1969 Jaguar XJ6 Won’t Start
Discussion
I’ve recently bought a 1969 Jaguar XJ6, but it’s been a love-hate relationship so far.
It has been converted to fuel injection.
Always a brilliant starter until it landed on my drive. It wouldn’t start when I first got it, turned out the fuel pump had become disconnected from the relay. Reconnected the cable and it fired up instantly - great!
That was about 2 weeks ago. Today I put in about 15 litres of fuel from a petrol can, went to start it and it quickly fired up, went to about 2k revs and then spluttered and died. I started it again but it died right away again. Now it just cranks and won’t start.
I don’t know why it suddenly won’t start after sitting for a couple of weeks. Battery is brand new. The only thing I notice is the fuel pump is significantly louder than normal and seems to prime for longer. I put in a good amount of fuel today as it’s been run on empty for short journeys all the time for the past few months. A fuel pressure gauge says it goes up to 60 psi on priming, so it seems the fuel pump is doing something.
I’m wondering if it’s another fuelling issue, possibly a clogged filter (hasn’t been serviced for a while I imagine), or if it could be something else? Any ideas much appreciated, thanks!
It has been converted to fuel injection.
Always a brilliant starter until it landed on my drive. It wouldn’t start when I first got it, turned out the fuel pump had become disconnected from the relay. Reconnected the cable and it fired up instantly - great!
That was about 2 weeks ago. Today I put in about 15 litres of fuel from a petrol can, went to start it and it quickly fired up, went to about 2k revs and then spluttered and died. I started it again but it died right away again. Now it just cranks and won’t start.
I don’t know why it suddenly won’t start after sitting for a couple of weeks. Battery is brand new. The only thing I notice is the fuel pump is significantly louder than normal and seems to prime for longer. I put in a good amount of fuel today as it’s been run on empty for short journeys all the time for the past few months. A fuel pressure gauge says it goes up to 60 psi on priming, so it seems the fuel pump is doing something.
I’m wondering if it’s another fuelling issue, possibly a clogged filter (hasn’t been serviced for a while I imagine), or if it could be something else? Any ideas much appreciated, thanks!
GreenV8S said:
DaimlerJ said:
Today I put in about 15 litres of fuel from a petrol can
Why?I should add, it’s not yet UK registered so can’t go anywhere, but is having an inspection soon so I wanted it in a good drivable condition with some fuel in it.
Auntieroll said:
Has it got twin tanks ?
Could be feeding from an empty one .
It has. That was my initial thought so I put a few litres in the other tank (knowing both were basically totally empty before today), but it made no difference.Could be feeding from an empty one .
One thing I forgot to say is when the fuel pump makes a loud noise (and it's very loud, not like normal where it's very quiet), it comes up at 60 psi fuel pressure measuring from the FPR. As soon as the noise stops, it drops right down to 0 psi. I haven't looked at fuel pressure when priming before so I don't know what's normal for this car and how long it should hold, but that seems possibly suspect to me?
Auntieroll said:
The old XJs used to have a LH and RH pump / tank selector switch on the dash ?
It does, I've tried it set to both tanks and it makes no difference sadly.So far this car has been a lot of head scratching! Add to that, the driver's door handle conveniently decided to break today....
For some reason, I still love it!Wacky Racer said:
DaimlerJ said:
It does, I've tried it set to both tanks and it makes no difference sadly.
So far this car has been a lot of head scratching! Add to that, the driver's door handle conveniently decided to break today.... For some reason, I still love it!
My Dad had one of the first 4.2 XJ6's in the country in January 1969.So far this car has been a lot of head scratching! Add to that, the driver's door handle conveniently decided to break today....
For some reason, I still love it!People crowded around it everywhere he parked up looking through the windows. Notes were left on the windscreen offering him 20% over list.
Beautiful car.
Unfortunately (or fortunately for them), they’re so beautiful that you can’t help but forgive them every time they go wrong.
Apologies for not keeping up with this thread, I’ve taken a bit of a break from this issue this week. The car was inspected by DVLA this week, who are very happy with it and I should have a registration number soon at least!
