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Hi. I am new to this forum and, to be totally upfront, not mechanically educated when it comes to cars. I have been having issues with my XK8 randomly not starting. When it starts, it runs beautiful .
When the car doesn't start, I can’t pinpoint any specific reason why. I've run it for hours, stopped for gas and it won't restart. I've tried to take it first thing in the morning and it won't start. I've driven it for months without a problem, then bam, it won't start. I had some other work done on it two weeks ago, drove it home and it hasn't started since. The link below will show you what I see on the dashboard when it doesn't start. The words “system check” appear and then a series of warning messages scroll. Some of these messages are fatal warnings (transmission fault, brake fluid low, asc), thereby preventing the car from starting. None of the items in the warning messages are broken but because they are fatal errors, the car won't start. Something is triggering the messages or as I am learning, it may be the instrument pack itself that is faulty. The car does not shut down once it's started. I don't get any sound when I turn the key. The dash, windows, lights, etc., all work.
A mechanic friend was able to run the codes because the car didn’t start for him while he had it. They are at the bottom of this post. I took these and the car to a Jaguar dealership. They told me I needed the following part number but said they couldn’t get it for me. LJD4300GB104
I looked online in some of the Jaguar chat rooms and saw this particular post. Seems this guy was having the same issue. Maybe some of the recommended fixes make sense to someone in this forum. I don't think he fixed it with the part mentioned above. There was also a Jaguar recall in 2000-2001, which I provided a link to. This sounds like it may be my problem. https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...up-car-242300/
Bottom line, I'm at my wits end. I love the car and really need it as my oldest son has started to drive and I need a car. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. I'm in the Pittsburgh, PA area. Thank you!!
I beleive the vehicle speed signal comes from the LH front wheel toothed sensor . Maybe sensor failure .. or damage to the toothed wheel ..cracked or slipping?
Swop the sensors left to right to test.
For psychological reasons,,, the FATAL WARNING idea and description may not be best, lol... Easy does it.
First question. Are you planning on doing the work folks suggest here yourself? I ask because your answer will guide what sorts of advise and suggestions folks offer up...
Umm,,, the music in the background didn't help at all. Nor did (at least for me) asking me to download from what is essentially an unknown source... Use YouTube or something... Who knows, maybe you want to wreak as much havoc on Jaguar XK8 owners globally by blowing up there computers, lol.
For the no start (I mention this because of the B1595 and U1135 codes) - in start situations, there is a delicate dance between the key (CHIP), Exciter Ring (ER), the key transponder module (KTM), the body processor module (BPM), major instrument cluster (MIC) and the engine control module (ECM/U) that has to be jus right for the starter to turn, fuel pump to pump and the spark plugs to spark. It sounds crazy but it's basically a security feature ALL initiated by a chip in the KEY that is read/sensed by an "exciter ring" right near where you insert the key. If something is off in this chain of events the starter will seem dead. Car will not start.
Once, in my car, the door/window was left ajar and water got into the KTM that is situated right behind the LH most blower vent in the dash. Long story. I won't bore you with it. Jus to say, it killed the "start up" security check process. Later I learned (again, long story) that the BPM needs to be well grounded to operate properly. It's behind/under the dash just being the glove box. So,,,
Brotha/Sista, you may have some digging to do.
But, will it be you doing it, or someone you pay?
Oh - The ABS light might just be a crap or low battery,,, light MIGHT go out once driving and you get up to 5 or 10mph.
Last edited by JayJagJay; Aug 23, 2022 at 06:33 AM.
Agree with above ^^^. Low battery can cause many issues. Unfortunately, it appears the instrument packs did give some problems in these MY cars though. I'm not sure how you would test for this. Maybe someone with direct experience will chime in.
Your problem certainly could be a failed battery and you can check that yourself with a voltmeter from Harbor Freight, Amazon or other source.
On the other hand, if your problem proves more complex, I suggest finding a good, or at least knowledgeable, Jaguar specialist. You certainly can educate yourself on Jaguar XK8 repair and fix it yourself, but these cars are a bit tricky. Fixing them often requires the mind of a Private I (eye), and the scrappiness of a television repairman (a profession that no longer exists) more than that of a mechanic.
For example, your local dealer indicates the car needs a dashboard repair or replacement. Or perhaps just a wiggle of the dash connector. The dash repair is described in a service bulletin and requires some skill with a soldering iron to complete the repair. Or you could replace the dash. As you see from searching the suggested part number, a new dash costs $4,000, or would if one were available. On the other hand, you can probably get the correct replacement part from a junker for about $100. This will change the recorded mileage of the car and have some effect on the value of the car, but might be the easiest way to fix it. So there are several choices here. Which is why I suggest finding a mechanic familiar with the car, who is willing to make repairs for a reasonable price, given that these cars have limited resale value. For example, there is no sense, in my opinion. paying $4,000 to repair a $5,000 car, when a $1,000 option (including parts and labor) is available.
