Apologies to all. My forum name is Novice but actually Numpty may be more appropriate.

I know nothing at all about many subjects and even less about cars.
Although I am not a 'car person' I have to say that I really do like my 2003 S-Type which I purchased prior to my current financially worsened position.

I currently have what appears to be a fairly regular set of fault lights (reading other threads) - Park-brake, ABS, DSC, and also I have no speedo,
and also the steering appears to be perhaps a little heavier than normal.


The reason for posting is that the somewhat vague feedback from the garage is that there is no communication with the ABS "unit" and this, in my very very poor understanding, does not correspond with most posts which suggest issues with ABS sensors etc. The confidence breaker was the quote / guess that repair could cost £300-£1,600 based on having the unit send away.

So, I am hoping that you would be willing to offer some assistance/opinions please (I hope you will excuse me if even the following questions are nonsense) -

If sensors are dirty/faulty, would this cause non-communication with the unit?

The garage did suggest that a unit could be perhaps purchased from a breaker/ebay but a search has confused me even more as the vague terminology is returning results from £25-£650.

Does ABS unit mean control module? If so, do these regularly develop faults or should I be safe in acquiring one? I am wary that, if one does not solve the problem that there is no way of knowing whether the new unit is faulty or whether the problem is elsewhere?

Would it be sensible (a relative term) to attempt to clean/change sensors prior to committing to a control module/ABS unit?

There may be appropriate answers to questions I haven't even thought of, and all will be gratefully reviewed.

Phil

 

Perhaps a second opinion from another Jaguar specialist is in order to confirm the diagnosis prior to spending money on a guess.

 

By unit they may mean the combination of the module+pump+valves/etc.

Any luxury car such as an S-Type can be very costly to own if you don't DIY.

Your best bet may be an indy (independent) who does jags. The "garage" you mention sound a bad idea. Honestly, do they specialise in jags like the S-Type?

But before that you could check the battery is (better than) OK as odd faults occur otherwise.

If it's OK you'd ideally find the codes in the ABS module but that's not DIY at anything like zero cost due to needing a specialist-type diagnostic tool. Random garages may well have lots of tools that will NOT cope with a jag.

 

Looking at your previous posts, I'd suspect a dying battery.

 

Many thanks to all,

Something i forgot to mention.. I had read about the potential for this being a battery issue and did remove and charge overnight.

Car does start first time without any obvious problem but there is a series of warning bleeps when removing the ignition key and upon opening the door prior to insertion of the key.

I mean no disrespect for the local garage but, no they are not likely Jag specialists.

Is the heavy steering something generally encountered with any of the above scenarios please?

 

Something i forgot to mention and perhaps this will help with the sleuthing.. I get a short series of warning bleeps upon removing the ignition key and also upon opening the door prior to insertion of the key.

Reading other posts had led me to charge the battery overnight. When initially connected to the charger it did light the very first of the 5 lamps, skipped lamp 2 completely and went to lamp 3 after only a few minutes - to me this would indicate that the battery is not as good as it should be, although it does start the car first time with no obvious issues.


I will post a physical address so that folk can come and beat me for the potential stupidity of this Q;

If I start the car from the battery charger / starter, will the car sense the starter over the battery? ie, could I use this to check whether the various fault lights go out, and in doing so determine whether a battery is the answer?

Assuming a battery, are there specific brands to go for/avoid? Does the S-type need "high power"?

Is heavy steering associated with any of the above ?

Thanks in anticipation

 

If the battery is in excess of five years old, it may be a good idea to replace it as a failing or weak battery can cause some of the issues you describe.

The power steering is hydraulic and is unaffected by the condition or state of the battery. The power steering pump is driven by the serpentine belt, which also drives the alternator, air conditioning compressor and water pump.

You can download at no charge the JTIS file and Owner's Manual so you may become more familiar with the vehicle and its component layout.

 

Chargers vary in their operation so without having an identical unit, I have no idea what function the five lamps perform.

If this means that the battery is not 100%, then it's time for a new one.

 

Righto, thanks again.
I didn't think that the PS would be battery related.
Annoyingly I cannot recall whether I have already replaced the battery or whether that was for my other money and petrol-guzzling monster (4.0 RRover) that, again was purchased before I was quite so poor. Unless someone advises categorically to the contrary I shall invest in a battery - but perhaps an advisory please on the above Q regards brands.

Last stupid Q (for the moment) - lights aside, is there any reason to not drive the car until I get a new battery?

