xk8 wont start?
Discussion
iv got 96 xk8, went to pop out this morning and she wouldnt start, turns over fine and every so often it rumbles like it wants to start but nothing, ive turned it over without applying any throttle for about 15 secs and then gave it some juice but it just does the same, rumbles a bit and nothing in between, could smell petrol faintly but not all time, its never done this, the worst its done, is ive went to start it and its not fired first time, but always started after turning over for a few secs the second time and runs fine and it's not often it does it, im just hopeing it not a nikaisal issue, if you have any ideas id be greatfull if u could please let me know, thanks
Trac Fail is the usual symptom of a weak or partially discharged battery when trying to start.
Charge it for 24 hours or connect a slave battery with jump leads and try once again. If it won't fire floor the throttle and crank for 30 seconds then modulate the throttle untill you find a point where the engine tries to pick up and fire - don't keep trying or give up half way through.
The most likley problem is you've inadvertently flooded it, X308's do this at least once to unwary owners who, quite reasonably, think it's OK to start up, move the car and then swich off.
Charge it for 24 hours or connect a slave battery with jump leads and try once again. If it won't fire floor the throttle and crank for 30 seconds then modulate the throttle untill you find a point where the engine tries to pick up and fire - don't keep trying or give up half way through.
The most likley problem is you've inadvertently flooded it, X308's do this at least once to unwary owners who, quite reasonably, think it's OK to start up, move the car and then swich off.
JS,
I do not want to hijack the OP here, but do you know if the V8 engined S-Type is prone to the same flodding issue? I sometimes move mine around a bit in out of the garage on to the drive for a clean up, or to/from the shops a mile away, and I've never experienced this flooding problem.
R.
I do not want to hijack the OP here, but do you know if the V8 engined S-Type is prone to the same flodding issue? I sometimes move mine around a bit in out of the garage on to the drive for a clean up, or to/from the shops a mile away, and I've never experienced this flooding problem.
R.
thanks steve, think it is flooded, can hear the pump and iv got 4 of the plugs out, all smell of petrol, can see a bit of the pistons too, looks like all the black crap on them is wet and looks disturbed, tried the flooring it thing a few times to no avail so gonna put oil down the bores and hope that works, ill let u know how i get on thanks
The Leaper said:
JS,
I do not want to hijack the OP here, but do you know if the V8 engined S-Type is prone to the same flodding issue? I sometimes move mine around a bit in out of the garage on to the drive for a clean up, or to/from the shops a mile away, and I've never experienced this flooding problem.
R.
Not heard if the S Type has the same problem. Dispite knowing about this tendency for over-fuelling when cold both on the X300 and X308, I've managed to flood both of mine while shunting in and out of the garage and on and off the drive, and the curent X308 really took some getting started too. Really surprising how easy it is to do - and how difficult it is to get started afterwards as well.
I do not want to hijack the OP here, but do you know if the V8 engined S-Type is prone to the same flodding issue? I sometimes move mine around a bit in out of the garage on to the drive for a clean up, or to/from the shops a mile away, and I've never experienced this flooding problem.
R.
Not heard if the S Type has the same problem. Dispite knowing about this tendency for over-fuelling when cold both on the X300 and X308, I've managed to flood both of mine while shunting in and out of the garage and on and off the drive, and the curent X308 really took some getting started too. Really surprising how easy it is to do - and how difficult it is to get started afterwards as well.
ok guys, getting somewere now, filled tubes with 50 ml of clean oil as said in another post, put it together an cranked it foot down for 45 sec then relesed to about 80-90% and it fired right up, so much smoke it filled the street, then stoped cranking so could use the throttle to keep it going, but no, it just cut out, so cranked it again and it started with relitive ease but same again it cut out when i stop cranking, still with s**t loads of smoke( cranked for longer this time) keeps doing the same after a few times and had to abort because of the time of night(23 50 hrs)
but ill get on it in the morning just hope thers still enough oil in there to stop the same prob again, is it safe to keep cranking even when the engine is runing like this?, ie revving really high, does this seem like it is the flooding prob? thanks guys for the help, i need it lol
but ill get on it in the morning just hope thers still enough oil in there to stop the same prob again, is it safe to keep cranking even when the engine is runing like this?, ie revving really high, does this seem like it is the flooding prob? thanks guys for the help, i need it lol
You're risking damage to the starter motor and ring gear by cranking to support the engine when it's trying to fire - but it's a case of needs must. Only thing you can do is persevere.
If you are getting somwhere by putting oil down the bores it's obviously the right way to go, but 50ml is way too much IMO, just a single squirt from an oil can should be enough, too much oil will instantly foul the plugs and reduce the voltility of the fuel which will reduce the chances of starting.
