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Hello all, hopefully someone can help me with a problem I have starting my '97 X300. The car was running very well with no starting or electrical problems. I then garaged the car for a few weeks and on my return the battery was flat. As the boot lock won't open with the key, I had to connect a battery to the bulkhead positive and chassis to open it. I recharged the battery but now the gearbox 'park' solenoid won't operate and the car won't start. Central locking works and the dash lights come on so power is getting somewhere, it's just won't turnover. Nothing happens when the key is turned.

I've checked all fuses and the relays appear OK (no visible signs of burnout). The rear brake lights operate. Given the 'park' solenoid and indeed all electrics worked well before, can anyone confirm whether connecting a battery they way I did could have caused the solenoid to fail, or is there something else that may have failed as a result (ECU?)? I've checked the forum but couldn't find an answer. Thank you.

the gearbox solenoid is inhibiting the starting of the car

on top of the grear surround you will find a ' plug ' covering a hole that will allow you to manually insert the key and release the gearbox park solenoid

you should then be able to start the car providing nothing else is wrong

hope this helps

BB

Thanks BB. I did actually do this to get the car into neutral so I could get it out of the garage to check the fuses, but for some reason I didn't try to start the car with the solenoid 'released'. Anyway, with the solenoid 'released' the car starts so my next job is to take apart the gear selector mechanism and effect some kind of permanent override of the solenoid. This shouldn't prove too difficult as you can see the mechanism working.

Thank you again for your reply and for making me see the obvious!

Glyn

no worries

try a little lubrication , some light machine oil is the best ( not WD40 )

and work it a few times

at least its not an expensive worse case scenario , just a simple fix, which are the best

BTW , welcome, and have you got a pic of the car, its rule number two , lol


BB

I'll try the lubrication approach, I've got some suitable stuff somewhere. I'm also very glad it's a relatively quick fix. I had visions of fried ECUs and burnt relays that'd have me chasing my tail for days. She joins a '94 XJS facelift and '82 Series 3 in my 'collection' and although I'm trying to keep her going as their number are getting fewer, if it was something overly expensive I'd have to think twice. Pic attached. Thanks again, Glyn.