Hello,

I am new to the site and need help! I just bought a 1998 xj8l vdp with TONS of strange electrical problems. I will list them below. Any help is great!

Moonroof opens as it should and closes a few seconds later all by it self!

The windshield wiper turns on for a few seconds then stops in the middle of the window in various places. The wiper will NOT stay on longer then 30 seconds

The cd changer plays for a few seconds then stops and says no disc

I keep getting the left rear wheel sensor code but it checks out fine.

Things i have checked and replaced so far

Cleaned every ground and positive connection
Checked all fuses and replaced all relays
Changed fluids
Changed instrument cluster

Im at a complete loss...
If anyone has any input please send it! Thank you very much!!

 

Ok i will check. Also just did ANOTHER hard re boot and the roof is working but cd change and wiper and abs light still on

 

Hi
Try lowering the brake fluid to a level about 1 inch from the very top of the brake fluid reservoir. This seems to put out the abs warning light (at least it has stopped the recurring abs warning light for us).

Jim Lombardi

 

Do you have the wipers on auto ?

 

Why not get someone to read the ABS code- It will surely cost less than blindly throwing oparts at it.

 

The fluid is correct. The code is c1175 for left rear wheel sensor. and the wiper acts up on all settings.

 

Well, I would measure the resistance of the left wheel sensor, and see if it is about 600 ohms or so. (compare it to the other wheel sensors). Check the ground strap on that axle.
As to the wiper. If you are proficient at reading electrical schematics, download the JTIS manuals. Look for the relays and power supply to the wiper. If you are not, just post back and someone will help you pretty quickly, I imagine.

Since you have already checked the hots and grounds and these problems are associated with separate circuits, I think your problems are not connected. You will most likely just have to sort through each one.

And despite what some of the Jag aficionados on here will say, these cars are not without electrical anomolies. When someone argues that point, ask him how long and how many miles he has had the car. I've got a half a million total miles on three of these beasts. If you are going to keep the car, you should have a 12 volt test light, a voltmeter (cheapie will do fine), the schematics, and a way to read the extended codes . It sounds like you already have that last one.

Have you read about chain tensioners? That is really about the only lurking disater that you can do anything about.

Welcome to the forum; you will find plenty of good advice on here from folks who actually turn wrenches themselves. Good luck!

 

Back to basics, how,old is the battery?

Does it start ok, charge ok?

Did you check or replace the engine ground strap?

What condition is your false bulkhead connector in?

 

Hello Jamie,
As you say, you have recently bought the car. Do you know how old the battery is. It appears you have checked everything but the battery. If you have access to a fully charged spare, I would try that first.
An old or battery that is on its way out can throw up all sorts of weird gremlins.
You already know the hard reset routine.
The CD player may just require cleaning, a job that can be done at home.

Good luck.

 

+1 on a fresh battery and a hard reset - you'd be amazed at the 'ghosts in the machine' with a marginal battery on these cars.
Try swapping the rear abs sensors over side to side and see if the fault follows.
2 things with the wiper system, either a wiring break at the solder point connecting the stalk to the steering column loom (need to remove airbag and wheel to check/resolder) or the microswitch located on the wiper motor - you'll have to break the clear seal the wires go into and replace the switch, or complete assembly...
Once you've done these things report back the remaining issues....

 

Ok im gonna swap out sensors today and since the wiper works in all positions im leaning towards either a controller or wiper motor.. i will report back soon. And i do have a very compresive amount of electrical testing equipment. Including a fluke meter. Is there a computer that controls the wiper? Or is it contained inside the wiper motor? And thier is NO ground strap on the rear wheel anywhere that i can find. Where is it suppose ti be?

 

The ground strap I referred to is on the transmission bell housing, to ground the engine. Problems there result in low voltage and poor charging, which can cause lots of issues.

 

Hi
Here is a PDF file I created for ABS sensors included the Wiring Diagram and JTIS Diagnoistic steps for DTC C1175:

Weblink to PDF file is:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/227oymzslx...TC%20C1175.pdf

Jim Lombardi

 

I soldered the ends of the main ground on the bellhousing. Mitchell on demand refers to an abs sensor ground as mentioned above.. Where is this ground suppose to be? And thank you for the download im gonna read it now..

 

Ok just switched sensors from right to left rear and now im getting codes for BOTH rear sensors? and i can not see any ground on the suspension anywhere..

 

Hi
Here is a list on DTC C1175 possible issues:
Harness fault
Connector loose or corroded
Connector pin(s) bent or tracking between connections
Sensor gap incorrect
Foreign matter on sensor face
Missing tooth on sensor wheel
Faulty Sensor

Jim Lombardi

 

Jamie:
I am not recalling whether the X-308 has a single or dual wire connector like the X-300 wheel sensor. It appears from the diagram like it has two wires going to the sensor, so maybe it does not need a ground. Have you measured the resistance of each sensor? If you have some contact cleaner or CRC, try cleaning the connectors. Up where you live, I bet some salt spray could get in there. The sensor pickup voltage is very low and will get lost with any kind of connector problem. Read jimlombardi's list and make sure you have all of that OK.

 

Now, as to the wiper. The BPM operates two relays, one for low and one for high speed. Can you follow a wiring diagram without help. If so, look at page 14 of the electrical schematics from JTIS. Maybe Jim can post one. If you need help tracing through that, just say so.

 

Hi
When you use the weblinks to the PDF files I have on dropbox.com, you will get a better and clearer view of the diagrams if use the use the download button, then the direct download option and then choose the open option (this will open the PDF in your PDF reader, then you can save it on your computer later).

Jim Lombardi

 

Ok checked ohmes on both rear speed sensors 1 is 1100 and the other registers nothing so clearly i need an abs sensor. I looked at the wiper motor to find repaired wires and a bunch of holes from a test light. Im gonna try to swap out the wiper motor and see what happens