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97xk8 Won't Start

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97xk8

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Hi,

I've got a 97 XK8 convertible that won't start. I'm in the process of restoring it. It had been in an accident and is now back together. It was not running when I bought it because of the front end damage. The damage was only to the body, nothing directly related to the engine as far as I can tell. I'm getting really anxious to test drive this beauty!

Everything looks good. It's cranking over and getting gas (can smell it) but won't start.

Does this car have a "chip" in the key? I'm not sure it's working if it does have it.

Can I pull a code from the computer and tell what is going on with it? If so, does anyone have any sage advice on just where/how to do this?

From what I have seen is that thre are only manuals on CD's avail at a cost of hundreds of dollars.

Thanks in advance for any help and/or suggestions!
 
Let start by saying I know little to nothing about the more modern Jags BUT -- that being said

Yes, it does have a chip in the key

and If the '97 is anything like the '88-'94 XJ40, there is an inertia switch that pops whenever the car is in an accident and some times if you go over Railroad tracks to fast. On the XJ40 it is located on the driver's side footwell behind the side carpet. I would think your '97 has the same switch. If this has not been reset -- you can do all the work you want and the car will never run.

Webserve
 
The ineretia switch is a good thing to check. It is usually a black box with a reset button on the top or bottom. The XJ8 is equipped with OBD2 diagnostics that will identify specific malfunctions but this might be limited if the car cannot be made to start. The diagnostic scanner must be equipped with Jaguar proprietary software such as a dealer will have. Generic versions of OBD2 will not be of much use. Without this you have to revert to the ABCs of diagnostics. Determine if the car has spark to the plugs and proper fuel pressure to the injectors (about 40 psi). The collision sensor will cut off the fuel pump immediately so if you smell gasoline. you probably don't have a problem with this sensor. Also determine if the fuel injectors are being pulsed with voltage (less than 12 volts). If you have too much or too little fuel pressure in the fuel rail you might have a fuel pump or a fuel pressure regulator problem. Let me know how these measurements go and I will give you more advice.
 
Thanks for the helpful advice! At least I have some starting points now.

I'll check to see what the fuel pressure is running at and also check the spark again.

I'll do that this weekend and post what I find.

From what I've been reading the past days, I'm really looking forward to driving the car for the first time!

If she drives anything like she looks, I'll have a great automobile!
 
Also check at the fuel injectors to make sure they are being pulsed. You can do this with a small test light that interfaces with the injector electrical plug. Test at least one injector signal on each side of the engine.
 
My Dad has one of these. The "black box" and be a little tempramental. I would start with the inertial and then look at the engine management system connectors.

The car is fast, no doubt about that, and drives like it is no rails. The tires are sticky, but the don't last that long.

How many miles on the engines clock? A lot of these early cars had compression problems starting in the 50 to 60k area.

Good luck?
 
The early XK8s and other early Jag V8s in 98-99 used an exotic cylinder lining coating. It was not resilient to gasaoline containing sulpher and hence commpression problems. These problems have passed with sulpher in gasoline. I doubt that you would have this problem but there is a timing chain tensioner irregularity that can be a serious problem. I can tell you more about that but if your car sounds like it is cranking normally and there is no chain rattling up front, you probably dont have that problem either. If you are going to be keeping this car for a long time, then you should consider a Jaguar modification that is available. Unfortunately it is not a recall but it should be. Let me know how the problem shakes down as you test it.
 
Bought a 99 in April....best driving car I've ever own(and I've owned over 50 cars) the "feel" of it on the road it amazing....So far I've never had any problems with cylinder linings or the timing chain tensioner(I think the P.O might have upgraded the tensioner) One thing I am carful of is not just starting it and shutting it off before it warms up...this seams to be what causes the problems with the nicasil lining.

Zack
 
I strss that the nicasil lining problems in the cylinder is a function of sulfer in the fuel. Make sure that you are not using a source of fuel with sulfer deposits. This should be easy to comply with since today there has been concentrated effort in eliminating sulfer from gasoline as prompted by emission requirements. How is the start up problem working out? What are the test results?
 
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