Every car that will not start is a mystery at first. Is it fuel, spark, wiring, or something nobody has thought of? Two British car rebuilders spent a whole episode chasing that question on an abandoned Jaguar XK8. This week, they finally got their answer.
Rob and Chris, the pair behind @sruk, suspected the Jaguar’s engine computer. Someone had pointed them toward it, and they sent the unit off to a repair specialist.
The Fault Inside The Jaguar XK8’s Engine Computer
The unit came back with a clear diagnosis. “There was a leaky capacitor. It had caused damage on the board, but they could repair it,” one of the pair explains. The specialist repaired and resealed it. However, because of its age, they could not test it before sending it back.
They also knew other people had already fiddled with the car. The seller had fitted a fuel pump at the side of the road, and the engine computer’s mounting bolts were a giveaway too.
“Four are short, four are long. And clearly someone had put the long bolts where the short bolts go,” the pair point out. That told them someone had opened the unit before.
The Moment Of Truth
They refit the computer and try it live, with the door open in case something goes wrong. The Jaguar’s V8 fires on the first attempt and keeps running. As a result, both of them grin at the sound.
A few warning lights show on the dash, including ABS, airbag and brake lights. However, after a scan, the stored codes clear and the lights go out.
Better Underneath Than They Expected
With the car running, they put it on the lift. Underneath, it is in surprisingly good shape. The tyres match and look new, someone has replaced the brake and fuel lines, and the underside has a protective coating. In addition, none of the rubber parts have perished, and the oil looks almost new.
There are small jobs, of course. The fuel flap would not stay shut, so they dug old glue out of the original catch and reused it. Then a battery terminal snapped as they tightened it, so they fitted a new one. A block of wood is still holding up the sagging roof lining.
Straight Through The MOT
In the UK, you can legally drive a car to a booked MOT, the annual roadworthiness test, as long as you have insurance. So they booked one. Around the test, the Jaguar also got a mini valet that blasted off a coat of green mould.
“Straight through the MOT,” one of the pair reports afterward. The only note was an advisory for moisture in the passenger side headlight. The car also drove well the whole way. “Did not miss a beat,” one of them says.
What This Jaguar Teaches Anyone Chasing A No-Start
Their two-part fix shows how to approach a car that several people have poked at before you:
- Undo other people’s guesses first. Parts swapped at the roadside can hide the real fault.
- Look for signs someone opened a part before, like mismatched bolts.
- Older engine computers can fail inside. A specialist repair can save buying a new unit.
- Once it runs, check the underside before spending more money.
- Clear old codes, then see which warnings come back.
Where Things Stand
The Jaguar XK8 now runs, drives and has a fresh MOT. However, its wheels have lost their silver finish and carry kerb damage, so they are going off for a refurbishment. The roof lining still needs fixing too. The pair say the car comes with service history and two keys.
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