I have a 1999 Vanden Plas. Early this year, I couldn't start the car because of "Restricted Performance". My mechanic resolved the issue by replacing the Crank Shaft Sensor. This was back in January.

Now a month ago, I got the same "Restricted Performance". A friend of mine who's also a mechanic attached his DTS reader which read 'P0355 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit'. We replaced the Crankshaft Sensor thinking that the one the previous mechanic replaced was faulty. Sure enough the car started right up. That last 2 days until I got the same "Restricted Performance" with the same DTS reading.

What am I missing here? I am reading the issue wrong? I don't want to keep buying these damn sensors.......

 

Try cleaning the plug contacts with electric contact cleaner. Also, please visit the new member area and introduce yourself and your car;

New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

 

And if that doesn't fix it, suspect the wiring.

 

So things got worse.....

I took everyone's advice and simply replaced both the sensor and the wiring connector. The wiring connector I bought came with two short wires in which I simply spliced into the existing wiring by cutting the old connector off.

After reconnecting everything, I tried to start the car and got three error messages.

Rear Bulb Failure
Stability control Failure
Traction control Failure

I have no idea how this is possible but simply re-wiring the crankshaft sensor....

What's weird is that I had the car at a high angle with two car mounts when I was doing work. I remember the last time I got 'Stability control Failure' & 'Traction control Failure' was when I had to get the car towed on a flat bed and after the car was on a high angle on the flat bed, we had to put it in neutral to release down but I couldn't because those two error messages came up....

Not sure if it's related but I refuse to believe that splicing in the new sensor is causing this....

here are the links where I got the sensor and the new wiring so you can see what I had to splice together

99 1999 Jaguar XJ8 Reference Sensor - Engine Electrical - Beck Arnley - PartsGeek

99 1999 Jaguar XJ8 Engine Crankshaft Position Sensor Connector - Engine Electrical - AC Delco, Standard Motor Products - PartsGeek

 

All three of the error messages you have can be a result of a low battery voltage. Well known and documented here. I suspect the only causal relationship between the CKPS and the error messages is that the car sat while waiting to for the new connector and the battery flattened.

Now, as to why you have RP, that is another matter.

 

+1 battery - it may recharge and be OK (or it may not)

 

You two were right about those error messages being tied to the low-voltage on the battery. After giving the battery a full charge, those error messages went away. Key word, THOSE...

Now I'm back to my original issue, crank-shaft sensor. I can't seem to get rid of this error message. Even after replacing the wire connection and the sensor once again (3rd time), it still will not allow me to start the car. I'm still getting the same error message as before.

At this point I'm at a lost. I have no idea what to do. I know if I tow this car to the Jag dealership to find out exactly what's going on and get it fixed, all the costs (including earlier last year regarding this same issue and my costs the past 2 months trying to fix it myself) will come out more than what the car is actually worth now. At this point, it's a parts car....

 

Have you pulled the codes via an OBD reader? It would help find the answer.

 

yea, it's the same reading each and every time

'P0355 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit'

 

Hi Spolo85,

According to the 1999 Jaguar Diagnostic Trouble Code Summaries manual, P0355 indicates a malfunction of the Ignition Coil (Bank 1) primary or secondary circuit. Are you certain P0355 is the code you're getting? Here's the section from the manual that shows possible causes of P0355:



I'm attaching the manual for your reference.

Cheers,

Don

 

That actually makes a lot of sense. I should have looked up the code as it pertains to this car instead of taking the OBD reading at face value. I'm going to look into these coils this weekend and let you know how that works. Greatly appreciated!

 

Lesson learned! I bet this is much easier to run down.

 

You had 'P0355 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit' -- but P0355 is standard (by law!) and nothing to do with that sensor!!

Junk whatever software/tool gives such CRAZY meanings.