Cold start issues

[DougX]

Hi, Can anyone give me advise on issues experienced on my newly acquired 1999 X308. When cold it cough's and splutters and appears not to run on all cylinders. Within 3 - 4 minutes its warmed up enough to run perfectly well. No codes are shown on the display to indicate issues. Also, I have noticed a strong smell of petrol. Not sure if this has any bearing on the matter. Anyone had this experience and if so, is there a cure?

[RichardSEL]

No strong smells of petrol on my XJ8 3.2L -- but on both my Exec and Sport experienced poor starting when cold in the mornings outside parked. Eventually they got better with last summer's sun. Found that the Coolant Temperature Sensor on both had either aged or was intermittent. I changed the Sport's first and that appeared to cure.

I then had one episode on the Sport which, after I'd cleaned the throttle body butterfly edges, the fault went completely. I've since sold that car.

On the Exec it was more severe leading to no cold start at all. I put the slightly lesser performace from the Exec against the Sport down to differing spec -- the Sport had previously been owned by an enthusiast and was chipped.
However, one late Sunday afternoon in a faraway (well 12 miles from home) supermarket car park it just wouldn't fire. Squirting Quick Start up the inlet manifold caused it to fire then die. Until on the fourth or fifth attempt I managed to catch it on the throttle and waited for warm up. The Exec had by this time already had its CTS sensor changed. So, I got it home, switched off, switched on again and it started straight away. But waiting a minute and it wouldn't start at all apart from the Quick Start method.

Eventually my local older-Jags' guru had a cancellation so he came out and took it back to his works on back of low loader. But not before he asked me to check there was a decent fuel feed, suspecting either fuel pump (in fuel tank so can't changeout without ramp), or fuel filter (can be reached, adjacted to diff)

For the CTS change out not difficult on the AJV8, see my pix/diag at: viewtopic.php?f=86&t=12428 iCarsoft 930 does'nt report sensor failure...

For the low / intermittent fuel supply see: viewtopic.php?f=86&t=12428&p=73274&hili ... ump#p73274 Requires you to loosen Shraeder valve on the fuel inlet pipe with a tyre valve driver and watch whether you get a spurt of fuel when you try to start. I didn't so said guru changed both pump (awful job IMO) and filter

Both faults gave misfiring until warm up. Best I can do for now. Let us know how you get on?

[DougX]

Thanks Richard. I will try replacing the coolant sensor first and see how it goes. Having looked on SNG Barratt’s website and British Car Parts, I am getting different parts on the same Part Number. SNG are indicating a Washer Fluid Sensor (LNA5740AB) and BCP are showing the same Part Number as Coolant Level Switch. Confused! Can you confirm either if this is the right product code and if so, which one it should be. Many thanks. Doug

[RichardSEL]

viewtopic.php?f=86&t=12428&p=68866&hili ... sor#p68866

Hope that helps -- get from main dealer -- it's marked "Made in Japan".
So must be OK

[DougX]

Found the problem! As indicated, the car smelt of fuel most of the time. Having had the car on a ramp and checking all the fuels pipes, I discovered they were all OK. I then checked under the bonnet and traced the fuel lines into the injectors. While looking at illustrations of the fuel route, I looked more closely at the fuel pressure regulator. Turning the engine on showed a leak straight away, so I now know what the issue is and a new fuel pressure regulator is on order!