Jaguar Repair: Jaguar will not completely turnover to start, starter solenoid, amp load

Question
My car sounds like it wants to turn over but will not start.  What could be the problem?  1986 XJ6 VP

Answer
Hi Mike,
The series III XJ-6 required a deep charge battery to start but even when people put in a lower grade battery it would usually spin over fast but just would not fire. The way you describe the problem is that it is not spinning over fast.
You need to do a couple of tests. First hold the key in the start position for about 30 sec. then quickly feel the battery posts and all cable connections including the ground cable from the engine to the frame and battery to the frame. You are looking for heat. You may have to repeat the 30 sec starter operation so the cable ends don't have time to cool off by the time you get to them. if all are cool then you need to have the battery load tested.

If you don't have a high amp load tester, put a volt meter across the battery and have someone go to "Start" position and read the volt meter and tell me what the battery voltage was with no key on and with the key in start position.

There are a lot of possibilities like, a bad battery, bad connections, bad starter, bad starter solenoid, bad engine. So testing is the only way to find what is wrong.

let me know,
Howard