By the way, it's also possible that the problem has nothing to do with the dash. A good technician can flesh out the problem.
People on the forum, especially the certified techs, can point you in the right direction. But you really need a private I - independent Jaguar specialist - to get your car fixed fast and efficiently if becoming a Jaguar PI is beyond your interests or abilities. And nothing wrong with that. These are beautiful cars with reasonable reliability if properly maintained by yourself or a local expert.
It's not the battery. This problem started a few years ago. Recently, the battery had gone bad and it has been replaced. I had work done on the car 2 months ago, and it has started once since I've brought it home.
@JayJagJay Yes, fatal warning was the incorrect term....so sorry. The engine goes into failsafe mode. I will not be doing the work myself, as indicated in my first sentence that I am not mechanically inclined. As for the music, I will find out what your taste is before making another video......the purpose of which was to the messages and that the battery is working. If I end of finding a mechanic that can help me, I will pass along your observations. Although, not sure my car key has a chip in it. Looks like a regular old car key to me. I'll have to look closer. Someone did tell me that if the key is warn down, it could cause a problem when trying to start the car. I've used the less used spare key, without success.
I need to find a mechanic in the PIttsburgh area that works on these older models. The Jag dealership, not that I want to go there, won't touch it.
I love the car but unless I find a resolution soon, it will be sold for parts.........let me know if you need any!
1996 thru. Still, I don't KNOW that this is the issue. Just a suggestion... And yea, I guess the problem could be the instrument cluster but who knows. Did ya get the sense the shop knew there stuff? https://www.autoreservejaguar.com/ja...mobiliser.html
Last edited by JayJagJay; Sep 16, 2022 at 01:34 PM.
Have you read through the recall? Getting the instrument pack in hand is not hard. Then you can check the condition of the soldering. If Jaguar was asking mechanics to fix this in the shop, the soldering skills required can't possibly be that high.
I have a 2000 MY S-Type with 4 litre V8 engine so pretty much same drive train as yours. I was having some occasional battery problems with slow or no cranking - usually resolved by charging the battery. Then I started to get an intermittent no crank. Switch on, dash lights up as normal, turn to crank and nothing - fuel gage drops to zero, most of the dash lights go out. Keep switching on and off and randomly it cranks enthusiastically and fires up and runs no problem. I fitted a new battery as most forum posts here and elsewhere suggest that as a start point. New battery fitted, earth and power connections removed cleaned same time. Still occasionally no crank - if anything, problem was becoming more frequent.
Have had many weird and wonderful suggestions made, mostly very complex ones. However, as a shade tree mechanic I like to think it is the simple stuff that gets you - and that's true maybe 3 out of 4 times. So, battery is good, no codes or alarms, but occasional no crank suggests to me a poor power supply (already covered by new battery and cleaning connections) or a relay or solenoid problem, or a poor wiring connection. So I looked at relays - there are loads of them on the Jaguar, in three separate fuse boxes, but fortunately only two different types are used - the larger yellow cube and the smaller yellow cuboid. Off You tube I found a video which showed which relay is which - this will have been probably 90% correct (sadly the Owner's handbook tells you which fuse is which but stops short on the relays). I found out that in the under-hood engine fuse box (LHS at front as you face the engine on an S-type, not sure on XJ or XK) relay R15 is the starter relay - it is one of the larger yellow cube type. The lid of the fuse box tells you what the relay numbers are. Swapped R15 for a used relay bought off auction site for £5. Problem is now fixed. Worth a try as simple to do and very cheap.
BTW if buying a used relay then worth getting two so you have a ready spare - and v unlikely that you would get two duff second hand relays. I also noted the Jaguar uses the long reach J-type fuses which are not very common, so worth holding 1X 20 Amp 1X 30 Amp and 1 X 40 Amp as spares if you are keeping the car. Also v cheap used.
I shall make a separate post on a new thread on the S-type forum. Any way - hope you get it sorted quickly and happy motoring when you do!
Be Very Very Careful
If you fit a non jag relay it may not have suppression built in ie a resistor or diode across the coil. As all X100 circuits are switched via the transistors in the ECU this lack of component can damage the associated transistor ....then it dont work at all.
Used Jaguar relays are readily available for around £5 in the UK Buy it now from a well known auction site. They are bright yellow and have the Jaguar part number stamped on them. Or just swap out for another relay off your own car (not useful if problem is intermittent, but if its a "hard" fault then it will help with diagnosis - plenty of accessory relays are non-critical). Happy Motoring.
2000 XK8 periodically won't start - fatal warning message
