Hi all,

Please can anyone help. I am a new member and just introduced myself in the members area.

My old man bought a 98 XK8 a little over a year ago now, he's always liked them and hoped it may make a classic one day. Almost immediately after purchasing the dashboard displayed an error message saying "coolant level low". Yes, we took it back to the garage and they messed around a few occasions but it always comes on and yes, we have checked the coolant level ourselves physically whilst the engine is cold.

Now, after a period of about a fortnight and not using the car two more faults have started coming up " stability control failure" and "traction control failure" and the ABS symbol is constantly on. So I took it for a short and cautious drive and the handling felt no different to any other time I've driven it. Whilst i was driving the temperature gauge shot up into the red. Not being able to stop I dropped the speed and the gauge slowly returned to normal. I sped up again and no movement. So I slowed down and floored it and still the temperature gauge didn't budge from normal range.

I have tried resetting the computer by taking the negative terminal off the battery, toutching it with the positive (still connected to the battery), turning the key to position 2 whilst keeping my foot on the petro for five seconds, turn key back to 0 position and taking the foot off the petrol. This doesn't change anything on the dash.

So any advice or ideas would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance of any posts/replies.

 

1. Coolant Level Low warning
if the level is correct then the sensor in the base of the Expansion Tank is the likely fault. Sensors are available separately.

2. temperature gauge in the red
the temperature gauge on the XK8 is useless. By the time it moves the engine temperature is dangerously high. As it hasn't happened again, you could be lucky and find it was only an incorrect sensor signal but the thermostat could be sticking.

2. stability control failure and traction control failure
first suspect would be battery condition. Dirty wheel speed sensors or their connector harnesses are also a regular cause. After that, it's a possible module fault. The "hard reset" procedure you have tried with the battery terminals will have no effect on this.

Graham

 

Here's a little advice..................not trying to be critical and please take this the right way................try calling your "old man" Dad. He might spring for more parts

 

GGG,

Thanks a mill for the advice - I had initially thought about a problematic sensor for the coolant issue but once I started having trouble with the other things I doubted myself. You reassurance is greatly appreciated.

 

Rezzz

Yeah thank you for your advice on the questions I posted too. Please don't take this bthe wrong way and take it in the manner its meant too but if you have a problem with our family dynamics keep your big fat nose out of them!
It is after all......my old mans car not mine anyway and were on this forum together.
Cheers once again for the advice and the personal attack.

 

Gentlemen,

Remember that humour and expressions can often have different meanings across the World. What is acceptable in one country can be dismissive or even offensive in another.

Please keep this civilised.

Graham

 

+1 on that - I spend my time more or less split equally between the USA and UK - I fully understand the concept of two nations divided by a common language - the trouble I can get myself into sometimes :0)
FWIW let me assure Rezz that "old man" is a term of endearment in the UK

 

Some of the 1998's (like mine) were subject to water pumps whose impellers fail. There is a TSB that lists the water pump model numbers and where to look to find them (I remember it is 8 O'Clock on the side of the pump). Whether the heat destroyed the blades or destroyed blades caused the heat, this can get real inconenient real fast so check it out.

John

 

Thanks for the heads up johnken its not something I've considered and will have a look. ��

 

Cheers Batroute,

Thanks for your input, I appreciate your point, I'm sorry that you or anyone else has had to comment on the issue but I hope anyone else reading this will also read your post too. Thank you.

 

My apologies...................I guess Canadian humour is a little off the line between the USA and UK......Ouch

 

Rezzz,

Thanks for the post, last thing I want is to cause offence, hope we can put this one down to 'one of those' things, let's move on from this..........its the cars that are important ������