Fuel Starvation? Engine Cuts Out

[jccesprit]

Hi Folks
Just letting you know that I have decided that this problem is beyond my capabilities.
I will ask the Jaguar specialist guy I know to sort it out once he gets back to work.
I am doing no more on it.
I will let you know what the outcome is.
Once again, thanks for all the help and the suggestions.
John Campbell

[mike020150]

Here's a left field thought for you. Since someone has fitted the electronic distributor, is it possible they have also altered the coil/ballast resistor wiring? In normal running, the current in the ignition system is limited by running it through the ballast resistor. Under starting conditions, the resistor is taken out of circuit which enables more current to pass. If the resistor has been taken out of circuit permanently, the coil and distributor would have to cope with a higher current/more heat than they are designed to take. In turn, such an overheating situation could cause an electrical failure. Just a thought. Mike.

[jccesprit]

Hi Folks
Sorry to have been silent on this for so long - other things got in the way.
So -- I could not get my car to start, and I had tried everything I could think of.
I sent it to my local Jag specialist.
He managed to get the car started after adjusting the carburettors and rechecking all the ignition components.
But it was still cutting out after a couple of minutes running.
He very quickly found that if he disconnected the Oil Pressure Switch and just connected the cable to earth, the car would keep running.
So he suggested that I had perhaps fitted the wrong switch (I had recently fitted a new one, along with a new Oil Pressure Transmitter).
The part number shown in my Jaguar Parts Catalogue is C42200.
I checked this with SNG Barratt and they confirmed that that is the correct number for my car, and also that they dont have any alternative parts. The same switch is apparently used on most Jags of the seventies (E-Type and MkX being different).
I bought a new one in any case, since they only cost five pounds.
I have fitted it.
I still have the same problem. The car runs fine if I disconnect the switch and connect the cable to Earth. If I connect the cable to the switch, the engine cuts out after a couple of minutes of idling.
My Oil Pressure gauge shows around 40 pounds pressure at idle (approx. 700 rpm) and around 50 pounds when driving.
I havent gone back to my Jag specialist yet.
My car is running fine once again, but only if I have the Oil Pressure Switch disconnected, and the cable connected to an Earth.
Any ideas anyone?

[mike020150]

Assuming the oil pressure gauge is showing correct or even nearly correct readings, the wiring to and from the oil pressure cut-out switch is the most likely culprit. Try running temporary wiring in parallel between the switch and different points until the engine fails to cut-out at idle. If that's successful, then make the temporary wiring connections permanent splices. Mike.