Re: [XJ6 s3 4.2] Non-starter - Part 5

[Leslie Aaron <aaron@ifu.net>]

Nick Johannessen wrote:
> 
> [ southern@ox.cgd.ucar.EDU (Lawrence Buja) ]
> |
> | {No, put in the key and turn it. *click* Whats this? *click*
> |
> | A click from the starter is good. It means you're almost there.
> | Total silence means that there's a bunch more stuff to debug.
> |
> | Run a heavy jumper cable from the neg battery post to the engine
> | block. If it starts now, then the neg path from your battery to
> | the starter has a bad connection somewhere.
> 
> Ok. Went for a walk to the local fuel emporium and bought
> a set of jumper cables. Connected the negative battery post
> to a handy nut on the top of the engine. Still *click*
> Connected the other cable in parallel. *click* This could
> prove that the engines ground connection might not be at
> fault.
> 
> | If that fails, try jump starting from another car.
> 
> No cars at hand, but I connected my other battery in
> paralell. Still the *click*
> 
> When it *clicks* it does sound like something moves, just
> a teeny little bit, but I'm sure the starter does get
> energized a bit.
> 
> I guess this means that the next step is to look at the
> positive connections?
> 
> Nick
> --
> Nick Johannessen (nick@sn.no) or (nick@jagweb.com)
> XJ6 4.2 '70 MOD BRG 5PO "The Beast" (looking forward to spring)
> XJ6 4.2 '82 Auto 5PO "Wifes car" (bad, bad car)
> JagWebs: http://www.sn.no/~nick/jaguar.html & http://www.jagweb.com/
> 
Just my 2c worth...

I recommend problem solving by the binary search method.  In other words
it helps to know which half of the haystack the needle is in.

1. Turn on the headlights and then turn on the starter.  If the lights
dim and the engine doesn't turn you have a mechanical problem.  If the
lights don't dim you have an electrical problem.  

2. If it's a mechanical problem, it is either inside the starter or
outside the starter.  Remove the starter and while someone holds it
steady use your new jumper cables to connect it back into the circuit. 
Does it spin?  If it does it is probably OK. (But no guarantees)

3. If it's an electrical problem it is also either inside the starter or
outside the starter.  Is the electrical terminal available on the
starter?  Measure the voltage between it and the case while someone
presses the starter button.   Since the lights don't dim you should have
12 volts if all electrical connections are good.

4.  There is also the possibility that the starter is binding with the
ring gear.  This could be caused by having the incorrect starter (in
spite of what the salesperson said), missing shims, or other incorrect
installation.  Try loosening the starter bolts until they are just
finger tight and try starting it again.  If the starter turns the engine
then it's binding.  Tighten the bolts back up.  If you're lucky it will
still work.  Good luck!


Mike Eck
'51 XK120 SS
'62 3.8 MKII
('90 Audi Quattro V8, '87 Honda CRX, '74 VW Camper,  '66 Jeep, '24 Ford
T Touring, '74 Honda XL175, '81 Kawasaki KZ1000, '85 Honda XL500)

---

References:

• Re: [XJ6 s3 4.2] Non-starter - Part 5
• From: southern@ox.cgd.ucar.EDU (Lawrence Buja)
• Re: [XJ6 s3 4.2] Non-starter - Part 5
• From: nick@sn.no (Nick Johannessen)

---

• Prev by Date: Re: jag-lovers-digest V2 #672 (airco MK2 1962)
• Next by Date: Re: [XJ6 s3 4.2] Non-starter - Part 5
• Prev by thread: Re: [XJ6 s3 4.2] Non-starter - Part 5
• Next by thread: Re: [XJ6 s3 4.2] Non-starter - Part 5
• Index(es):
  • Main
  • Thread