XK8 / XKR ( X100 ) 1996 - 2006

Looking for a Portable Diagnostic Unit (PDU) or WDS or IDS

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Old Jun 19, 2025 | 04:52 PM
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Default Looking for a Portable Diagnostic Unit (PDU) or WDS or IDS

I've got a 2001 XK8 that may have an issue with either the TCM or ECM. Both units seem to have been replaced prior to my purchase. I'm trying to determine if the units that were installed have the correct VCATS information. I've been told in posts on here that I need a PDU, WDS or IDS for this car. I've called the local Jaguar dealerships but none of them work on cars that are "this old" and thus do not have the equipment any longer. A suggestion was made that I submit a post to see if anyone in my local area, Placentia, CA, has one that can read the information on the modules.

Thanks for any help,
Joe
 
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Old Jun 20, 2025 | 07:26 AM
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Joe the Coventry Foundation has placed a WDS in each of the regions of the US. For your area the WDS is in Oceanside and is available to Foundation patrons and JCNA members. If this could help you please contact us via our contact page at coventryfoundation.org.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2025 | 10:09 AM
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I'll give that a try. Thank you very much for the information.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2025 | 01:08 PM
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SDD 166 still works on these other than flashing the ECM which you never have to do. dealer just doesn’t want the headache of an older car.

download sdd from topix find the offline patch get a cheap mongoose jlr off amazon and you’re good to go
 

Last edited by xalty; Jun 20, 2025 at 01:11 PM.
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Old Jun 21, 2025 | 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Coventry Foundation
Joe the Coventry Foundation has placed a WDS in each of the regions of the US. For your area the WDS is in Oceanside and is available to Foundation patrons and JCNA members. If this could help you please contact us via our contact page at coventryfoundation.org.
Coventry,

My internet skills are severely lacking. I can't seem to get to a page that will let me join the organization. I can get to the list of local clubs but when I got to that link I can't seem to find a page to register/join. I'll keep trying but if you have a link to either the Los Angeles or San Diego chapter please let me know.

Joe
 
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Old Jun 21, 2025 | 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by xalty
SDD 166 still works on these other than flashing the ECM which you never have to do. dealer just doesn’t want the headache of an older car.

download sdd from topix find the offline patch get a cheap mongoose jlr off amazon and you’re good to go
Hi Xalty,
Thank you for the information. Unfortunately for me I'm stuck in the carburetor/spark plug dark ages and am completely unfamiliar with computerized car parts so forgive my ignorance and what might be simple questions.
From what I can research the SDD 166 is a software program that I can download to a laptop computer. I'm thinking I can accomplish that part. I am, however, not familiar with the term "flashing the ECM". I'm guessing this does not involve the purchase of a trench coat but some computer device. Also, in searching for the "mongoose jlr" I'm finding numerous ones with software. Is this software the same as the SDD 166? Where does the cable plug into on the car? It does not look like it is the same connection as the OBD2.

Again, sorry for the questions but I'm getting very frustrated trying to find out if this car is going to ever work or if I bought a piece of lawn art.
Joe
 
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Old Jun 21, 2025 | 03:30 PM
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So when I go to the jlr-topix.com website my virus blocker software sends me a message that it is a "deceptive website" and "Firefox blocked this page because it may trick you into doing something dangerous like installing software or revealing personal information like passwords or credit cards." as well as "jlr-topix.com has been reported as a deceptive site. You can report a detection problem or ignore the risk and go to this unsafe site."

Is this the site I should go to in order to purchase the software/cable etc.?
 
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 04:11 AM
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Hi Joe

That is a non-genuine (Fake/Scam) topix site - the one you want is Jaguar official Topix
But you should not need to go to Topix, the software you receive with the JLR mongoose cable should be able to do what you want to.
 

Last edited by Stumpy; Jun 22, 2025 at 04:17 AM. Reason: further info
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 05:18 AM
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Originally Posted by OCJoeR
Coventry,

My internet skills are severely lacking. I can't seem to get to a page that will let me join the organization. I can get to the list of local clubs but when I got to that link I can't seem to find a page to register/join. I'll keep trying but if you have a link to either the Los Angeles or San Diego chapter please let me know.

