XJ40 Won't Start

[Aidxj6]

Hello, quick tale of woe on my 130 000 mile '94 model 3.2S. It's been off the road for years, but in my garage and on a battery trickle charger. I replaced the crankshaft position sensor about 2 or 3 years ago and whenever I do start it up, it fires up perfectly. Months go by between starts and it's always faultless. Two weekends ago I started it up as usual - fired up instantly - and drove for about 10 minutes around the block, during which time it ran sweetly, until the end of the run, when it developed a misfire, as if it was not firing on all six cylinders.
Anyway, I had no time to investigate so I garaged it and connected the trickle charger. This weekend just passed, I tried to start it up... no dice. It cranks healthily but it will not fire.

Does anyone have any advice, please? Battery is good, electrics generally seem good - no warning lights on the dash... it just won't fire up?

Thanks in advance.

[Dave Eynon]

If its been off the road for years how old is the petrol? Stale petrol can cause all manner of problems with filters, pumps, injectors and poor running. If the petrol is the cause it may require a tank flush and all the system cleaning / renewing.
Hopefully it may just be a change of spark plugs to cure your running issue, but the fuel system should be addressed before too long.

[Aidxj6]

Thanks Dave.

Yes, after the last run when it was stuttering at operating temperature I did think the fuel might be at fault, as it is old and was reading almost empty. So I put £15 new fuel in and a shot of Redex but it didn't help. Still doesn't start. Of course, old fuel may still be the cause, perhaps the fresh fuel and Redex was too little, too late, but the fact that it fired up as well as ever while cold, and then faltered when warm, and now doesn't start at all is a puzzle to me.

I'll do some more digging, and thanks again for your advice.

[Dave Eynon]

I hope you get it sorted, I do like a 3.2S!

[Aidxj6]

I hope you get it sorted, I do like a 3.2S!

Thank you, Dave.
This is my second Moroccan Red 3.2S. First one I sold but shouldn't have. I'm trying not to make the same mistake again.

[JimMann]

Hi Aidan, sometimes we need to go back to basics to fault find, even on a relatively modern car. Prerequisites to fire up an engine are air, fuel and a spark. If you can confirm that all 3 elements are present by simple tests, then it would be time to go looking into the electronic trickery that might be causing an issue.

Before going there though, I would agree with Dave that a fuel line / system blockage could be a problem - old, stale fuel is a menace, so when going through the basic fault finding, ensure you have fresh fuel at the rail.

Jim Mann

[Aidxj6]

Hi Aidan, sometimes we need to go back to basics to fault find, even on a relatively modern car. Prerequisites to fire up an engine are air, fuel and a spark. If you can confirm that all 3 elements are present by simple tests, then it would be time to go looking into the electronic trickery that might be causing an issue.

Before going there though, I would agree with Dave that a fuel line / system blockage could be a problem - old, stale fuel is a menace, so when going through the basic fault finding, ensure you have fresh fuel at the rail.

Jim Mann

Thanks for the tip, Jim.
I hope to get time to poke around this weekend.

[alec2824]

Why not try some "easystart" blown into the intake pipe. If it fires you are on to a winning clue!

[Aidxj6]

Why not try some "easystart" blown into the intake pipe. If it fires you are on to a winning clue!

Yes, this is my plan for tomorrow morning.

I'll report back.
Thanks, Alec.

[robv12]

the first and easiest check with these , is, when the car cranks does the rev counter needle "bounce". If it does you have a good CPS and need to move on, if it stays statix, the CPS has failed, swap and you should be ok

do the usual checks as others have suggested first, check for spark, easy , pull a plug and check, fuel, easy, break the line at the regulator, a very quick turn of the key, as the pump pumps against the regulator, and you should have fuel, BE CAREFUL, there is a fire risk here so be prepared

other less known faults on these cars, are as follows, The left hand fuse box corrodes internally, they look good, but are in fact goosed. A good trick is to use a right hand fuse box, different part numbers, but identical parts!!. The fuel pump loom connectors burn out, used to get lots of these, remove spare wheel, boot backboard, this will reveal the tank , you will see a large black connector with red/black wires iirc, split this connector and check for burns to the terminals, if burnt cut and replace with good wiring , I use to do so many I get a link loom in stock all the time