Was just driving home in heavy traffic and got to within about three blocks of my house when the overheating warning illuminated on the dash and the engine temp gauge ticked up (but not to the top). I turned the heat on, the light changed and I drove off, trying to find a pot to pull over. Within about 30 seconds the temp dropped to normal and the light went off. I turned the heat off and the eased it home.

I have checked under the hood and the coolant tank is full, no coolant seems to have leaked out anywhere, no coolants smell is present.

Any thoughts? I am dropping the car off Monday for a bunch of other things, so I will obviously have them take a look. Temperature sensor? Fuse for the fans? Radiator clogged?

The car has aluminum cooling pipes.

 

You might have a stuck temp sensor and did you open the hood to see if the fans were running?

 

I opened the hood when I got home, with the car off the fans were not running. I hooked up a code reader and there is an intermittent fan relay fault, apparently.

 

This reader is much relieved. You reacted quickly and properly in the circumstances.

 

Good response on your part. I'd replace the thermostat as the most likely (and cheap) cause.

 

I was supposed to drop the car off Monday at the mechanic for unrelated work, but I'm going to limp it over this morning and see what he can find.

This may be the end of my Jaguar experiment. I have never owned a car as fragile as this thing is. 50,000 miles and it just doesn't seem to want to stop breaking.

 

THAT would explain the heat warning. Have the tech look into that. Hopefully they won't just aim the Parts Cannon at the intermittent...

 

Either you're unlucky or I'm very lucky as the four Jags I've had have all proved to be very robust and reliable. Maybe I should do the lottery?

 

I would bet that I'm unlucky. I've experienced all the fun failures and I only drive 5000 miles a year. 6 injectors, spark plugs, replaced coolant pipes, new AC compressor (ac is still not working properly), and now whatever else is wrong with the cooling system. Maybe my expectations were too high and this level of maintenance is to be expected, but this is not an easy ownership experience. Every repair I have had to do has cost at least $2200. Doesn't matter what it is, that's the cost. It's frustrating to say the least, especially as I am gathering parts to have a bunch of preventative maintenance done as I felt like after replacing the injectors the car should be fine. Maybe it's a bad ground, loose fuse, or something else, but my gut tells me it's going to cost $2200.

I'm not trying to malign the brand or the model, just my particular example seems to want me to experience every emotion a car owner can have.

 

Whoops!! Accidentally double posted.

 

Your experience is anything but typical. Having owned MANY Jaguars (too many to report without being accused of addiction) and having owned most of them for many years (between 15 and 20 years in some cases) and having owned most models made since 1980 and some from the 60's as well as most from the 2000's, my experience has been that they are as reliable as any other luxury car (also owned Mercedes and BMW) and far more satisfying to own for many reasons.
Don't give up on your F-Type! Use it more. Lack of use is a major cause of issues.

 

The irony of needing to use it more as it sits parked after not managing a leisurely toodle across town is not lost on me.

​

 

Just to close the loop on this - the overheat warning was due to a faulty thermostat housing sensor - the housing also has a slight leak, apparently, which explains the dried coolant I found. All-in-all, not too bad a repair at about $900. I am also getting the transmission serviced with a pan/filter and new fluid, diff fluid change, air filters and an exhaust leak sorted, so I have spent a bit of money. Again.

I spent the last few days making lists of cars I would like to own instead of this one. After reading reviews, driving a BMW M340i with similar power and the same transmission, sitting in a Supra (I would drive a Supra if I could always be assured I would not have to see the front of the car) it became very clear that what I want is an Jaguar F-Type with RWD and a 6 cylinder engine. I could sell this one and net $1000, but then I would just have to buy another, so I'm sticking with the devil I know, and I'm excited about it.

 

This.

These cars are special, and IMO in the “Work of art “ category. Your F-Type is beautiful, keep her in the family.