The VCATS suffix is the software ID for the part. The /xxx is required for the module to function correctly with the car.
If you install a Body Module for a Coupe XK in a Convertible XK, the top would not function because that info is not programmed into the module.
The VCATS suffix is NOT printed on the module itself. You can read the label in the boot or you can interrogate the module itself with PDU/WDS/ISD.

When looking up a part number for programmable modules, there will be a warning

 

 

Update: No luck so far.

I’ve been contacting every seller of a Jaguar TCM that has the # LJD 2401 AB.
(They always include a photo so easy to find those.)
I explain about need donor car to get inf. from VCATS label. I tell them where to look. Mostly do not get a reply & if I do, it is to say they no longer have access to the donor vehicle.

In the meantime, the issue comes & goes. Yesterday, I drove it only 3 miles b4 it happened & I was cruising @ 50 MPH, very little traffic & I was able to continue for 5 minutes, same speed & then pulled over, shut off engine for 2 min. & restarted & TF message gone & back to “normal” operation. Then 10 min later, it happened again & tried shutting down several times & no help so limped home, stuck in 4th gear.

Mostly my Google searches for Jaguar Transmission Control Unit show eBay listings.

I even checked the 2 TCM fuses just in case but both were fine. #1 (10A) in fuse box A engine compartment & #6 (5A) in fuse box B engine compartment. Jaguar Manual 4-16.

I then thought I’d check to see of the information on the VCATS label was available from the car VIN#. One seller listed the car VIN in the TCM listing but has not replied to my request. That was a dead end since I searched my own VIN & while there was much information… absolutely nothing re VCATS.

During my searches I found an old post on this forum where a moderator was explaining to someone about the VCATS label & included a photo from his 2000 XJ8. It had the exact TCM that I need! Correct 3 numbers for the software programming after the slash. I looked at his profile & he now has a MY 2014 Jag. So, I actually sent him a PM asking if by any chance he still has the car & if it is not drivable, is he selling parts….

Desperation.

I have seen a few different variation of the important TCM #.

The one I need LJD 2401 AB
and; LJE 2401 AB, LNC 2401 AB, LNE 2401 AB & more. Also, ones ending with “AA” So, there must be 5-10 varieties.

What I do not know & wish I did is given the correct # LJD 2401 AB/???
How many possible variation after the slash?

If I KNEW there were only 2 possibilities, 001 & 002 for example, I’d have a 50:50 chance if I bought a used one for $25-$50, not knowing those important 3 #s.
But, for all I know there could be 10 variations!

IDK how I would know it was the wrong TCM programming unless I got a new error message after the swap or it drove/shifted very badly. (Say I put in a used LJD 2401 AB/002)

Even if I was 100% certain that I got the correct LJD 2401 AB/001 because the seller sent me a photo of the VCATS list, I’m not 100% sure it would fix the problem, based on some comments here. It certainly is worth a try, if I can find the @#*!! correct part.

 

It may be fixed! I installed replacement TCM yesterday. Drive > 1 hours. No transmission fault & shifts normally! I had been unable to drive car > 4 weeks since 7-22-18 bc every time I turned on ignition it showed TF! Was not magically going away after a day or 2 as b4.

I’ll reserve final judgement until I have driven it several more times. Need to verify that disconnecting the battery & disconnecting TCM did not just cause a temporary reset.

So, the replacement TCM must have had the correct (001) software version, as I had hoped.

After contacting many sellers of TCM, with the key # LJD 2401 AB, none were able to access the donor car & read me the VCATS information for TCM which needed to be: LJD 2401 AB/001.
The local Jag dealer confirmed that if I just needed the TCM reprogrammed, that they would do it for a 1 hour labor change. So, I needed to pick one of those used TCMs with LJD 2401 AB. But, which one? The cheapest? The cleanest? LOL.
I decided that Jaguar probably didn’t change the software version very often & my best chance would be to get it from a car made ~ same time as mine. So, one of the #s on the TCM looked like a serial #. My plan was to get one with the serial # closest to mine. As I looked at the photos of the TCM labels for sale something jumped out at me! I think (in contrast to what I have been told here & by 2 Jaguar mechanics) the software version is, in fact, on the TCM label! I have thought it stupid that Jaguar would hide this critical information on the VCATS list & with a giant label with many #s on the TCM itself, have no software version information. WHY?

Here again is info from my TCM label:

————————————————————————
Bosch D85
Transmission controller GS8.61.14
0 260 002 704
ZF 6058 002 019
LJD 2401 AB
001 191C0303
GCJK07002044
Made in Germany 082
—————————————————————-
8 lines of #s.
Line #5 has the critical # (LJD 2401 AB) which had 8-10 variations… that I have seen for sale.
I only considered those TCMs that matched my line 5 #.
Lines 1-4 were identical on all TCMs I saw. Line 4 is the designation for the transmission. Same on all. (Probably same transmission for all X308)
Line # 7 is probably the serial #. I originally was going to buy a TCM that matched line 5 & had a ser # as close to mine as I could find.
Then line # 6 screamed at me!

