Hello fellow Jaguar Enthusiasts.

This is a continuation of my two of my earlier posts on a similar subject.

I bought the 97 XK8 Convertible two months ago. I still have not been able to enjoy the ride.

First time out, the car shut down. This was described in my post RPM drops to Zero. Waited, restarted the car. Drove it home and parked in the garage.

Then I could not get it started. Lots of great help from the Jaguar Forums community. I tried everything without any luck. Engine just cranked, No fire. After days of frustration, had my wife try with original key. (I had been trying with a clone key, no chip).

Hooray. Wife was able to start it right up on first try. Updated by post with great news.

Days have past. I just could not believe that the 97 was a transponder chip car. It wasn't. Went out to start it this morning with cloned key. It started right up.

Then the news. Dashboard panel shows "TRANSMISSION FAULT" Pulled the fault code with my OBDII tester. Yes. P0706.

Took car for a ride around the block. Must be in limp home mode. No power. Barely accelerates. When I got into my driveway, there a small lip into the garage. Wasn't going fast enough to roll over the lip. Could not accelerate with enough power to roll over the lip. Rolled backward (slight grade). Tried again with a small head start. Yea. Car in garage (again).

Turned off engine. Enough aggravation for one day. I am confident things will look better in the morning.

This is my problem. I really would like to get this beautiful Jaguar on the road with the top down.

Any thoughtful suggestions?

Very respectfully, Bob G.

 

The DTC is P0706 that is for the D4 switch in the 'J' gate selector lever.

The cam plate or switch might be faulty.

bob

 

The attached PDF chart is wonderful . . . thank you again motorcarman. You can be sure I will be up at day break with the keys in one hand and your chart in the other.

Thank you again. V/R Bob G.

 

Hello a d good morning to all who continue to listen to me about my recent acquisition of a 1997 XK8 Convertible. I want to thank all of you who help me get this beautiful car running as a pure Jaguar should.

This is UNBELIEVABLE.

Yesterday, I thanked motorcarman for his excellent PDF attachment (5HP24_97.pdf) on how to start my 1997 XK8 convertible.

Printed the attachment. Went into the garage Sunday morning.

Turned the key. Car immediately started. NO faults displayed.

Took car for a ride around the neighborhood. NO issues.

Proper shifting, proper acceleration, proper handling. Absolutely no evidence of any failure.

I'm thrilled, but I did not touch anything. I did not adjust anything.

I hope it lasts and lasts.

Any thoughts anyone?

Very respectfully, Bob G.

 

I HATE when that happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How are you supposed to fix things when they won't stay broken????

bob

 

Boy isn't that the truth! Mysterious fixes leave you in a perpetual state of holding your breath as you wait for the inevitable return.

 

Treat her like any good woman tell her you love her buy her gifts and fill her with the best gasoline money can buy.if that fails time for therapy

 

Dear bob motorcarman, mhminnich, and jeremys.

Since this issue is intermittent, please allow me to ask a dumb question.

Is it possible that the transponder chip in ONE of the keys is damaged? (They look identical, but I plan to color mark them tomorrow).

If the chip went bad, could I still start the car (sometimes) and get totally screwed up performance?

Just a thought, leaning on your combined experience.

Very respectfully, Bob G.

 

I sure miss my '71 XKE. No computers, only a few relays (metal can types) and only 8 fuses. Same fantastic engine (4.2L). Lightweight, responsive, and beautiful. But wife and I needed a house, so the XKE had to go. It was too hard taking a shower in it.

Back to reality. I now have 2 XK8s (both '97) and an XKR ('01). Great cars, but way too much electronics (IMHO). I am pretty sure the problem I am having with the 97 XK8 convertible is something intermiittent in the dreaded ECM. What do my fellow Jaguar Forums enthusiasts think?

Very respectfully, Bob G.

 

Way to much electronics, especially from Ford.