I have an '03 XJ8 with the sovereign package; she has about 90k miles. Recently after a long family trip (about 1500 miles), a few warning lights came on... the front wheel sensor occasionally comes on (giving the amber "ABS/Trac/ASC not available" warning), the passenger door sensor says "door open" sometimes even when closed. I had a meeting close to a dealer and took her by on my break.

Findings: Breaks are fine; door closes with no problems. Mostly it is the sensor of each that is wonky. For each fix the price (with labor and tax) would be about $700 USD/$1400 for both. The wheel sensor was recommended as more critical to fix first. The door sensor would require a new latch with actuator.

Question... it's not my only car and I usually only use her on weekends. I don't drive her in inclement weather. I'm the only driver and nobody else sits or usually opens the passenger door. The warning lights come on/go off sometimes on their own. Aside from the obvious comfort of having no warning lights going on... is it worth the money at this juncture? Curious what you fellows would do. From my perspective, she isn't a museum piece, nor is meant to be... though I like to keep her well maintained and would like 60k more miles out of her before I send her away.

Note 1: Dealer didn't have the parts in stock and sent me home without much worry/critical feeling. It would be a week or so before they could get them in stock. Thought I'd ask here and sleep on it before making a decision.

NOTE 2: If this question has been asked ad nauseum, my apologies; I'm fairly new to the forum and learning to find my way around!

 

Wheel sensors almost never fail, but the connecting cable sometimes does. Maybe the sensor needs to be cleaned. If you are not going to work on it yourself find an independent in your area.

Members are often able to recommend a shop, but for those who live "here and there" we are not in a position to offer advice.

 

Where is "here and there" DA?

 

My 99 came to me without a driver's side door cable. When I replaced it the door open message was on. I had some odd behavior from the window switch on the driver's door as well, only the rear passenger window went down and that was with the driver's window switch.
I was thinking this was all very strange until I found the reboot post here. I pulled the negative cable of its post and held it against the positive post for 30 seconds then reconnect the negative cable to its post. Problem fixed, no message, all the switches worked their proper windows.
Pretty easy to try with a 10 mm wrench.
This won't change your ABS/ traction lights but it might save you some parts and labor on the door.

 

I remember him mentioning about the cable, so you are probably correct. Good point about "here and there;" when making the profile a few weeks back I wasn't thinking about shop recommendations. I live part of the year abroad and also have a place we go to in summers/vacations, hence "here and there." The car, though, is kept just west of Nashville TN (I've updated my user profile to note this). I'd be happy to hear recommendations for any good service dealers from Jackson, TN to Nashville, and up north to Paducah, KY.

Thanks for the tips; I'm jealous of your Xk8. That's the next addition to the "family."

Updated my profile; see above!

Thanks! I'll take a look at that thread as well.

 

If you clean the wheel sensors, and check for broken wires, the ABS/traction warning will probably get taken care of. Pretty simple: not so simple is a bad solder joint in the ABS box which many folks fix themselves (use Google or the search function -- lots of threads) or send to ASI.

 

Thanks. From what I was told, it's not the solder joint but the wire going into the sensor; turning the wheel just right exposes the break and so turns it on. Then it goes off on its own. I'm guessing based on the size of the quote and the printing on the estimate that they want to replace the sensor as well.

 

Pretty easy to splice a wire. Any good auto electric shop (or all purpose gas station can do it). Still, it is pretty easy to clean the wheel sensors while you have the tires off and are searching for the broken wire.

 

My XJ8 is also not a daily drive, and I've found that the ABS light comes on after she's been sitting for a while. The sensors have been cleaned and wiring check so it's not that. With some regular use after she's been sitting, the warning it goes away and never comes back.

 

That might be an indication that the battery is low due to sitting.

 

Or rust or corrosion