Can someone help me retain my sanity regarding power steering on my 2022 XE P250 SE R-Dynamnic? Ordered in February 2021 (presumably 2021 model year) Delivered in December 2021 but listed on its work sheet as a 2022 model. So far so good. The spec sheet lists the car as fitted with electrical power assisted steering but mine has all the characteristics of some form of hydraulic power steering. When the engine stops - using the automatic stop/start system - the power steering stops too! One time maneuvering into a parking space, the engine stopped momentarily, the steering froze, engine started immediately with a severe kick back on the wheel which could have injured my hand. There doesn't seem to be any form of hydraulic fluid bottle under the hood. If it is hydraulic could it be a sealed system? Due to the computer chip shortage the car was delivered without the 3D overview system and I received a refund for that but also no virtual dashboard - it's the standard hybrid dashboard, part mechanical, part virtual, and no ambient lighting system as well and, strangely enough, no overhead sunglass holding box. The dealer didn't mention they were not there so I'm also seeking a refund for those things. But how can I quantify a money amount for a non-electric power steering system if there is one? I've had two XEs before, a 2019 diesel and a 2019 petrol model. Both had electrical power steering. By-the-way my car is LHD, I live in France.

 

It is an electric system. All current Jaguars use electric power steering. Might be better if you just turn off the Stop-Start when starting the engine. Of course you have to do this every time you start the engine. On my XE, (a2017), the stop-start no longer works and that suits me fine ! It might be worth raising this issue with Jaguar, but I suspect with them suffering badly financially in this Covid crisis, you won't get a quick answer.

 

Fraser, wish mine stopped working…I hate it!

 

I believe there is a method of stopping it, but you have to know where to look and what to remove; I don't ! It's probably a little battery in a module somewhere.

 

This is normal.

 

Well, thing is, this is my 3rd XE. The previous two had the electric power steering and neither of them exhibited this problem. If the power steering is electrically operated why should it stop just because the engine stopped? At the other extreme, I've owned three Toyota Prius models. On those the engine often would stop driving down the autoroute at 100Km/hr. Good job the electric steering on those kept going.

 

There is a blog out there somewhere showing how to disable the stop/start function. On the negative power terminal directly at the battery there is a connector that, when disconnected, disables the stop/start mechanism. Problem is that it's actually disconnecting the battery management system. I don't recommend this approach!

 

I had a pre-facelift and the facelift. The same thing happens on those. Actually, I'm struggling to think of a car I've jumped in where this doesn't happen.

To preserve power. If the engine is not running that means the alternator is not charging the battery.

 

I finally got the dealer to let me look at their Shop Manual. And "viola" the operation I described is normal for, at least, the 2022 model. There is an electronic link between the stop/start function and the steering mechanism. If the engine is stopped, any movement of the steering wheel starts the engine. This seems very strange to me and was not there in my earlier 2019 XE. So, "thems the rules" for the newer model XE.