Me and a friend done some checks. Starts up very easily with carb cleaner sprayed in the intake, so it’s definitely a fuelling issue.
There’s fuel coming out of the pump, and fuel getting to the rail. He remarked the pressure felt a bit weak though, but the fuel also smelt very faint, almost like it’s diluted (by water perhaps?)
My concern is still the fuel pump doesn’t prime properly, only for a fraction of a second. The fuel pressure gauge still shows 0 psi after “priming” too.
I haven’t checked the fuel filler area for water, so will do that. At the moment, it’s been kept outside uncovered due to this DVLA inspection, but now that’s done I can cover it.
The fuel injection system is called Dicktator. It seems to be a popular system in South Africa. I have only one fuel pump, wired up to the left tank and placed in the boot, along with the inline filter. The right tank is connected to the left tank, so I imagine acts as an “overflow” tank. It seems the tank switch makes no difference to operation, as fuel will only effectively be supplied via the left tank.
Me and a friend done some checks. Starts up very easily with carb cleaner sprayed in the intake, so it’s definitely a fuelling issue.
There’s fuel coming out of the pump, and fuel getting to the rail. He remarked the pressure felt a bit weak though, but the fuel also smelt very faint, almost like it’s diluted (by water perhaps?)
My concern is still the fuel pump doesn’t prime properly, only for a fraction of a second. The fuel pressure gauge still shows 0 psi after “priming” too.
I haven’t checked the fuel filler area for water, so will do that. At the moment, it’s been kept outside uncovered due to this DVLA inspection, but now that’s done I can cover it.
The fuel injection system is called Dicktator. It seems to be a popular system in South Africa. I have only one fuel pump, wired up to the left tank and placed in the boot, along with the inline filter. The right tank is connected to the left tank, so I imagine acts as an “overflow” tank. It seems the tank switch makes no difference to operation, as fuel will only effectively be supplied via the left tank.
It’s an electric fuel injection system.
The big problem is fuel pressure is on 0 psi when priming. After cranking for a long time, it shoots up to 60 psi, but then falls away to 0 again in under 2 seconds when I stop cranking. While it’s on 60 psi, there’s a loud humming sound in the engine bay, sounds like it’s in the area of the fuel pressure regulator.
The fuel pump got very noisy the day this all started. Now it just makes a brief loud “priming” noise for less than a second on start up, and the fuel pump visibly jolts when it does this.
I’ve got a replacement filter here and have ordered a replacement fuel pump. I’m just going to bite the bullet and change them to see if it makes a difference. I will check the earth connector when I do this too.
The big problem is fuel pressure is on 0 psi when priming. After cranking for a long time, it shoots up to 60 psi, but then falls away to 0 again in under 2 seconds when I stop cranking. While it’s on 60 psi, there’s a loud humming sound in the engine bay, sounds like it’s in the area of the fuel pressure regulator.
The fuel pump got very noisy the day this all started. Now it just makes a brief loud “priming” noise for less than a second on start up, and the fuel pump visibly jolts when it does this.
I’ve got a replacement filter here and have ordered a replacement fuel pump. I’m just going to bite the bullet and change them to see if it makes a difference. I will check the earth connector when I do this too.
RobXjcoupe said:
I would go with water in the tank. My own xj6 suffered exactly the same symptoms. Fuel that had no smell of petrol lol. I drained the tank and used that fuel to light a bonfire, well it didn’t it just made everything wet! Also I found once removing the tanks that the in tank fuel filter was also clogged with rust particals. So initially good fuel pressure then gradually reducing and starving the carbs. So that with water in the petrol it was a wonder it fired at all
I’ve ordered some tank drain plug washers, and will drain both tanks and fill with fresh fuel as I’ve been advised when they arrive (assuming new fuel pump doesn’t fix it). The tanks are incredibly easy to drain thankfully, just a bolt on the bottom of the car with nothing covering it. I know the washers will fall apart if I don’t order replacements though, as is Sod’s Law!OK - I THINK I’VE FOUND THE PROBLEM!!
