[xk8] XK8 non start

I have a 1999 XK8 convertible, recently out of hibernation
over the winter, with trickle charger in place.
Now the car sometimes will not crank, even with booster
cables on battery, which was new only 18 months ago, and
13volts showing on the voltmeter. In this condition,
turning the key to start position produces only silence,
and it is the same with all three keys. Sometimes this no
start condition lasts for minutes, sometimes for hours.
Sometimes I get a check engine light, and the OBD reader
comes up with P1111, intake air sensor voltage problem.
I dare not take the car anywhere, would appreciate any
diagnostic/cure suggestions, can’t afford for dealer to
replace components until it works!
Mike–
Mike: 95 XJ 6 VDP 03 S Type 66 Mk 2 project, 71 e-type oroje
Vancouver, Canada
–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 !

In reply to a message from PC72 sent Wed 10 Jun 2015:

I had the same problem/same year and model. I started by
checking and tightening the electrical connections on the
starter motor and the high tension lines located in a
plastic box to the front of the spare tire. The battery
needs to be fully charged and the leads attached firmly. If
your battery is not fully charged you will find the
automatic up on your door windows will not function
properly. Tapping the starter motor with a hammer will
sometimes help get it functioning. I don’t know why this
helped but disconnecting the neg lead from the battery
(after a failed attempt to start/ clicking sound to having
dash lights not working) and reattaching allowed the
starter to crank and the engine to start. I installed a
battery cut off switch so in a no start situation it always
got me going. All the best–
The original message included these comments:

I have a 1999 XK8 convertible, recently out of hibernation
Now the car sometimes will not crank, even with booster


XK, XJ12. S Type
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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 !

In reply to a message from mare1 sent Fri 12 Jun 2015:

Thanks for the advice Marilyn. The part that I cannot
reconcile, is that when it won’t start, after a ‘rest’ of
indeterminate time, it usually will start.
I am going to have my battery checked out, and I will check
and tighten as you recommend. If the cutoff/isolation
switch is a lifesaver, I will install one.
Thanks again for the response.
Mike–
Mike: 95 XJ 6 VDP 03 S Type 66 Mk 2 project, 71 e-type oroje
Vancouver, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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 !

In reply to a message from PC72 sent Wed 10 Jun 2015:

Had a similar problem…tested all the relays etc but no
good…turned out it was the wire connected to the solenoid…its
covered by a rubber boot and with movement over 10 years the wire
broke off the solenoid…sometime it sat on the solenoid and
started…sometimes not…

Easy fix… just crimp a new eye fitting on the wire and connect to
solenoid… all good.

cheers–
Morro
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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 !

In reply to a message from PC72 sent Wed 10 Jun 2015:

Hi Mike,
I have the same problem. I replaced the starter about a year ago,
and for added protection, installed a separate switch between the
positive terminal on the starter and the solenoid…so if it
played up I could always get it to crank…and it has worked…and
still works. ecept now I cant get crank on the key at all and
sometimes I get P1336 codes which is crank position sensor…

Did you ever sorth this issues?

cheers
Morro. 97 XK8–
Morro
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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 !

In reply to a message from Morro sent Wed 20 Jan 2016:

Hi Morro, in my case it turned out to be the starter relay,
in my LHD car, located just ahead of the windscreen in the
engine compartment. I pulled it and switched it with
another relay of the same number. Bingo! Hasn’t let me down
since. I figure there was corrosion or something on the
pins, and removing and replacing cleaned it off.
Hope this helps you.
Cheers
Mike–
Mike: 95 XJ 6 VDP 03 S Type 66 Mk 2 project, 71 e-type oroje
Vancouver, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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 !

In reply to a message from PC72 sent Wed 20 Jan 2016:

Thanks Mike…

actually mine was LHD when I bought it 10 years ago… tried the
relay too… no joy I think it has something to do with the Crank
Position sensor…

thanks again.

cheers–
Morro
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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 !

In reply to a message from Morro sent Fri 22 Jan 2016:

This may sound overly simple, but, in the 12 years or so
that I’ve had my xk8, on a few rare occasions I’ve turned
the key and ‘‘nothing’’.
All it takes is to turn the steering wheel left and right
a time or two and car starts normally. Not sure if it has
something to do with anti-theft or??
Hope your fix is as easy.
Rich–
rich neary
Statesville, North Carolina, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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 !

I went through a similar problem on my 1998 XKR over 2 or 3 years and the problem slowly got worse, Sometimes it wouldn’t do it for several weeks or months, then it would intermittently do it and frequently when I was some distance from home. I checked and changed relays etc, checked all connections, took it to a Jag shop last year, they could find no fault but it did it again in their car park when I went to collect the car.
One frequent thing I did note was that sometimes when I turned the ignition key there was a click rather like you hear on an old fashioned starter motor solenoid or flat battery. In carrying out some research on the web I discovered the car had a Desno or Denso starter motor fitted (check my spelling), these starters have a built in solenoid and are fitted to dozens of different car types, they also have a weakness, with constant use over time the connections in the solenoid can erode and cause intermittent working of the starter. I discovered you can buy solenoid repair kits for about $20usd and they can be fitted in around 15 minutes once you get the SOB starter motor off the car. I bought a kit, took it back to my local Jaguar independent specialist. he fitted the new kit, charged me 2 hours labour and in the past 8 months it has never given me any further problems.

May be worth a look on your car.

Peter

I’ve had that happen to me occasionally. I found pulling the key out and reinserting it worked, so there may be some wear in the barrel.