Well the gremlin has returned, Restricted performance with orange and red light, this time staying on with the car threatening to cut out completely. It's predictably after the car has been driven then parked up in the heat of the sun, we leave it an hour or so, come back and then drive, after a few minutes, the engine goes in to restricted mode with either orange and red lights, or just the red. This time it stayed on, I continued on gently, after a few miles, the engine started to falter, not like a misfire, more like it was going to stall completely. I stopped, parked up in the shade and popped the bonnet. The ignition relay was very hot, so I swapped it for a different one, after a ten minute wait, the car started back up, no warning lights or messages and drove normally the 15 or so miles back to our base. When the car had cooled a little, I felt the relay's again, the ignition relay was once again very hot, not melting or arcing at the contacts, just hot. I've taken the coil covers off to let the coils cool better, but I would really like to pull the fault codes. Does anyone know of a Jaguar friendly mobile mechanic in the region of Bauduen, Var Provence, Aups in the South of France. Or an independent garage in the region that would be able to pull the codes?

 

You might be better off posting in the regional section of the forum or even this thread:-

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/e...france-177063/

Amazon.fr will sell you a suitable OBD reader:-

https://www.amazon.fr/s/ref=nb_sb_no...d-keywords=obd

 

Not so close, but I know the guy who is running the shop and he is passionate about these cars:
XJ Cars, https://fr-fr.facebook.com/thiersphilippe/

Agree with Dibbit to have a code reader, it can be many things not performing well that could cause this (ie MAF, Fuel delivery etc etc.), and possible codes could point you in the right direction.

 

..... it could simply be E10 fuel in a '98MY setup for a minimum of 95 RON unleaded.

Whatever the cause, a code reader is an essential starting point in troubleshooting.

Graham

 

They would probably have a code reader here ........

https://centres.norauto.fr/centre/digne-les-bains/293

 

Haha, been there with the MR2Turbo. Won't be repeating that one in a hurry.

 

Digne is on my route home, so this is a possibility.

 

Lyon is also on route, so worst case scenario, could have the ADAC take me there.

 

Tried to buy one of these but Amazon won't accept the French address of where we're staying.

 

We only have until Wednesday here now then we're off home. I've taken the covers off the coils and relay/fuse box, the car seems fine when it's not super hot or its on the move at a good regular speed. My hunch is that I have something electrical, breaking down and malfunctioning after the car is left and under the bonnet gets super hot. (Temperature is in the 30's now and the bonnet and boot are like furnaces) We're only using the car for short excursions round the lake now and will take the most direct route home avoiding anymore mountain climbing. Fingers crossed, we'll see how it goes. From now on though, I will carry my code reader. (This laptop has scan reader installed but I didn't bring the interface)

 

Just 2 hours from Calais now for the last overnighter, then we're back in Blighty. No more restricted performance or Engine management lights in the last 1000 kms, another old favorite has raised it's ugly head though; two 70mph stalls when I took my foot off the throttle for a bit, once when it was just coming of choke, and the second time when I just slowed down a bit. As long as we get home though, I'll be happy. One very strange thing I've discovered, the Jag always seems to be in the wrong gear especially when cruising, so my wife and I decided to count the gear changes out of every peage. Six? Definitely six. How can that be? it's a 1998 4.0L Yes it had a replacement box fitted in 2012, but does a six speed even fit the 1998 XK8? I guess I know now why my J gate doesn't work (It's a five speed)

 

Made it home safe and sound and under our own steam.