distributors???
I don’t know about new but http://advanceddistributors.com/wordpress1/ rebuilt the dizzy on my TR6. I had some wobble in the shaft and it affected the points opening and closing when they should.
When I got my dizzy back, it looked brand new and functioned like it. I have no affiliation just a very satisfied customer.
Gordon
I bet he meant to say distributor cap.
Bought mine from O’reilly’s auto .