Jaguar Repair: 1985 Jaguar XJ6 wont start?, air flow meter, 1985 jaguar xj6

Question
I'm working on a 1985 Jaguar XJ6, I have done everything I can think of to fix the problem, I have checked fuel pressure fuel regulator checked at the lines at the injectors for fuel and it has fuel there. It has fire checked the fire at the coil all the way to the plugs and itdoes have fire I have worked on other cars with similar problems and it turned out that the injectors were not injecting fuel, but this is a foreign car and I mostly work on american cars. I spray starter fluid in it and it will start and run until all the fluid is burned out of the system. The car does try to start but won't except on rare occasions where it will start and barley run at an idle, whe you try to excelorate the car it dies and the back to trying to start and won't. I have tried to just let it idle on the rare times it started but it still ends up dieing after only about 15-20 seconds. FYI when I start it on the starter fluid I can excelerate the car up until it runs out of starter fluid. I could be wrong but I really believe it is a fuel related problem or a lack of. But I just don't know what to do about it. Please help, thanks in advance for your time patients and expertise.

Answer
Hi Stephen,

You did the normal test to determine that it is fuel related (the starter fluid test run) but you did not tell me what the fuel pressure was. Did you just check to see that fuel was getting there or did you test the pressure? I need to know.

You need to connect a "T" in the line at the fuel rail to put a gauge on it, because most of the fuel pumped to the system is returned to the tank that is selected. If you just "dead head" the gauge into the line you can do a lot of damage.

The procedure is connect up a "T" fitting in the line at the fuel rail and your gauge (0 to 50 or better) be sure to put clamps on all connections. Remove the air filter can and turn on the ignition to "on" not "start". reach into the front of the air flow meter and open the flap. You should hear the fuel going through the rail and exiting the pressure regulator and going around the front of the engine and through the AC system and then it returns to the tank that you have selected on the instrument panel. At this point you should see 40 to 42 PSI on the gauge. If you have a "Mity VAc" you can pump up manifold vacuum on the pressure regulator and see about 32 PSI on the gauge.

If you have less then that with vacuum or without vacuum you should first change the fuel filter in the trunk and examine the fuel lines under the car for damage.

BE SURE TO DO ALL YOU TESTING USING THE LEFT TANK ONLY!!!

Let me know.

Howard