Got my 1999 XJ8 Sovereign yesterday. Absolutely wonderful, really a thing of beauty.

Problem with Radio: Battery had been flat because car was parked up so charged battery up and started car. Radio display was dead. Checked fuse and it was blown so replaced it. Entered radio security code and display now states: “PHONE”. Tried all of the buttons on the radio but nothing operates. Aerial does go up if I press AM/FM.

Tried pulling out phone fuses nr 5 and nr 10 in the left hand heel board fuse box but this did not stop ‘PHONE’ message.

Battery being charged at the moment. Could the PHONE message be killing the battery?

Any ideas?

Simon

 

Look for the plug inside the center console area.(requires removing the center console arm rest and bin)
was a phone installed and is the mute wire somehow being fed power.

 

Thanks.

I wouldn't even know where to start with removing the console etc or what the wire looked like.

What do you think would have caused the power to be fed to the phone?

Just looked at the car and the phone message is live even though the car is off and locked!

One website suggest touching the negative cable of the battery onto the positive to get rid of excess current? Would this work or is it likely to fry the electrics.

Regards
Simon

 

THIS POST has photos showing how to get to the Cell Phone Plug to see if it's damaged. It runs through the center console behind the radio too, but this is the end of it. (The wire you are looking for is Purple/Orange).

I'd try the Hard Reset first to see if that cures it.

THIS POST shows how to SAFELY do a Hard Reset (touch battery terminals together).

 

Thanks for the info guys!

Tried a hard reset. powered back up and......it said 'PHONE' again!

Unscrewed the arm rest up and there was no such loom visible. The car does not have Jaguar phone in it but a aftermarket 'cradle' mounted in the passenger footwell to the left of the gear shift.

Any ideas?