Hi all! New owner here, had my 96' XK8 just over a week. Being second hand I expected a few minor issues and I'm enjoying the car regardless, but I was wondering if anyone had any advice to give on the following issues:
1.
The fob. When I got the car I was told the fob didn't work and whilst I've had some success in fixing it this past week, I'm now stumped. Began with replacing the batteries and following the reprogramming procedure (I found many variations but this one worked for me: XJ8 remote key fob). After no success initially (no response from j-gate light beyond the initial flash) I opened up the fob and cleaned the black gunk off the contacts with a pencil eraser and after a few more tries I got the fob working. It was intermittent, however, and after coming back one evening no matter how hard I pressed the fob I couldn't get it to work. Obviously this wasn't ideal so I tried the reprogramming sequence again but this time I got a beep halfway through and now I can't enter programming mode at all. Same procedure, no j-gate flashes after pulling the stalk. So now I'm completely baffled as it won't enter programming mode I can't see any other options. If anyone has a suggestion, please let me know!
2.
Car phone. It came with some 1996 special mobile phone (please see it in this pic: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/uploa...ar/4374457.jpg) which doesn't turn on and serve no purpose other than to rip the leather on the centre console. I've tried to remove it but the cables go behind the dash and I can't see any way of removing them from there, or at the phone itself (to then tuck the wires away). So I'm stuck with it. Does anyone have any ideas? Could the battery be dead? Is there any way of checking? If it did work I'd be happy to use call forwarding and use it but if not I really need it gone.
3.
Driver seat controls. Passenger's side works fine, and so did the driver's for the first hour of owning the car. However, on driving it home I tried to adjust the seat forward, which worked, then it stopped and now I can't get it to move at all. I read somewhere there is a 2 second limit to how far you can move the seat when driving but I've tried loads of times since with no joy. There was a small noise just before it stopped working. I had a quick look under the seat and couldn't see any wires trapped (which I saw someone on the forum suggested as a solution). Again, if anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
Those are the main issues guys, thanks in advance for any support you can offer. I also have condensation in the one headlight but there seem to be loads of threads on fixing that which I'll take a look at now.
Jake
1.
The fob. When I got the car I was told the fob didn't work and whilst I've had some success in fixing it this past week, I'm now stumped. Began with replacing the batteries and following the reprogramming procedure (I found many variations but this one worked for me: XJ8 remote key fob). After no success initially (no response from j-gate light beyond the initial flash) I opened up the fob and cleaned the black gunk off the contacts with a pencil eraser and after a few more tries I got the fob working. It was intermittent, however, and after coming back one evening no matter how hard I pressed the fob I couldn't get it to work. Obviously this wasn't ideal so I tried the reprogramming sequence again but this time I got a beep halfway through and now I can't enter programming mode at all. Same procedure, no j-gate flashes after pulling the stalk. So now I'm completely baffled as it won't enter programming mode I can't see any other options. If anyone has a suggestion, please let me know!
2.
Car phone. It came with some 1996 special mobile phone (please see it in this pic: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/uploa...ar/4374457.jpg) which doesn't turn on and serve no purpose other than to rip the leather on the centre console. I've tried to remove it but the cables go behind the dash and I can't see any way of removing them from there, or at the phone itself (to then tuck the wires away). So I'm stuck with it. Does anyone have any ideas? Could the battery be dead? Is there any way of checking? If it did work I'd be happy to use call forwarding and use it but if not I really need it gone.
3.
Driver seat controls. Passenger's side works fine, and so did the driver's for the first hour of owning the car. However, on driving it home I tried to adjust the seat forward, which worked, then it stopped and now I can't get it to move at all. I read somewhere there is a 2 second limit to how far you can move the seat when driving but I've tried loads of times since with no joy. There was a small noise just before it stopped working. I had a quick look under the seat and couldn't see any wires trapped (which I saw someone on the forum suggested as a solution). Again, if anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
Those are the main issues guys, thanks in advance for any support you can offer. I also have condensation in the one headlight but there seem to be loads of threads on fixing that which I'll take a look at now.
Jake
Senior Member
Hi -
I had exactly the same thing happen to me.
I can almost guarantee you have blown a fuse in the small compartment on the dash near the drivers door - I can't remember the number I'm afraid. If you have power fold mirrors they won't be working either, nor will your drivers side heated seat if you have one.
The small noise was the fuse blowing.
It will more than likely be due to frayed wires under the seat contacting each other - I know you say you checked, but have a look again. They don't need to be jammed anywhere, just look for worn insulation and you can bet that some nasties touched when you moved the seat.
Replace the blown fuse and you should be able to raise the seat up to have a better look at the wires.
Hope this helps, and welcome to ownership!
p.s (pop your model and year in your signature to save people asking when you have a less general problem - I just checked and you do have it in your profile which is good, but a signature is more easily read. You did also state the year and model in your post, for which I slap my own hand!)
I had exactly the same thing happen to me.
I can almost guarantee you have blown a fuse in the small compartment on the dash near the drivers door - I can't remember the number I'm afraid. If you have power fold mirrors they won't be working either, nor will your drivers side heated seat if you have one.
The small noise was the fuse blowing.
It will more than likely be due to frayed wires under the seat contacting each other - I know you say you checked, but have a look again. They don't need to be jammed anywhere, just look for worn insulation and you can bet that some nasties touched when you moved the seat.
Replace the blown fuse and you should be able to raise the seat up to have a better look at the wires.
Hope this helps, and welcome to ownership!
p.s (pop your model and year in your signature to save people asking when you have a less general problem - I just checked and you do have it in your profile which is good, but a signature is more easily read. You did also state the year and model in your post, for which I slap my own hand!)
Member
Hi Jake, it sounds like you bought exactly the same car as me!! With the fob, I tried all the same reprogramming as you did but to no avail. I then sent it off to a guy on ebay who repairs them, in derby I think. If you search jaguar fob repair he should come up but it was for a xj advert not xk8. He replaces the rubber bits inside with proper micro switches and mine worked perfect for just £9, result!! As for my drivers seat, I cant get anywhere with that, I've swapped the control module from the passenger side but still no good, and the drivers side works on the passenger seat, so I also assume its frayed wiring, but I cant move the seat to get to it and cant take the seat out as I cant move it forward to get to the fixings!! Now I've got an issue with the brake lights not working so it looks like I've got to change the pedal switch! Good luck and if that's as bad as it gets then you still have a cracking car!
Senior Member
Hi Jake,
Not sure where abouts in Cornwall you are, but I'm always happy to lend a hand if it's wanted.
I've had my XKR for about 18 months now and the biggest problem I have is keeping it clean whilst driving along very muddy Cornish lanes
Seriously though, I think the key to happy XK8 ownership is keeping on top of any potential problems, regular maintenance, make sure your battery is in good shape and best of all is to drive it and enjoy it!
Andy.
Not sure where abouts in Cornwall you are, but I'm always happy to lend a hand if it's wanted.
I've had my XKR for about 18 months now and the biggest problem I have is keeping it clean whilst driving along very muddy Cornish lanes
Seriously though, I think the key to happy XK8 ownership is keeping on top of any potential problems, regular maintenance, make sure your battery is in good shape and best of all is to drive it and enjoy it!
Andy.