Car will not start.

[jbnufc]

Hi guys sorry if this subject has been covered in the past but I went to start the car this morning after being left for about 24 hours no more. Pressing the start button there was just a click and nothing else. All dashboard lights work ok but there is a red battery warning light on display. I have checked both batteries and there is 12.4v coming off the big battery and 12.8 in the small battery. Do I need a new battery or is it something else. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[GARETH]

I know it should be impossible to do, but is the gearbox in park?

 

[Nick]

Worth a try not saying it will work, but you could rule something out.

Put a set of jump leads between one of the engine bolts, doesn’t matter which and the front chassis bolt. All your doing is checking that the negative from the battery is connected to the engine.

 

[Lunar]

In the olden days I'd tap the starter with the handle of a hammer - or if a manual then shove it in gear and rock it with the handbrake off - and check the battery and solenoid terminals.

If you flash the lights are they bright?

That will give an indication if the battery is the issue.

EDIT:
And had the car had good use up to when this happened?
If only infrequent short journeys then the battery may have been slowly suffering.
If you have a battery conditioner or charger I would stick it on and give it some help anyway.
If not and the battery dies completely you'll have to use the key to enter the car, turn off the alarm (does that some off the secondary battery?), open the bonnet, and use the under-bonnet terminals to charge the battery enough to open the electronic boot lock.
A conditioner might not recognise being connected to a totally flat battery, which is where a normal battery charger comes in handy - or a static jump from another car battery, as an option.

Not sure what the situation is with Jaguar Assist / AA / etc. if you are not an essential worker.
I'm sure there will be plenty of calls outs when road use is acceptable again.
And plenty of Halfords sales of batteries, jump leads and chargers after the event.

Hope you get it sorted - keep us updated.

 

[jbnufc]

Hi I am a key worker and use the car most days. I can open the car with fob and all lights work ok. New battery on order see what happens when it arrives. Just drives you crazy as it was all ok.

 

[scm]

Where did the click come from?

When you get the new battery make sure you fully charge it before fitting.

 

[ninetails]

Hi jbnufc

The car will only let you start it if either in "park" or "neutral". Try starting the engine by switching on ignition and selecting "neutral" (foot on brake). If it starts the park switch is faulty. Make sure your in the driving seat with door shut or the gearbox might default back to "park", for safety. I have had this problem in the past (not with the f type).

EDIT: Sorry this suggestion will not work, as the only way you can INITIALLY start the engine is in "park". You can not move transmission out of "park" until engine is started, I tried it this morning. If you select neutral once engine has started and then switch off ignition it stays in neutral (but will go into park 10 minutes after engine is switched off), so when you switch ignition back on (within 10 minutes) you can RESTART in neutral. But this will not help you in your situation. Hope you find a solution soon.

 

[cj10jeeper]

If you have 12.4v reading then the battery is 80% charged, so on a warm spring day I would not expect it to fail to turn the car over and start. This is the sort of level that would trigger 'low voltage' warnings, but not be a start problem. Given you have ordered a new battery that matter will soon be resolved and should show more like 12.6v or 12.7v

My inclination is that something electronic is inhibiting the start. On our Evoque a similar problem from nowhere was a wire fault causing the car to think it was not in park. Recovery service rocked the car which forced it to settle in park and it started and was OK until fixed fully
I'd suspect gearbox, brake pedal sensor or something like mentioned of starter motor where it does not operate the solenoid fully.

Personally as you're a key worker I'd call the recovery service and see what they diagnose

 

[Timbo]

try and jump start it....simples

 

[GARETH]

Actually, I’ve just remembered. My Disco4 needs the brake pressing to start. When it was stood for a while the vacuum in the servo depleted and it wouldn’t start. The LRA man simply told me to press the brake harder, and it worked!

It was nothing more than the brake switch was not getting triggered. Once servo vacuum was restored, all back to normal.

 

[jbnufc]

Hi guys as suspected the battery arrived and was charged so was showing over 13v when fitted. Tried to start the car and it is exactly the same will not start!!!
Could it posibly be the small battery that is the problem or would the car start without it and just the stop/start function not work.

 

[Lunar]

If the main beam flashes ok I would suggest it is an inhibitor switch - not in park - brake not pressed sort of thing.
Not heard of starter motor issues - although stop / start can’t help.
If you’ve tried the above suggestion of jump lead from engine to front body earth point then earth seems ok - although could still be a solenoid issue - maybe power lead from there to starter.
All rather difficult to get to though.
Best to call out Jag Assist / AA as appropriate.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Unfortunately you’re back to the point as I suggested on Thursday, but have now confirmed the battery is not the issue. Nor is any secondary battery

I’d suggest with handbrake off rock the car back and forth so you push the gearbox slightly. As I mentioned this is standard recovery service trick. If that fails then call Jag assist as you’ll be unable to diagnose anything reasonably yourself without a meter.

 

[jbnufc]

Issue is resolved if only temporary repair. It was the earth from engine to chaise must be corroded. Temp 1 fitted at top of engine bay until I can get the car up on lift so I can access the old bond and fit a new 1. Big sigh of relief.

 

[Anonymous]

Issue is resolved if only temporary repair. It was the earth from engine to chaise must be corroded. Temp 1 fitted at top of engine bay until I can get the car up on lift so I can access the old bond and fit a new 1. Big sigh of relief.

Is this the connection behind the front right wheel? If so this is a common issue sadly.

 

[Nick]

Issue is resolved if only temporary repair. It was the earth from engine to chaise must be corroded. Temp 1 fitted at top of engine bay until I can get the car up on lift so I can access the old bond and fit a new 1. Big sigh of relief.

Is this the connection behind the front right wheel? If so this is a common issue sadly.

Maybe maybe not :lol: depends if the connection box is there.

 

[Anonymous]

Issue is resolved if only temporary repair. It was the earth from engine to chaise must be corroded. Temp 1 fitted at top of engine bay until I can get the car up on lift so I can access the old bond and fit a new 1. Big sigh of relief.

Is this the connection behind the front right wheel? If so this is a common issue sadly.

Maybe maybe not :lol: depends if the connection box is there.

:lol:

 

[jbnufc]

Yes I think that is the one.

 

[jsw21013]

2014 F-Type v8 convertible
TLDR - bad ground; insufficient amperage to engage starter - After believing that I had a faulty starter, I replaced it, and symptoms did not improve. Floor tested the new starter using jumper cables and by applying 12v to the 2 harness pins (one for solenoid and one for starter motor) from the battery and it functioned properly (wish I would have done that to the old one; could have saved some cash). Re-tested by connecting to the 12v power cable and braided ground strap at the starter installation location and it did not operate properly. Traced the problem to a bad ground connection where the strap bolts to the chassis. Cleaned all connections thoroughly and re-installed the starter. Fired right up. Would have been a quick simple repair if I would have known to try that first.