www.jec.org.uk

I have owned a 1999 xj8 3.2 now for 2 1/2 years I bought it with 75,000 on the clock, one owner, who lives local, in all this time I have had starting trouble with it, I have had it all checked out by the local Jaguar dealer who say there is nothing wrong wit it, I took in into them to put on their code machine, the guy came out after 1/2 hour said there was nothing wrong with it, paid my money picked up the keys got in the car it would not start on their forecourt, went back inside saw the guy I had just been speaking to he just shrugged his shoulders, will never go to them again, I got it started and went home, had the car serviced by an independent garage, who mostley works on Jaguars, gave him the problem
Normal guess engine, wrong he did the blow pass check all ok, so it continued maybe once every couple of months, I then posted the problem on the website Jag lovers .com, one guy who seemed to know his way round the Jaguars, said there was a TSB on this something to do with flooding, he posted it for me, spoke to the local dealer they did not want to know about it, the independed told me to contact H A FOX in Guildford which I did, they reflashed the ECU, that appeared to cure it, did not have the problem after this for 3 to 4 months, went to start the car which had been standing for 6-7 hours, it would not start again, call the RAC, waited 20 minutes the guy turns up, I get in the car fires up first time, this happen again the following week called them out again same when he arrived it fired up first time, so now I have a patten, it has happen recently 3 times in ten days, wont start, try it three or four times, leave it for 10-15 minutes it then starts first time.
I posted again on the jag lover site, one guy who seems to know his way round Jaguars said he thought it could be the rochester valve, he ask me to remove the petrol cap after the car had been parked for ten minutes to see if there was any rush of air when I took it off, yes there was, again he reckoned it was this valve, I have spoken to Jaguar dealers a specialist independent and nobody can give me an answer.
Anyone got any ideas, I can now get it started if after trying I leave it for a short time, I cannot smell any petrol when trying to start it.
The car runs find with know problems, just done a run to France 756 miles in a day no problems.
Sorry its a long post, HELP.

Colin

its definitley a call to Dave Marks on this one.....david@davidmarksgarages.co.uk although with you not smelling petrol i had a weird similar situation with my XJ40 and it it was the crankshaft end float gadget ( i cant think of the correct name for it) but it cured the problem...........Joe

Hi Joejag.
Been in touch with David Marks still no idea,
I spoke to a local company that deals in Jaguars, spoke to one of their mechanics, went through all the starting problems with him, he said it was a guess, but when it happens, try turning on the ignition, then foot brake, then pull the gear lever through the gate, this was about a month ago, as normal the car has been ok since then, until Monday this week, when it would not start again, done the above, pulling the gear lever through the gate two-three times, IT STARTED. maybe its the switch on the gear lever set up, do you know if there are seperate micro switches that can be changed or does the unit have to be changed, I am told some think like £150, for a switch seems a bit much, are ther any picture of this switch set up? maybe we have fond the problem after 2 1/2 years.

Colin

Colin, i cant even guess what the problem is, im sorry, there used to be a situation with the automatic selector mechanism if it got worn years ago not on a 308 though and you had to waggle the selector around until you got a contact........but im only blowing in the wind with this one.....if Dave Marks doesnt know, im at a loss......sorry........Joe

Coiln,

I'm no expert on this, but from what you've said, it coud be that the gearbox rotary switch is the problem. From my limited understanding of the circuitry, I think that the Park / Neutral control circuit sends a signal to the Engine Control Module which allows a circuit flow to the fuel pumps and ignition circuits.

So maybe what is happening is that the switch is sending conflicting signals such that whilst the starter can turn, the ignition and fuel circuits are not operative. The engine would then turn but not start.

You could try suggesting this to Dave Marks and see what he thinks. An option might be to change the rotary switch for a used one.

I guess the problem you've got is that you can't force the problem to happen on demand and therefore it's really difficult for someone to diagnose.

One other suggestion is that if you experience the problem, try putting the selector in Neutral, rather than Park. It just might help.

Good luck

Paul