Dear all, bought a clean none running XJ8. Battery was dead and fuel pump was dead. Finally got the tank out and replaced the pump and filter. Verified spark and fuel at the rail. Turned the key and it fired right up then immediately died. The car has fuel pressure while cranking just will not continue to run more than a few seconds. It sounds clean with no misses when it initially fires. I am hoping that there is something else to check. currently when starting I have the air intake off and the mass air flow is hooked up to the air clean box lid but not assembled. I am hoping someone has idea on what to check next.

the car obviously sat for a while before I got it. I believe since it is starting then dieing it is not a compression issue. Only 87K miles.

 

Hi Greenlee63,
Try starting it again, and when it cuts out immediately remove some of the sparkplugs to check if they are wet or dry; wet = no or very weak spark, dry = no fuel.
In fact if it has not been too long since it ran I would remove the sparkplugs even before starting it again to see what they show.

 

well I installed all new plugs rigth away before I determined that the fuel pump was bad. When I did this I checked for spark on 4 coil overs and had spark.

The car sounds very smooth no misses but dies immediately. I am thinking that it is a fuel relay issue or something. When it starts to run, I shoot starting fluid in and it tries to continue.

I currently have the air intake off all the way to the air box and that is out as well. I did connect the MAF. Would this matter?

I have also spayed carb cleaner down the intake.

 

by the way thank you, I getting to the point of frustration. It runs smoothly for a couple of seconds

 

Is the fuel pressure gone when the car stalls?

Just a guess, but if the fuel pump hose inside the tank has a split in the rubber, it could intially build pressure but will not be able to hold it under load.

 

It sounds a lot like my car was just doing last week. I swap around relays in the trunk for the fuel pumps and it ran beautifully.

 

thanks for the comments, when my daughter cranked it the fuel pressure in the rail stayed constant and did not drop off after the car died and she stopped cranking. I plan to check the relays when I get back into down and the shutoff switch in the passenger compartment.

I am hoping it is that easy.

 

Did you replace the battery ? Did you try it with the MAF connected ? Is the check engine light on, and do you have a code reader ? Is it running on pure starter fluid, or do you think some fuel is coming through the injectors ?

 

thanks for the message, when I bought it had set for at least 6 months, the battery was dead. I installed a brand new battery, the MAF sensor is working, no codes other than P1111 and initial fuel at the fuel rail is 40PSI.

 

You need to leave the air cleaner tube assembled and in place for the car to run. If it runs when you spray carb cleaner then it is a fuel issue- Replace the fuel filter, then start looking for intake leaks because if you have the right amount of fuel but way too much air it will have the same effect.

 

Thanks I just read this andbappyto say I discovered that solution you mentioned as a last resort. I went through all of the fuses and relays again onset time. Then I decided to try installing the air cleaner assy and bang it fired right up. I could not believe it. Thanks for your help. Jam surprised the car is that sensitive

 

Congratulations. Enjoy the car.

 

thanks, I drove it last night for the 1st time. It drove great. needs a head light and then I have a bulb fail warning light for my rear driver side light. May be a bigger issue than changing bulbs. Do you happen to know, there are three clear bulbs, one has the double light in it and the other two have single strands in them. I am not sure when these should be lit, the single strand bulbs. Still researching this. I am glad it runs though. thanks again for the help