Joe
Joe, if you go to the JCNA main page, click the link for affiliate sites, then find the Ca chapter closest to you. Click that link, which will bring up the chapter's page and they should have a link for new member sign up. The other option is join via the Membership at Large link

If you wish to join the Coventry foundation - here is the link
https://coventryfoundation.org/donate/

 
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Stumpy
Hi Joe

That is a non-genuine (Fake/Scam) topix site - the one you want is Jaguar official Topix
But you should not need to go to Topix, the software you receive with the JLR mongoose cable should be able to do what you want to.
Hi Derek,
Thank you for the information. Is there a particular site to purchase the mongoose cable package? I went to https://www.jlridssddmongoose.com/ and contacted them about a package for my 2001 XK8. I received an email back this morning stating that my car is "not supported".. Any suggestions?
Joe
 
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by sklimii
Joe, if you go to the JCNA main page, click the link for affiliate sites, then find the Ca chapter closest to you. Click that link, which will bring up the chapter's page and they should have a link for new member sign up. The other option is join via the Membership at Large link

If you wish to join the Coventry foundation - here is the link
https://coventryfoundation.org/donate/
When I go to jcna.com site there is a box on the right that has a "register" link. When I click on that it takes me to another page with some information and 2 buttons, one to "Affiliate Club List" and another for "Membership at Large". When I click on the Affiliate Club List it takes me to a page with a list of officers on the right but nothing else to allow me to register or set up an account. I'll just call one of the officer's numbers some time and see if they can let me know how to do this.

Thanks for trying but I think I'm beyond help with all this interweb stuff,
Joe
 
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 11:15 AM
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@OCJoeR which affiliate club are you trying to join - I may have a link in my archives.
 
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 11:26 AM
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Thank you. The Los Angeles club seems like the closest to me.
 
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 11:31 AM
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@OCJoeR - looking at the California affiliates and proximity to Orange County Ca, looks like the Los Alamitos club would be best for you - here is their link. If you need a different one, let me know.

https://joc.clubexpress.com/content....club_id=355756
 
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 11:45 AM
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That's the one I've been trying to register for. It appears I've done something very wrong when I initially entered my information because now it won't even send me anything when I click on "lost login or password". I've sent an email to the President, Mark Mayuga. I'll see if I get a call from anyone.

As I sit here in my office looking out the window at the car with the big red sticker in the window with the expired registration extension I'm getting more and more frustrated. I think I'm going to wash it, put the cover on it and forget about it until we get back from our vacation week after next. People have told me I need to down load some kind of software but I can't find it. Then I need some sort of mongoose cable but JLR has told me my car isn't supported. I've owned dozens of cars in my 77 years but this is beyond a doubt the most frustrating one. The car itself seems to be fine. It's computer system on the other hand is enough to make me wish I hadn't sold my '40 Chevy truck.
Joe
 
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 11:58 AM
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Hello joe

contact sundwrenched autowerks in mission viejo. They come up on a google search. They are very helpful and work on our cars. I have called them a few times for help. Tell them what you have and are dealing with. Worth the call. Or even go there in person
 
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 12:44 PM
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Hi Scott,

I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Joe
 
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Old Jun 22, 2025 | 01:28 PM
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The guy i bought my car used them. That is how i know about them. The owner was top mechanic at a jaguar dealership. I sent my friend there after 2 jlr dealers said he needed new engine in wifes range rovet. They diagnosed themselves and for 1400 dollars fixed it perfect
 
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Old Jun 24, 2025 | 08:50 AM
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Originally Posted by scottjh9
The guy i bought my car used them. That is how i know about them. The owner was top mechanic at a jaguar dealership. I sent my friend there after 2 jlr dealers said he needed new engine in wifes range rovet. They diagnosed themselves and for 1400 dollars fixed it perfect
Hi Scott,
I spoke to Chris over at Sundwrenched yesterday. I went over what's going on with my XK and he suggested I change out the upstream O2 sensors before bringing it to him. He also said the he's dealt with this issue of the CAT monitors not resetting a number of times and it sometimes requires numerous trips up and down Santiago Canyon or Trabuco Canyon roads to get the thing to reset and even then it sometimes doesn't. He said that he just doesn't have the time to do that and if he did he'd have to charge me a ton of money for all the time he'd have to spend driving the car. He did say he has the equipment to check the ECM and TCM to make sure they matched the car's VIN and VCATS. He said he could also recommend someone he uses to reprogram the ECM. I'm going to hold off until we get back from vacation next week and the see if I can just take the ECM out and bring it to the guy who can program the correct information into it and see how much that costs and then see if that solves the CAT monitor issue. I don't know if I'm going to spend $800-$1,000 for new upstream O2 sensors and then go through everything I'm reading I have to do to install them.

Thanks for the info,
Joe
 
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