 

No.

I'd want to know if the ABS/DSC are actually inhibited or it's just a false warning, but that would some fairly spirited driving to find out.

 

Well you are kind of stuck if you can't DIY the repairs. Jaguars are expensive to fix at a shop and they are not to common so finding a shop is also not very easy.

Hate to say it but maybe get a different car?

I know my 2005 STR has been a great car but I would not have kept it if I was not doing the repairs.
.
.
.

 

Hi all,
I am not completely and utterly despondent but have to confess to be a little deflated as I am convinced myself that a new battery, as suggested, would clear up the multitude of warning lights.
Obviously this is not the case at the moment so could I please ask;

1. If the battery was the cause, should all of the lights be off automatically or is there some sequence or procedure that I need to follow?

I opted for a Lucas simply as I had heard of them and went for the 100AH rather than 90 or 95.

2. Assuming that #1 is not an easy fix, what would folk suggest next please?

clubairth1 - your candour is appreciated but unfortunately I am not in a position to buy an alternate vehicle

 

What lights are still on?

 

hi Mikey, in short it would be easier to list those not on!

I have the following messages;

"ABS fault" alternates with "Park-brake fault"

I have the DSC light on the dashboard
The brake light on the dashboard flashes and is accompanied by a beeping when the door is opened (prior to insertion of key) and also when the key is removed.
After c. 5 seconds the beep stops but flashing continues.
The engine management (?) light is constantly lit
There is no speedometer and no milometer.

Also, the Park-brake indicator on the actual EPB does not light.

Other than that, it's fine ;-)

 

Almost sounds like the water in the boot/trunk problems of old. Is there any damp under the spare tire?

 

Or a loom fault. But see below as we're guessing...

 

Just a late chime in as I've had my tearing the hair out moments before too and a new battery didn't change anything. Do you have a fault code checker? That will be a worthwhile investment that will pay back many times over. I would concur jags do seem to be electrically challenged.

You can, at least at some places here in the states, have your battery load tested for free at auto parts stores. You might want to try that. A basic fault reader is likely to run you in the $75-300 US dollar range, but will give you insights into which systems are causing the issues. They usually plug into a slot under the steering wheel area. It will be a contortion to find find it at first, so take a strong flash light. Sometimes it's near the center console and may have a 1"x2" (approximate) cover you pull off. Plug the reader in there turn on the ignition, but not the motor and see what it reads. It will give you code numbers that you can then look up here or on the internet as to what they mean. You either have to be lucky, rich or be mechanically, inclined to own a jag.

I had a 1999 xj-8 vanden plas ( VDP) and there is an ABS module that went out several times. It is a black plastic box that bolts to the ABS pump just behind the drivers side headlight. You can buy them rebuilt ( you have to send yours in) for maybe $100. I recall seeing postings of a place on Ebay out of LA that did them, and also some youtube video on how to yourself. Check your power steering pump fluid reservoir.

I also had on my 2004 xjr ,have my cruise control quit working, and some other warnings lights go on because, the mechanic, when changing the tire, bumped the ABS sensor which I think was on the strut or control arm. Once we got that deduced and re-positioned things magically worked again.

 

Once again, thanks to all.
I did buy a basic code reader but couldn't get it to 'talk' to my phone, or perhaps it was car - either way obviously failed there.
After reading other threads I was loathe to try another cheap one as it would appear that they will not read ABS faults anyway.
There has been damp or worse under the spare from time to time so I will take everything out of the boot and thoroughly dry the wheel well area today.

 

Hi folks,
No I am not dead and have not quite thrown in the towel..

Short version, managed to get a friend to plug into their snap-on reader - that failed to read but he recommended me to a friend that has an auto-electric business.

A quick plug in proved that the ABS unit was not "talking" to the computer for reasons unknown.

The car was booked in for a proper investigation but the night prior to the scheduled day, the guy's unit was burgled! It has taken some time for me to get around to booking back in once he got up and running again.

He has tried an alternate ABS pump (?) and has managed to eliminate this as the issue. However I have been trying (although I am not sure that this us my job rather than his) a wiring diagram.

Evidently the one I found (2000 MY) is not the same as the 2003 MY which has an ATE manufacture ABS (is that right?)

Anyway, can someone please help me out with the relevant wiring diagram / schematic?

As always, your help - direct or otherwise would be greatly appreciated.
Phil

 

All in JTIS or the large file area