Hi all, I decided to take my XK8 to work this morning but after a few miles I had to return home with what I think is a problem with the alternator. Hopefully some you can confirm that it is most likely that??

The dash lights (backlights not warning lamps) were flickering and when I revved the engine over 1500-2000 rpm most of the electrics switched off; Headlamps, wipers, dash lights etc and I I got the gearbox fault and battery not charging warning messages, and I was naturally stuck in one gear; 3rd?.
Switching off the car and restarting, including disconnecting and connecting the battery, reset everything but as soon as the revs went up the results were the same. Then I noted when it was happening the dash volt meter was at the upper limit, so I connected a test meter and I was recording 16-18v when the engine revs.

So I assume the alternator is kicking out to high a voltage, I had this happen in another car but car switched everything on to try and lower the voltage. I hope I have not fried some of control modules...

 

Almost certainly alternator/regulator. I had very similar symptoms.

Check this thread from crumble:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...90/#post714167

 

I imagine you'll replace it yourself, not too hard. When it happened to me, countless friends here on the forum warned me: find a Denson replacement.

Did I listen? Noooo, I went through 2 or 3 Autozone alternators in 1 week before I found a Denso for the same price elsewhere. Still works great.

John

 

how much are you paying for the Denso alternator ?
it is new or remanufactured ?


Z

 

I probably expect everything like this to be remanufactred but I don't recall.

Prices were all over the place. If I recall I posted the exact number back then, feel free to look it up, its late and I'm beat my friend.

From memory: I bought autozone alternator for $280. After several failures I hunted for a Denso. One auto repair place in Flemington nj Authorized Import wanted $550. I called Flemington Foreign cars he asked me what I paid for the autozone alternator I said $280 he said something like give me $320 to cover the core and I have 1 right here. So from a 3 or 4 yr old memory: $320.

Hope it helps.
John

 

Got some energy looked it up for you. $320 was a rebuild price for the Denso. That Authorized Foreign imports quote was closer to $800, not $500. I mentioned them by name for a reason.

A few of us are from that area here in new Jersey, my experience is that prices like that are not uncommon at that place. Use them at your own risk, but I wouldn't.

John

 

I found a starter/alternator repair shop 35 miles away from me that refurbished the factory Denso XK8 alternator with a genuine Denso parts kit for a total cost to me of $128. Dropped it off one weekday morning and drove back several days later to pick it up. This was in July 2018. If you need to ship your alternator to them, they will gladly work with you. Great customer service and very fair prices - I highly recommend them....

 

Thanks all, I have received a Denso replacement which hopefully I will get chance to fit this weekend