Just came up last week... Suddenly it flashes Stability control fail and then goes to Gearbox fault. ??? shut the engine restarted and ran great for a week and now it happened again. Started it this morning and ran good for 1 hr. Parked it and it came up again then limp mode. Battery is new just 3 weeks old. Any ideas?

 

First you need to have the codes read and post them here. The numbers not the technicians recommendations.
Even though the battery is only 3 weeks old it still sounds like you might have a voltage problem. I would go back and have the battery load tested.

 

+ 1 on battery and getting the codes.

But .............. I would guess at a CAN fault and I wouldn't be surprised if the codes are some, or all, of P1637, 1638, 1642 or 1643.

 

Codes P1797 and p1000. Battery is at 12.62v and under load 11.65v

 

97 model, at some point look at the main computer as the issue when you eliminate other possibilities.

 

OK.. can you give me the location of the computer and i will clean it and check it. Thanks

 

Found the location. will pull it today.. thanks again

 

There's a lot of it about at the moment !!

I guessed the wrong code(s) but the correct diagnosis !!

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...1797-a-181864/

 

The ECU could easily be the problem as the 97 version has capacitors that eventually leak. I would send it to ASI for testing, disconnect the negative battery cable before you disconnect the ECU cable.

http://www.autoecu.com/

 

Pulled the ECM and the smaller box. Will assume the smaller box is the TCM. All looked good but i cleaned all the contacts and lubed them. Am test driving today and see what happens. Will report back. Thanks guys

 

Just got back from almost a full day of driving and NO faults. Keeping my fingers crossed but can it just be a connection that loosened up? Im hoping that this problem is resolved. Going to change the tranny fluid for good measure this weekend.

 

Yes - I honestly think it could be a connector - I had an on-and-off CAN problem for ages and I finally (fingers crossed after four months) sorted it by disconnecting, cleaning, and reconnecting all the connectors on the CAN. In 1997 - nearly 20 years ago now - complicated computer systems in cars were still relatively new and (in todays terms) fairly unsophisticated. Add 20 years of heat, vibration and general "wear and tear" and it's not surprising that some owners are having problems. At worst, it's failing components - often capacitors - which deteriorate and leak. At best, its a connector which just needs cleaning and re-seating.
I can't be sure but I think my problem was the connector on the instrument pack. Significantly, the early (mine's a 1997 car) connectors were upgraded a year or so later to a design with a clamp-down locking mechanism, rather than just the usual plastic tab.

It could come back - I once went for three weeks without any problem whastsoever and then it suddenly happened again - no pattern or particular circumstance. But - it may not !!

All part of the fun.

 

Im hoping this problem is solved. Yes i do have the connectors with the plastic tabs. im planing a 3000 mile trip in 2 week so i need this fix to be dependable. I think it is ( again fingers crossed.) Will run the car every day to make sure.
Yes its all part of the fun......

 

3k mile trip in this car with these issues? Brave man. I don't think the connection at the main computer is the issue. It is a pretty damn good connection, in a pretty clean area where most elements don't get too. I'd drive the p*ss out of it before you go on this trip.
I had a 97 and it started infrequent running issues, various warning lights like yours, no power, stumbling, let it sit, next day was fine, I did the check connections stuff, no good acted up again. I took it to my shop they switched out TB with 2 other "known" good units, same issues with runs well one minute, the next not so. I thought this is BS, 3 TB's don't go bad so I had my orig put back on it, knowing the main computer could be the issue I sent it out to ASI, it was faulty. They fixed it, I put it in, not another issue!

 

Yes - I don't disagree - problems with the "early" main engine modules due to component failure - usually capacitors - are now well documented, and can usually be fixed either by repair, or substitution.
But - if the codes suggest a CAN problem - more likely to be a connector or voltage related issue. P1797 isn't listed as a 1997 DTC in the original Jaguar "code list" but crops up regularly. 1637.38,42 & 43 may also appear.
Early throttle bodies also had big problems but different codes and different solutions.

 

3 days of steady driving and no issues. Still keeping my fingers crossed

 

OK guys... Took off for Memorial Day weekend and went to Florida. 2600 miles later im happy to report NO tranny issues. Problem solved as i see it.
Thanks again to all.

 

Indeed !

Thanks for reporting back with good news.