New the forum and this car. Apologies up front if I am doing this wrong.

 

Well, a double post is not ideal

You could use Search

 

New the forum and this car. Apologies up front if I am doing this wrong.

My dad gave me this car a couple of years ago and it has been sitting Im my garage since. Start it and run it around the neighborhood regularly but I have a persisting check engine light I cannot clear. I have been reading here about it and just returned from the local jag dealer after having them do the TSB-S303-09 software update to. NO avail. The above codes are still present. They recommended as a cheap diagnostic check to change the oil to 50w to see if the codes might go away but turned out to be a rather expensive oil change and nothing more.

Their next recommended course would be to diagnose and change the vet solenoids for around $2000 so I have brought it home and am looking for a cheaper path to get it past GA inspection. I am fairly handy but not so comfortable just popping off the valve covers blindly to diagnose or replace these parts.

Teach the new guy or point me to a local guy that can get this pretty cat on the road again. Drives like a dream just can't get a plate for it.

Thanks, Steve

 

Actually looks like I triple posted. Cannot see how to delete the ones that posted before I was done

 

Don't worry - not the worst thing anyone ever did!

 

First check the level of your oil and if that is ok then change the oil and filter. That is assuming that the car is running if not tell us what it is doing or not doing.

I see on your other post you had changed the oil and had the TSB 303-09 done. If it were me I would have changed the oil to 5w30 and drive it gently and then change it again with a new filter. No guarantee that it is a fix but no harm in trying with hopes that it would create better flow and free up the VVT. Many had VVT chattering issues that new oil helped.

 

Thanks, Gus.

Yes, I had the oil changed but I think I am going to try the solution I saw on here which uses a quart of Transmission fluid in with the oil to remove some sludge following an engine flush. The trick will be getting the 1000 miles on it to free up the sludge. I am in a bit of a catch-22 with the emissions testing piece. I can't get the tag to drive the car without passing the emissions testing and I can't fix the issues with the check engine light that causes me to fail the test without driving the car. I put a few miles a week on it toddling around the neighborhood otherwise the battery goes dead pretty quickly. Pretty car, wants lots of attention always.

 

Is it a new battery? It ought not to go dead quickly so you may have a drain.

You could get a ctek to eliminate the battery as a worry for now.

 

^+1 on battery condition first. The electrical systems in these cars will have you chasing seemingly unrelated ghost codes if the battery voltage is even slightly lower than expected (12.1 v or less).

Worst case, seek out an independent Jag shop (like Kuhn's in Tucker, GA), to get you past this problem.

 

Not sure C-Tek is sold in the US, so look for Battery Tender brand. Keeps your battery optimally charged.

 

May I suggest you ask the Georgia members of the US Lower Atlantic Jag Forum for reputable indie Jag mechanics in your area? Most likely they'll be less expensive than dealership prices.

US Lower Atlantic - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

 

Fixed that problem, now we just need one intro post in the new members section.