Just got off the phone with Jaguar Customer Relations after emailing about the warranty issues with the automatic seat belts in my '92 Sovereign.

Here's the backstory: I had brought the car there in 2013 due to the driver's side belt getting stuck in the restrained position. The latch would jump just a hair every few seconds, as if the docking switch was defective and causing the motor to strain and run even though it was already at the end of travel. This would cause my lights to dim at night and my voltage gauge to drop. The motor overload would trip, and a few seconds later, it would start all over again.

They greased the track under warranty and called it good. I went back a month later to tell them it was still acting up. They replaced the motor and winch assembly under warranty. It kept doing the same thing a few days later. I had given up a bit on it, as it was an intermittent issue and just lived with it.

I went to the dealer a little later for some parts, and in passing, spoke with the service manager who had become familiar with me from buying parts and having the car serviced a few times. A guy in his 20's with an XJ40 in good condition sticks out like a sore thumb at the dealer! I told the service manager about the (again) faulty belt, and he told me that it wouldn't be covered, as it was a "one time deal." One repair for that side, and that was it... I told him about the bulletin. Nope, one time courtesy repair.

So I decided to contact Jaguar directly. The nice representative told me that in fact, it appears it's just a one-time courtesy. I then referenced the TSB by number, and told her I could fax it over. She said she already had a copy she read over. The phone disconnected and I pulled up the TSB on my computer. She called back and I read the language of the TSB:

"Jaguar warrants that for the life of the vehicle, repairs required to correct defects in the mechanical and electrical components of the motorized automatic diagonal seatbelt system will be performed without charge. Any component covered by this warranty found to be defective in material or workmanship will be repaired, or replaced, without charge by an authorized Jaguar dealer."

She said "Oh yeah, I'm seeing that too. Did you show it to the service manager?" I told her that I didn't have it on hand that day, and didn't feel like making a special trip back to argue the issue with him. I told her I assumed that they'd have that TSB on file... She recommended I call the dealer and explain the situation to them. I told her they were pretty adamant that the service wasn't going to happen under warranty, and if she could forward this case to the dealer itself. She said she would contact the dealer directly and speak with them, and let me know tomorrow.

Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this!

 

Sure glad I have regular belts!

Larry

 

I noticed that recently a Jaguar dealer has opened which is within Reasonable, Infrequent driving distance. My belts are acting up on my 92, usually they work or they just don't. Sometimes they go partway but in a few minutes they will finish their travel. Anyway, I have been tossing the idea of a foray to- essentially- get the argument started . I guess I had better get my leapers in a row - as it were...

 

In other words:

The lifetime warranty doesn't cover any and all possible failures. It covers certain components.

1) Where's the list of covered components?

2) What has failed on your seatbelt system? and is it one of the covered components?

Cheers
DD

 

Here is all the info needed!!!

I actually have a few components I saved from the trash from the 1990-1992 XJ40 when I worked at the dealer because I had a 1992 with this system.
I had a few components replaced under warranty back in the late 1990s but the dealer discarded piles of parts in the mid 2000s.

I think I still have a few belts and latches but some of the parts have a trim code so parts can be hard to find.

Good luck with parts that might be NLA.

bob

 

Thanks guys!

My car has the Isis Blue interior with grey trim and carpeting. The belts are black, which helps, I hope.

As far as I can tell, the driver’s side motor/winch assembly has failed. No blown fuse and the passenger side belt works flawlessly. I am using the emergency latch currently.

The issue all along seems to have been with docking switches, reverse inhibit relay, or wiring.

I remember a specific incident a few years ago when the motor still functioned. The latch was at the forward position. I closed the door for just a second and the latch moved back as it should. I opened the door quickly, and the latch stopped in the track, *Without* reversing back to the forward position as it should’ve. Each time I closed door and opened it, the latch would only move rearward. Once it got to the full rearward position, the motor overload situation started again.

I’d often have to release the belt manually when getting out of the car and often, when returning back to the car, I’d find the latch back at the forward position! Maybe it’s shy?

Nick

 

Your interior trim should be LDY

bob

 

Correct, the trim is Saville Grey.

No word back from Jaguar. I’ll give the agent a call back tomorrow if I don’t hear from her.

Nick

 

I suspect you'll be told to return to the dealer and have the problem diagnosed to confirm the exact fault. If the failed part is on the "covered" list, you should be in good shape. If not covered, you'll probably be asked to pay shop time for diagnosis.

And hopefully the needed parts are available. For many years the supply was virtually non-existent

Cheers
DD

 

Don't know if this helps but there was a lengthy thread on having a Jaguar dealership service these belts here:

https://forums.jag-lovers.com/t/goin...elts/371742/58

I think the upshot was the dealership agreed to try and fix the problem but the needed parts were nla. Look for the April 2019 posts.

 

I think that if you push you will get help from dealers. But here is what I know about this system. The system was discontinued due injuries to internal organs when involved in a front end collision. When I was a paramedic, I was trained to look for, and document seatbelt systems, since organ laceration was something that had to be ruled out by ER, and ICU doctors before dismissal. Thats what I know about that system. Now with that knowledge, I would buy any of the early XJ40s and immediately modify it to have a safer restraint system.