Every single TCM that matched my line #5 had for line #6 ; 3 #s, followed by “191C0303”
Every. single. one.
The leading 3 #s?
Either 001 or 002….that was it.

I bet that those leading 3 #s on line # 6 was, in fact, the software version (also found on the VCATS list after the “/ ”)
Eureka!
Only 2 variations! Sure sounds like a software version!
Here is the label #s from the TCM I purchased for <$30:
——————————————————————————————-
Bosch D85
Transmission controller GS8.61.14
0 260 002 704
ZF 6058 002 019
LJD 2401 AB
001 191C0303
GCJK48991290 {different vs my original}
Made in Germany 972 {different vs my original}
———————————————————————
My guess is that during the X308 production years, the LJD 2401 AB number changed quite a bit. Sometimes ending in AA & sometimes AB & so forth. But, how many cars did they produce with the TCM "LJD 2401 AB?"
And of those cars, how many times did they change the software version?

My guess is they changed it only once!
My car 001 & later 002 & that was it for LJD 2401 AB.
They moved onto to a new line 5 # & other software versions.

It just seemed too coincidental that there were 3 #s followed by a space & those 3 #s were exactly what was on the VCATS list…001. The only other choice, looking at 10 other “LJD 2401 AB” TCMs for sale, was 002.

I bet I am correct.

Now, if I get the dreaded Transmission Fault once again & am stuck in 4th gear, I will assume the problem was NOT the TCM but something else.

I hope it is truly fixed!

 

Have driven 10 times with multi stops each drive. So far car & transmission are working great!

Any of you with an X308 can help prove or disprove my theory re software version "hidden" in the TCM label so not need to see VCATS label of donor car.
Post photos of your TCM label & your VCATS list

If a few of you actually do this, we'll know if I am right or just lucky.

It is probably not a bad idea to have a photo of your VCATS list anyway

 

My car still running smoothly & no Transmission issues!

However, I think it was luck & the new TCM happened to have the same software version (001) as my old one.

I no longer think my theory re the software version was in fact listed on the TCM label itself, is correct.
Another Forum member contacted me & he has a 2003 XJ8 & needs to replace his TCM. He took photos of both his TCM label & his VCATS label.

His TCM Label:
————————————————-
Bosch 658
Transmission controller GS8.61.14
0 260 002 753
ZF 6058 002 020
LJE 2401 AB
003 251CD101
GCKX10021145
Made in Hungary
————————————————
His VCATS:
LJE 2401 AB/001
———————————————————
So, he has software version 001 but, line #6 on his TCM label:
003 251CD101

If my theory was correct, his line #6 would have read something like this:
001 251CD101
Where the 1st 3 #s were the 001, duplicating the info on the VCATs list.

So, My theory is disproved. Too bad.

He needs to find a replacement TCM that has line #5
LJE 2401 AB
He also needs to find a Jaguar dealer (or indy shop) that can reprogram it if it is the wrong software version.

He may well get lucky as I did & the replacement will work just fine w/o reprogramming but, he needs a backup plan as I had.
My Jag dealer said they would reprogram it for 1 hr. Labor charge.

I was fortunate & did not need to have them do it.

I am now guessing that there are not many different software versions, since his 2003 car was made 3 years after my 2000 & both have the 1st software version 001.

It would be interesting for members with X308 (1997-2003) to post a photo of their VCATs list. And tell us what MY they own.

I assume 001 is the 1st software version & if there was a 2nd it would be 002.


So far, we know of 2, X308 cars; MY 2000 & MY 2003, both with version 001.


It will be interesting to see what other software versions people have & on what MY.

 

My theory is neither proven nor disproven.

That member that needs a replacement TCM thinks that his existing TCM is NOT the original one! So the info on the label is not necessarily accurate for car.

The fact that line #6, 1st 3 #s does NOT agree with the software version on his VCATs list proves nothing if this is not the original TCM.

To prove or disprove my theory that you can obtain the correct TCM software version, w/o need of the VCATs list, we need a few members with X308 cars, who are original owners or know for a fact that their TCM is the original TCM, to submit photos of the TCM label & the VCATS list.

Then we will all know.

If my theory is correct, it will make replacing the TCM cheap & easy w/o need for reprogramming!

Until this is known the best way is to get a TCM with the same line #5
(Example: LJE 2401 AB)
Swap it out & see if car seems to shift normally & no longer throws transmission error codes. If still problems, must take it to a mechanic, with the equipment necessary, to program the TCM software version to match what version is shown on your VCATs list.

 

A new valve body was ordered and installed but am still having this ( gearbox fault on the dashboard ), with my Autle scanner TCM no access but on PCM it says ( lost communication with TCM). Same with ABS,PBM and ICM. PLEASE what can i do

 

One thing I might suggest is posting in the forum that concerns your make and model Jaguar.
This one is for X308s

 

Hello all

I have an intermittent fault

OBD = P0706

?

Thanks, Takeo

 

D4 rotary switch.

Info for you