I took off the cowl panel to work on the problem of going into limp mode because water gets into the throttle position sensor during a car wash. There is a hose that is connected to two ports on the left side of the cowl and then runs over to the right rear of the engine bay near the hinge for the hood where the windshield washer hose goes up to the hood. When I took the cowl off the hose didn't seem to be connected to anything. What does this hose and those ports do? Should it be connected to something?

I was also thinking one of the reason I have had trouble is the underbody spray that the car wash does. Do you think that could be what is triggering the limp mode rather than water coming down from the top? Think I will avoid that option in the future and see if that helps. I am about 2 of 5 triggering limp mode when going through the car wash. I have had the car about a year and had the dealer look at it. They replaced the cowl and put the tape over one of the screw holes (right), but the one on the left was not covered. I put tape on both and put in a bead of silicon to try to divert some of the water.

I didn't want to goes as far as removing the throttle body to seal the sensor and the electrical connections, but I suppose that would be the next step.

Thanks,

Chuck

 

I think the throttle body connections are the usual suspects.
Here's some reading https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...mp-mode-58157/ someone posted about modifying the cowl but I can't find that for now.

 

Also, it may be a good idea to stay away from the automatic car washes and wash the car by hand yourself. You can control how much or how little water gets directed to the cowl area. Even though our S-Type has not had a throttle body issue since May 2009 when it was replaced under warranty due to moisture issues, I am still very careful about how much water I spray towards the cowl area. I scrub it with my rag, lightly mist it to rinse most of the soap away, and then lightly mist it a final time to minimize the runoff water draining into the cowl. Works for me....

 

Howdy Folks!!...
I have the same problem with my Jag... If I take it to a "Brush-less" car wash, most times I get "Limp Mode"... because of the huge amount of water that those nozzles put out going over the cowl and front glass. But I can go to a regular wash and she's OK. I consider it a small price to pay for driving such a distinctive car...;>)))

Drive On!!...

Fast Freddie

 

Do your windshield washers work? I think the rubber hoses you are talking about are for the washer fluid.

There is a TSB out on water intrusion thru the cowl. I have attached it so you can see where to seal it up. Yes washing the engine is a bad idea.
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Thanks for all of the feedback.

My washers work fine. I think what has happened is that the cowl on my car is for a newer car that has the washers integrated with the blades. Mine are on the hood. I have attached a picture of the cowl, and the ports I mentioned are near the base of the wiper arms. Could someone verify that this is the cowl for the front end redesign or later version?

I took the car to the car wash today to test my repair. I didn't get the underbody spray, but the car was able to handle the washing this time without going into limp mode. So at least that makes me feel better that the car should be able to handle heavy rain. I'll see what happens in the future, and point taken on the advice to either hand wash or use car wash that doesn't spray so hard.

Thanks,

Chuck

 

Er.... can't see the hose you mentioned. Anything disconnected is suspicious - the engine bay's full so they didn't put anything unconnected in LOL

Not sure which ports you mean on that cowl but there are plastic parts (covers) that come off to reveal screw heads I think.

 

I have added some red arrows. The rubber tube is under the cowl running almost the whole length of the windshield and connects to those black rubber circles pointed to by the arrows.

I assume that some hose from the washers on the wipers would connect to these in the later model cars.

 

Interesting holes...

Heres the post by fellow member eds123 on his fix:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ode-fix-61201/