S3 FHCAuto - awakening from the dead

[Nickw]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum and new to E-Types so please bear with me!

This car hasn't been started for over 20 years so it was with trepidation that I put a new battery in and attempted to start.

The interior light came on and the clock started ticking. All good so far.

Then, as I turned the key, there was a flash around the terminals on the coil and then nothing. No sign of life. No interior light or clock or anything.

Any suggestions as to where to start looking would be gratefully received.

Nick

[mgcjag]

Look for burnt out wireing....you probably have blown fuses....

[Jack the lad]

Hi Nick and welcome to the forum. There are so many things that could cause this problem that I and others could spend many hours offering a " check this out" type of reply. Invest in a good quality fire extinguisher and have it close bye the car, electrical fires start very fast and can do a lot of damage, have spanners close to the battery so you can make a rapid dis-connect if you have a problem.
Firstly you need to check that the engine will turn over freely, as if it is seized you have bigger problems than an electrical fault. If you can turn it over with a long bar and socket on the nose of the crankshaft you are in luck. Next you need the check all the thick heavy duty wires around the battery/starter motor and earth connections to the body, A 12 volt test light will enable you to "chase" the 12 volt supply around the car, looking for burnt/damaged wires as you go. If nothing found, go to the centre of your dash where the small gauges are mounted, two small plastic headed screws to remove from the top corners and you can lower this panel down to reveal all the fuse boxes. Check all fuses and clean the fuse and its holder before replacing them.
If you are not happy with doing this perhaps the aid of an auto electrician would be required. Please state where in the UK your car is as you may be lucky and be close to one of the many experts who frequent this forum. Very best regards and good luck with your project, John in sunny Devon.

[Craig Balzer]

Jack the Lad counseled that you to:
* check that the engine will turn over freely,
* check all the thick heavy duty wires
* go to the centre of your dash check all fuses and clean the fuse and its holder before replacing them.

Consider yourself lucky the car didn't start - you would have spread 20-year old fuel (*) throughout the system. Bad JuJu. To find out why, simply open the fuel filler and take a whiff - be prepared.

Add to this list that you need to drain ALL fuel from the car: drain the fuel tank (there is a sump under the fuel tank to ease this task); disconnect the fuel lines in the engine and used compressed air to blow the lines clear; you'll likely need to clean (and/or maybe rebuild) the four carburettors.

Since you are new to the E-Type-owner world, there are two manuals you will NEED to procure:

Repair Operations Manual. If you intend to do your own work on your Jag, it is indispensable. It provides step by step procedures for removing/reinstalling/working on nearly all parts and pieces on your Jag.
https://www.coolcatcorp.com/Merchant5/m ... Code=Books 3


The other mandatory manual is the
https://www.coolcatcorp.com/Merchant5/m ... Code=Books 1

The utility of this catalogue is it provides the factory parts’ numbers - which is used by nearly all the E-Type part vendors. Eases the process ordering the proper part.



(*) it is likely NOT fuel any more - it'll be closer to varnish / turpentine.

[Nickw]

Fantastic advice - thanks v much.
I'll get to it in a week or so and let you know how i get on