And a couple of you here were definitely right.
My left fuel tank cover has always been a bit stiff and doesn’t shut well. When the car was covered, I suppose it wasn’t a problem, but as it’s been left uncovered in the rain, water must’ve got in (and a LOT of it).
The tank is actually overflowing with what is about 10 litres petrol and 35 litres of water.....
I’ll drain that straight away. What I drain 45 litres into, I’ve got no idea. The drain hole isn’t blocked as that area is clear of water, I think I’ll need a new flap cover to fix the leak.
Could that water going through the system have damaged anything else I need to replace now? New fuel filter I suppose is a given?
And a couple of you here were definitely right.
My left fuel tank cover has always been a bit stiff and doesn’t shut well. When the car was covered, I suppose it wasn’t a problem, but as it’s been left uncovered in the rain, water must’ve got in (and a LOT of it).
The tank is actually overflowing with what is about 10 litres petrol and 35 litres of water.....
I’ll drain that straight away. What I drain 45 litres into, I’ve got no idea. The drain hole isn’t blocked as that area is clear of water, I think I’ll need a new flap cover to fix the leak.
Could that water going through the system have damaged anything else I need to replace now? New fuel filter I suppose is a given?
I’ve just bought replacement seals for the caps. I’ll be draining the tanks on Monday, have you got any suggestions for a suitable container? There’s 45 litres of a highly diluted petrol/water mixture in there (about 10 litres petrol max in there).
I’ll then wait for the seals to turn up and drain the tanks again once the new ones are on.
I’ve tried to prime the car a few times, but I haven’t cranked it very much thankfully and it still runs beautifully for a second with carb cleaner sprayed in the intake, so hopefully no damage done!
I’ll then wait for the seals to turn up and drain the tanks again once the new ones are on.
I’ve tried to prime the car a few times, but I haven’t cranked it very much thankfully and it still runs beautifully for a second with carb cleaner sprayed in the intake, so hopefully no damage done!
stevieturbo said:
I'd be removing the tanks and ensuring they are thoroughly clean and all water removed.
Likewise blowing any lines out and replacing filters.
Hoping I can get away without removing tanks, but may end up having to. Good point re clearing fuel lines, any suggestions on what’s best to use to do that?Likewise blowing any lines out and replacing filters.
The filter will definitely be being replaced, along with the fuel pump.
Peter3442 said:
If the tanks are corroded, I'd replace them and replace the fuel lines as well. The small rust particles are very difficult to flush out of the XJ's system and they cause havoc with pressure regulators and injectors.
At this stage, I'd just like to be able to get it running long enough to get to my garage. It needs some work on the brakes, so might treat it as an excuse to treat her to two new tanks along with the rear brake discs! I'll get the garage to replace the fuel lines as well while there as a precaution, and probably some new injectors too just to start afresh.I'm going to drain the tanks today. I still haven't got my new filler cap seal yet, but I think it's important to get that water out as quick as possible! I'll just have to drain them again when my new seals arrive (along with installing new fuel pump and filter, which I now have too).
I think I'll need fingers crossed for me
For anyone who’s interested, here’s what was in my fuel tank. Well that definitely explains why it wouldn’t start!
There’s meant to be a rubber seal between the filler neck and the body, which is totally missing on the tank that rain is getting into! Can’t believe I didn’t notice, but so much better finding out this way than being stranded somewhere when it rains. I’ll also replace the filler cap seals to be safe.
There’s meant to be a rubber seal between the filler neck and the body, which is totally missing on the tank that rain is getting into! Can’t believe I didn’t notice, but so much better finding out this way than being stranded somewhere when it rains. I’ll also replace the filler cap seals to be safe.
GreenV8S said:
I was wondering whether those tubs are petrol resistant - but that won't be an issue from the look of things.
I only stored it there before transferring it to more appropriate containers, more because I wanted to be able to see what came out of the tank. Like you say, it wouldn’t be an issue anyway, the first tub contained not a drop of petrol!Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff