I was going to buy some New Spark Plugs until Paul (ptjs) gave me that Warning about some possible 'Fakes' that may be going around on the Market and so I decided to give mine a Clean, to see what they looked like before deciding one way or the other

So with nothing to lose, I wondered what would happen if I very gently Clamped the Spark Plug in my Drill Press and then Spun it round in a Container that was full of Aluminum Oxide Blasting Media

So lets find out why don't we 'What Could Possibly Go Wrong!'





'This wasn't Supposed to happen It Actually Worked!

 

Ohhkaay, and how did you get all the blasting media out of those very fine nooks and crannies and deep recesses, so that you aren't introducing Grinding Compound into the cylinder?

Curious minds need to know.
(';')

 

Hi Lnr

Used my Compressor to Blow out the dust (although there wasn't any) then Blasted each one with Brake Cleaner just to be sure, then Blasted them again with more Compressed Air to evaporate any Brake Cleaner although that evaporated instantly

Then Checked them again with a Magnifying Class where all I could see was Shiny Polished Metal both inside and out

These are Concourse Rebuilds don't yer know, that would have taken first prize in any Spark Plug Competition

Down here at 'Orange Blossom Towers' We do a proper job and don't just run them under the Tap!

And by the time I had finished with them, they looked even better than New!

 

OB,

Good job! That'll add at least 10bhp!

Paul

 

This next Video might add even more?????

 

 

Great news AJ. Now spill the beans, what was it?

 

In fact it could also have been a good number of things, so just to be sure I also replaced The Crank Position Sensor, as more often than not this could have been or at least Contributed to a 'No Start Problem' and as such one of the very first places to look

As they can often go Flaky for almost no reason at all and so replacing this is not really a waste of money, as if the old one still works, it's handy to keep in the Glove Box, as a Spare and easy enough to replace by the side of the Road

Although as Auto Electrics isn't really my thing it took me several days to find the problem, instead of the couple of minutes that an Auto Electrician could have taken

Except I won't let a Shop or Expert anywhere near my Car, as this is my Hobby and if I can't Fix it with all the knowledge these guys and girls collectively have on this Forum, then I wouldn't really feel that I was worthy

And though it took me a really long time, I'm pleased to say I got there in the end! 'Unless of course she doesn't Start Tomorrow' and I dare not even think about that

So with Fuel to the Rail during Cranking, my First Job was putting the Spark Plugs back which had got covered in Carbon during my many attempts to Start my Un-Startable Car




Right from the 'Get Go' the day didn't go what I'd call exactly to Plan, as I couldn't find my Spark Plug Socket anywhere!
That I had put in such a Safe Place, that I couldn't manage to find it!

Except of course I'd gone and left it in the Boot/Trunk of the Car! (Doh!)
And we've all been there haven't we?

Ok Just Me then!

But having found it work could then Continue, or at least it would have done if the In Laws hadn't decided to turn up!

Which really threw a different sort of Spanner in The Works!

Although at last having got rid of them I could get on with the Job, except that when I pulled the Socket Bar out, the Socket Stayed in the Hole and wouldn't come out OMG! O No! this wasn't my day!

Until I remembered how I did it last time by using a piece of Plastic Tube to Screw the Spark Plug in as far as I could and then giving it a final nip with the Socket Wrench

Where you really need to take you time and make sure that you don't Cross Thread the Plug

Though Thankfully everything started to go much better after that




All back together apart from the Covers, so now came the moment of Truth to see if She'd Start! except of course I lost my nerve and had to have a cup of Tea before I turned the Key and even then I was just a bundle of nerves!

Except I couldn't put that moment off for any longer, at which point I put the Key into the Ignition and then with eyes wide shut I turned the Key

And guess what happened Next!


She Started On The Button! and I have to say I wasn't expecting that

Sorry about the Audio that made the Engine Sound like a Bag of Spanners but She was really Running Smooth as Silk!

 

Hi Greg

Difficult to say for sure but I think it was a Combination of Crank Sensor-Fuel Pump Relay and also those Blue Relays, that I seem to remember causing a Similar problem some time ago

 

Being left dormant is never good on a car, and it's components. Especially "Electronics" Electrical is simple, Point A to point B no breaks in the line, and a return path. All works as it should. Until you throw in that little Black Box. Then all bets are off. Just my observations over the last 50 years. LOL!

Jack

 

Hi Jack

You are so right!

I don't think Paul (ptjs) has this sort of trouble, as he uses his Car, a lot more than me

 

Alex, I just did a search:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...9/#post2398039

and

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...6/#post1977404

It has happened to you before! AT my age I have an excuse for forgetting these things!

 

Hi Greg

Well spotted, it's all coming back to me now but this time I was also not getting Fuel to the Rail when Cranking the Engine, so eventually managed to track that down to a New Fuel Pump Relay, that seems to have sorted that problem

Not sure why but I find the V12 much easier to work on, once you get over the shock and awe of seeing that great big engine under the Bonnet/Hood

 

Hi OB,

Well done and congrats on your typical perseverance!

I think it's entirely likely that you had problems with both the CPS and Fuel Pump Relay. I know that sounds contradictory as you said at various points that you had sparks (so CPS definitely working) and also Fuel pumping in the Ign On cycle (so Fuel Pump Relay definitely working).

But it's also quite possible that components which initially work after being in hibernation, then quickly fail afterwards.

So, all is well at the end and some good experience to add to your cv!

With the car now running, I would do a brake fluid flush and change the autobox fluid and diff fluid. The brake fluid will have absorbed moisture over the years which you definitely want to remove. And the gearbox and diff fluid will almost definitely have never been changed and need doing on mileage let alone the huge number of years! If you don't fancy changing the autobox filter, just do 5 changes of the fluid with a short drive of the car up and down the Blossom Towers estate in-between. A good weekends work next week!

Cheers

Paul

 

OB,

It's true that I used to do a lot of mileage in my AJ16 (20k per year) but these days it lives a much more sheltered life.

The worst 2 problems I've had in 20 years have been a split downpipe to collector join (stopped 3 times by the police in 50 miles because of the noise as I drove it home!) and a failed alternator diode pack.

So, I sometimes think I've been incredibly lucky in my 90k mile car. I've never changed any of the relays in the car and I'm on my original CPS and every bit of the exhaust apart from one manifold and the re-weld of the collector pipe. But I do tend to change things at the slightest problem, such as the rad, the oil cooler, front and rear suspension refurb etc. And as you know I have a real OCD about fluids - Engine oil and gearbox fluid every year even if I've only done 500 miles, brake fluid and coolant every 24 months, relays removed and cleaned every year etc, grease and lubricate everything that moves, clean & lubricate everything I can get to in the engine bay etc. .

So, am I lucky with the car? Maybe, to paraphrase the legendary Gary Player - the more I maintain the car, the luckier I get with it!

Cheers

Paul

 

Hi Paul (ptjs)

Cheers!

But trying to find the cause of that 'No Start Problem' was a Nightmare that took me all Week to track down and I really did have Visions of having to take out that Tank! that has to be the most 'Thankless Job' that you can imagine!

This just made me so glad that I hadn't got the 6 Litre with 2 Fuel Pumps! as it's hard enough to Fix a Car with just One! and think that 2 could have pushed me right over the edge, as how would you ever know which one had failed

Or even if just one had failed but not the other one as that sounds like a very, very complicated Fix, so 5.3L is more than enough for me

As for anything else on the Car, I tend to be in the 'If it ain't broke don't fix it' sort of Camp, which would probably drive you crazy! as although I've changed the Brake Fluid, I am not going near the Transmission, as I've heard bad things can happen if you don't do it right

But guess what happened today! She wouldn't Start!!!

Thankfully that was down to a Flat Battery, as I have been trying to get the Aerial to work, as at the moment it's stuck in the down position

So if anyone knows......? because I haven't got a Clue what could be wrong

Much too Cold and Windy to Work on the Car to-day and so I reckon I must have spent at least all day trying to Change the Wheel on my Ride On Mower, that like Fixing the Car was a bit of a Nightmare, to the extent that I was very tempted to take it down my Back Street Garage and give the Guy a Fiver!

But couldn't bring myself to do it as with not being able to Fix that myself, it wasn't about the money, I just couldn't handle the Shame! there must be a Secret to doing this, so perhaps I should have asked Greg, as he is a bit of an expert when it comes to fixing this stuff and I've still got another one to do!

So in the end I decided to make a Tyre Changing Machine, which took me less time to make than it did to Change the Tyre, except I haven't tried it yet and so I don't know if it works but I'll find out Tomorrow, as I am still getting over the Shock of the GF having to Pay £7-50 for a Bar of Chocolate!!!!

 

Good Luck with the Mower tire. The smaller they are the bigger P.I.T.A. they are. LOL! Ask Me How I Know!!! ((@(&*&^^%$#$$^#@$$#@!@@))

Jack

 

I haven't got time to mess with it. I take riding mower tires to Les Schwab and just give them the coin.
They're finished in 15 minutes and I'm back on the job in an hour.
As Time is Money, and Downtime costs a Lot, it's well worth it for me.
Bidness Expense.
(';')

 

Hi Jack

In that Case you're going to Love my Tyre Changing Machine for Lawn Mower Tyres and Trailer Wheels (if it works! it was too dark to try it out tonight)

It only took a couple of hours to make from Scraps I had laying around in my Garage/Shop (No Welding Required!)

Maybe even Lnr might want to make one?

The Question is does it work? I dunno?

We'll find out Tomorrow and if Lnr gives this a 'Thumbs Up' then for me that would be the Ultimate Seal of Approval