I am getting very close to finishing getting this beauty on the road but ran into a small problem yesterday. I wanted to take care of any fuel problems (car sat for a few years in a barn in southern Ohio), things like gas gone to varnish, plugged gas filter in the sump, gas filter bad, fuel pump gone bad, etc. I checked all of the above and had a clean bill of heath. The problem comes from no fuel getting into the sump. I checked the fuel pump by putting a hose on the intake end and sticking it in a can of gas. I turned the electrical on and the pump sucked it up real fast. I also disconnected, to check for fuel, the fuel line on the left side of the upper fuel tank and only got a dribble. I did put some fuel in the upper tank (about a gallon) but only enough to check and test the system. Do I have a bad pump in the lower tank? Is there a separate relay for the lower fuel pump? HELP...I am so very close to being on the road. My cat needs to run!

Submitted by gschuste@umd.u… on Wed, 05/09/2012 - 14:34

Well I finally had it revealed to me what is wrong with the Jag. Since this is a Hess & Eisenhardt, it has 2 gas tanks. The lower pumps back into the upper when the fuel level drops down to the bottom tank. I currently have the bottom tank full, but... I also have the car on jacks which has the back end tilted into the air to allow me to get at the back suspension. This results in the bottom tank pumping into the top tank which then runs back down to the bottom tank and never makes it to the sump. With the sump being unable to be filled on account of the tilt of the vehicle, I cannot get any gas to the engine. Duh! When I was told this I just laughed because it was so simple. In the mean time I tore the entire fuel system apart and cleaned it all and found a few other problems which I would not have if the fuel system was not on the "fritz". Thanks for your help. I still do not have the radio worked out and there is voltage to the radio fuse. I am going to pull the radio for a newer one and end my trouble. Thanks again!

Submitted by gschuste@umd.u… on Sat, 05/05/2012 - 08:37

Fuses are all good. As to the pump problem: I turned the ignition on after I disconnected the primary fuel pump and I heard the smaller pump in the bottom gas tank. Regardless of this, I was still not getting any gas to the sump. It then occurred to me that perhaps my gas guage is "wonky" since it still says I have almost half a tank of gas. I am going to remove the sending unit (float) and pump from the lower gas tank and give them a check. On the engine, facing the engine, which fuel line (left or right) is the feed and which is the return line?

Submitted by gschuste@umd.u… on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 08:48

The radio does nothing. I turn the ignition on, the radio security light flashes once and that is all. I do have the code that came with the car but it makes no difference. I did find a pulled out wire that went into the wire bundles next to the battery but no in-line fuse. I will reconnect the wire after work. It is very obvious where the wire came from but unless you had told me of the fuse, I would not have gone looking and found the disconnected wire. Thanks!

Submitted by gschuste@umd.u… on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 19:49

Thanks George, I will give that a check tomorrow. You saved me a ton of looking that I can put into work on the radio. How do you get that thing to work? I am thinking of pulling it for a regular stereo. Thanks again!

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 19:27

Gary I have a Hess also--great cars and perhaps the best looking convt. XJ-S. BUT-the fuel tanks are (were) an issue. I always use the shop manual for Hess cars (avail in the shoppe under both parts and service catalogs-(it is both). There were a lot of recals on those cars and the catalog includes them (most on fuel). The modifications for the lower fuel pump are by the Neg post of the battery. You should find an inline fuse--check it and the connections. The relay for the main pump is used for both. If you have power to the pump (lower) then you need a pump--good news is that is a fairly simple pump to get to. Remove the chrome rail in the cargo area and peel up the carpet and pads! Good luck.

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 19:27

Gary I have a Hess also--great cars and perhaps the best looking convt. XJ-S. BUT-the fuel tanks are (were) an issue. I always use the shop manual for Hess cars (avail in the shoppe under both parts and service catalogs-(it is both). There were a lot of recals on those cars and the catalog includes them (most on fuel). The modifications for the lower fuel pump are by the Neg post of the battery. You should find an inline fuse--check it and the connections. The relay for the main pump is used for both. If you have power to the pump (lower) then you need a pump--good news is that is a fairly simple pump to get to. Remove the chrome rail in the cargo area and peel up the carpet and pads! Good luck.