Now the engine has got cold overnight I'd suggest you take the plugs out again, and heat them in a flame from a gas cooker or blowtorch or nick the OH's hairdrier and give them a good blast of heat.
Check the gaps - 1.0mm is right. Get the battery on charge or connect two in parallel with good jump leads.
While you're doing this the engine will have a chance for any residual fuel vapour to evaporate from the cylinders, before you put the plugs back in spin the engine over on the starter with the throttle wide open to blow out any remaining vapour.
Put one shot of oil in each cylinder. Refit the plugs. Take off the intake trunking from the throttle body in case you have a backfire which will could otherwise blow the air filter box and trunking apart.
Listen to the engine when you try to start. If it sounds the same as it did when you spun it over with the plugs out then you probrably have not got enough compression, if you hear a rapid whump whump whump instead of a steady whine you should have.
Keep going with a single burst from the starter and full throttle ( make sure full throttle on the pedal really is full throttle on the throttle body ) then after 10 seconds or so slowly modulate the throttle until you find a point where the engine starts firing. Keep going until you're sure it's running - up to a minuite is OK - then go for a drive to get it really hot and recharge the battery.
Starting reluctant engines is really hard on the battery and starter motor but is somthing you'll have to do.
If you are getting somwhere by putting oil down the bores it's obviously the right way to go, but 50ml is way too much IMO, just a single squirt from an oil can should be enough, too much oil will instantly foul the plugs and reduce the voltility of the fuel which will reduce the chances of starting.
Now the engine has got cold overnight I'd suggest you take the plugs out again, and heat them in a flame from a gas cooker or blowtorch or nick the OH's hairdrier and give them a good blast of heat.
Check the gaps - 1.0mm is right. Get the battery on charge or connect two in parallel with good jump leads.
While you're doing this the engine will have a chance for any residual fuel vapour to evaporate from the cylinders, before you put the plugs back in spin the engine over on the starter with the throttle wide open to blow out any remaining vapour.
Put one shot of oil in each cylinder. Refit the plugs. Take off the intake trunking from the throttle body in case you have a backfire which will could otherwise blow the air filter box and trunking apart.
Listen to the engine when you try to start. If it sounds the same as it did when you spun it over with the plugs out then you probrably have not got enough compression, if you hear a rapid whump whump whump instead of a steady whine you should have.
Keep going with a single burst from the starter and full throttle ( make sure full throttle on the pedal really is full throttle on the throttle body ) then after 10 seconds or so slowly modulate the throttle until you find a point where the engine starts firing. Keep going until you're sure it's running - up to a minuite is OK - then go for a drive to get it really hot and recharge the battery.
Starting reluctant engines is really hard on the battery and starter motor but is somthing you'll have to do.
jonboy07 said:
ok guys, getting somewere now, filled tubes with 50 ml of clean oil as said in another post, put it together an cranked it foot down for 45 sec then relesed to about 80-90% and it fired right up, so much smoke it filled the street, then stoped cranking so could use the throttle to keep it going, but no, it just cut out, so cranked it again and it started with relitive ease but same again it cut out when i stop cranking, still with s**t loads of smoke( cranked for longer this time) keeps doing the same after a few times and had to abort because of the time of night(23 50 hrs)
but ill get on it in the morning just hope thers still enough oil in there to stop the same prob again, is it safe to keep cranking even when the engine is runing like this?, ie revving really high, does this seem like it is the flooding prob? thanks guys for the help, i need it lol
I had to do this aswell, mines ran like a bag of bolts for about ten minutes then burst into life. I had big problem getting mine to go, just keep at it. Try finding my post aswell. If it wasnt for these guys on here it still wouldnt be going.but ill get on it in the morning just hope thers still enough oil in there to stop the same prob again, is it safe to keep cranking even when the engine is runing like this?, ie revving really high, does this seem like it is the flooding prob? thanks guys for the help, i need it lol
jonboy07 said:
ye wiil do thanks steve, but dont i need the air flow sensor connected to start the engine? thanks for the help
Yes you do 
I meant to say air filter box up stream of the airflow meter.Only excuse is look at the time on a Sunday morning I posted
Get it started in the end?
Edited by Jaguar steve on Sunday 11th January 17:11
wooo hooo!, shes back to life, just want to say thanks to you all for ur info and help, would be up a creek without a paddle if u never ,steve ur a legend ma'man, iv a feeling i saved alot of money, was gonna take to my dealer ( no indy around here), they took 400 sheets to change oil/ filter,a drain plug and put screen wash in, so thanks again guys
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