On starting my 98 XJ8 4.0 Sov this morning to go to work the amber warning light and abs warningilluminatedand the display read traction control failure and asc failure.Anybody got any ideas what it could be before i get robbed at the Jag dealer.
Cheers Alan.

 

XJ8s are known to indicate those errors when the battery voltage is low. (Of course, when stuff go bad, those errors will show up as well!)

How old is your battery? Are all terminals along battery wires tight? Also check the terminals on the alternator.

 

This can also come from dirty contacts near brake callipers.

 

Fitted a £150.recon abs unit from Berkshire Jaguar parts and it's still the same????.Battery was a genuinenew one last year £112 and i checked the voltage and leads so no probs there.This cars as reliable as aHong Kong watch.I've spent bundles on new lower wishbones, powersteering oil cooler,thermostat,water pump and the wiper motor playsup on intermittent sweep too.I think it needs plugging into a diagnostic.Or crushing

 

Booked it in at LancasterJaguar (Sidcup Kent UK) for a diagnostic check£50 plus Vat. Gulp!

 

Oh dearhad it checked by jaguar and it's a linklead and abs sensor on the nsf wheel.Only £358.Apparently the sensor is nearly £200.Nice.

 

Well i've bought a sensor from a breaker for £20 which is much more reasonable and i'll get a new link lead.I'll stick withit for the time being but i don't think i'll be buying another Jag.I've always wanted one since i was a kid andthe XJ8 is beautiful to drive but for what was a £55,000+ car (low mileage) it's a bitunreliable really and the price of spare parts is a bit of a joke.

 

Just got back from getting the car fixed £322 in the end with "Jaguar enthusiasts club" discount.By the way the sensor i got on ebay did'nt work[:@].I'll be on the phone to the supplier tommorow.Bloody messers.

 

Back in the good old days (1997) I bought a brand new XK8 and loved it dearly, but my wife loved it more so of course about five years ago she took it over completely. It is now at the stage of its life where it has become a money pit. Two weeks ago (against Jaguar advice - beyond economic repair) she had a new gearbox fitted, bearings, sub frame mounts etc - almost £5000.

Now the abs light stays on amber - looks like it's going back in again soon. My advice to her is just to ignore it - what is the worse that can happen? Any advice welcome for a newbie....


Gerry

edit - I guess I'm in the wrong forum but presumably the systems are similar?

 

I had this happen once (ABS light on and TRACTION CONTROL FAIL message). It went away on its own the next time the car was started and it has never returned. Must have been a momentary glitch.

 

Thanks guys - appreciated.

 

You will find that Jaguar main dealersprices are always high. We are an independant Jaguar specialist in Kent and get people travelling from all across the country to have there cars repaired and the engines and transmissions rebuilt for that reason.