Hi there, I got a 1998 Xj8 (X308) that failed the required Control Technique inspection (MOT) for excessive CO emissions (9.96% vs. the required legal tolerance of 0.3%).

I took the car in to a Jaguar service center and they told me that there aren’t any error codes that would help them pinpoint the problem. They identified the injectors as the likely cause for the excessive emissions and recommended that all 8 of them, including all 8 coil packs, should be replaced.

They said that they arrived at the injectors because a malfunction would not necessarily throw any error codes. They also said that this may also explain the high fuel consumption and lack of responsiveness to the throttle when driving the car.

I had this problem with another car before and it severely impacted the way the car drove (it was barely idling and stuttering while driving with black smoke coming out of the exhaust); I mentioned this to Jaguar and they said that is not necessarily the case.

I guess my question is how likely do you think it is that the injectors are causing the excessive CO emissions and if so, wouldn’t this throw any codes? Also how likely is that all 8 of them including coil packs would need replacing?

I noticed that there are refurbished injectors available for reasonable amounts, if compared to the prices for OEM parts, does anybody have any experience with refurbished injectors? Do you think it’s safe to use them?

Many thanks for your time and help with this.

Cheers!

 

I find it hard to believe that your CO emissions are 30 times the allowable limit and you get no diagnostic codes (OBDII). I also find it hard to believe that a Jaguar service center would recommend replacing all the injectors and coil packs to fix it. I have never failed emissions inspection due to bad injectors. The car can be hooked up to an OBDII reeal-time and the fuel trims can be looked at and the oxygen sensors can be checked out too. I would guess oxygen sensors, spark plugs and air filter before injectors and coils. Are there any symptoms of a problem ? Man, that sounds like a whole lot of euros.

 

How many miles? I had a catalytic converter clogg giving me this. It was very strange ---- the car had no power. It would run fine at idle but would not accelerate normally.

Did they test both pipes at idle to see the results - ?


Normally, you would not have a failure in all eight of something -- Like eight coils !! Or all of the injectors - and yes remanufactured injectors are fine to use, as long as they come from reputable place.

The car that I had the problem with was a V6 that had a common tail pipe -- 3 converters. I am wondering if on the Jag you would notice any difference in the exhaust output from right to left if only one converter were to be clogged? I have no idea -- just something that if you found to be true would help?

Then again if something was put in the tank that caused the clogging -- it would most likely effect both sides.

Replacing all the parts they suggest is a sizable cost !

 

If it were me I would first replace the spark plugs and clean the TB & MAFS and then run a fuel additive I use BG 44K and run it for about a half tank of fuel and then see what takes place. Replacing Oxygen Sensors may be in order but I would think you would have other indications to justify the replacement. Read the links below. Hope this helps!

http://www.salemboysauto.com/original-faqs/faq-20.htm
http://www.autohausaz.com/html/emiss...n_sensors.html
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h56.pdf

 

Thanks for coming in on this one guys, I have a hard copy of the estimate in front of me, it makes my eyes water. (read go buy an XJR and have change)

To give more background, apparently the engine was changed at around 90k, car now has 140k. Awaiting to receive the engine number from the OP.

I am likely to be speaking to the garage in person (due to the language barrier), so any advice that you can give as to how it could be decided that 8 injectors + 8 coils are the first thing to be changed would be appreciated.

Am I wrong in thinking that there would be a mess of codes for something as way out as this car seems to be?

There are other non related issues with this car, and would be nice if something positive could be salvaged here.

I don't know enough about these cars to be able to give specific tech' advice, and independent specialist garages are pretty much not an option. There are none.

Thanks in advance to you good tech folk for helping out.

 

Richard, here's the engine # KVLTKOBBB22222212JJHHH

I had it looked up when I took her in to do an oil change and fix some of the issues to get her through the CT next month. I could be wrong, and probably am, but aren't there a lot similar characters in that number for it to be the engine #?

Cheers!

 

Mate, that isn't the engine number, whoever supplied that's a joker, it's the bearing codes, these tally with colours when replacing the engine bearings, that's why there's repartition.

The engine number is usually 2 letters and 10 numbers. Have you a V5 or similar title with the car? is it not listed? Jaguar agents can pull the engine number up on computer using the VIN.
+1 on codes thrown if emissions are out of spec' - at the very least an amber engine light and O2 sensor....curious the suggestion is injectors and coils - injectors can be serviced at most hydraulic specialists.
Also good advice on cleaning the MAF/filter and changing plugs before heavy money on a wild goose chase!

 

I'm with Sean, that is not an engine number. I've added details of VINs and other identifiers that can be downloaded from the FAQ at the top. Simply scroll down until you see the appropriate PDF.

VIN/Engine number won't work because the PO changed the engine apparently.

Badcat, did you get them to redo an emissions test while you were there and have them hook up a code reader?