I've been having an intermittent problem with my fuel gauge ceasing to work!
It almost always happens after filling the car and generally not for very long. But I'll be driving along and all of a sudden the gauge goes to the bottom, the amber light comes on and the average, instant and range functions on the trip computer cease to work. Then as if by magic, all is well again?
I haven't looked into it at all as yet and I'm suspecting the sender unit but before I start ripping the old bus apart, is this a known issue and does anyone have any advice as to where I should be looking first?

 

Yes it is a known issue.

The problem is due to corrosion on the contacts on the sender.

You can replace just the float arm (and the contacts I think) which clips onto

the side of the plastic housing containing the pump.

You will need to search for the info to remove rear seats, which is not obvious

apparently.

 

I had the same issue previously. I replaced my battery and that fixed the problem! These cars have tons of electronics so the battery has to be 100% or it triggers all sorts of wierd problems.

 

Excellent thank you.

I replaced the battery only a couple of months back, during my attempts to extinguish the airbag light!

 

Did it fix the airbag light issue?

 

Sadly no it didn't!
I ended up pulling the entire SRS system apart and checking every single connection and component individually.
It turned out to be the passenger occupancy sensor mounted in the A post. It was actually working, but not within specification. So I swapped them all around (several times) and the fault moved around with the sensor.
I couldn't find an individual sensor anywhere and shortly afterwards just happened to be working in a large car factory in Belgium and I mentioned my SRS issues to a vehicle electronics engineer, over a coffee in the canteen.
Anyway to cut a long story short, he managed to source me a very similar, non Jaguar ultrasonic sensor and it worked.
I can only guess that it was a Volvo component (I was working in the Volvo factory) and it's made by Bosch!

 

Sounds exactly like the fuel senders in my 2004 XJR. They have been replaced 3 times in 76K miles. There are two gauges, one for each side, located under the rear seat. Not hard to do, once you figure out how to remove the rear seat, 4 special clips hold it in. fuel sensors are roughly $95 each from the dealer and I also purchased a spare o ring for the fuel tank covers. Total cost just under $200. You can order online and save a few dollars, but I choose to go with the local dealer in case I needed advice. Once the rear seat is out, you will find the 2 large bungs for the fuel tank, roughly 4 inch diameter plastic.

RyeJag

 

I assume that this is the part to replace:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-XJ8...item5d46c80976


Has anyone tried just cleaning the contacts?

 

part looks correct, but you need to check part numbers, there is a different part number for left and right. I can confirm part numbers but cannot get back to you for another day. Due to the effort to get the part out, I have not cleaned the contacts to reinstall. Perhaps, the next time around since I will have a spare part to clean, ie the old one. rather than work on the part in the car, while the fuel tank is open
RyeJag

 

No need to confirm part no's thanks I do not have a problem with my fuel gauge.

I did notice that in the e bay ad that the part was for the jet pump, so guessed that the part

no's might be different.