Is there another port to read codes from other than the one under the steering wheel? I seem to recall years ago hearing of a second one in the trunk. Anyone know?
I need a smog test and the OBD port is wet with hydraulic fluid and keeps throwing up spurious codes when I connect the reader so the smog test guy wont be happy!

 

No Allan, it's the only port i know of.

I bet you can clean it out.

Disconnect battery.
If you can contain the wash, try squirt of brake cleaner. Odds are that you don't have access to some good electronics / flux cleaner (and that excludes anything from radio shack) that's why I thought of the brake cleaner.

Brainstorming: do you have a compressor? Assuming the hydraulic fluid will not dry, would a carefully aimed squirt of 100psi air clear things out?

Hey don't forget the old saying: "Like dissolves like". IOW things of the same type of substance dissolve each other. [Sidebar: I'll never forget the time I patched my Grandpa's roof with roof tar. I was frustrated, that stuff got all over everything including my watch. I was ready to throw it out when Grandpa looked at me and said "go down to the kitchen, grab vegetable oil and rub it into the tar."

"Yeah right" I thought, he's getting old. This stuff was caked on. But wth, I smiled and gave it a shot. Oh boy was I surprised- he was right. The vegetable oil dissolves and completely removed the "oil" based tar. All was like new in seconds. File that trick away if you get into roof tar.]

On that note let me pass the discussion to our resident chemists - any common products that'll dissolve and clear hydraulic fluid? WD40?

John

 

I think electronic cleaner will work fine.

 

2 of the pins 16 and 9 is power to the device and the fuses are at :

# 8 / 5 amp and # 16 / 5 amp Driver Side fuse box for X100

 

Is the fluid just a leftover from a green shower? I hope that’s been addressed as there shouldn’t be fluid down there (as you know).

Best!

 

Good point about the fluid being "leftover". I will check the fluid level. I recall the reservoir being in the trunk but can't remember how to get to it. Is it accessible after the battery cover is removed or more complicated?

 

Alan, it's behind the panel on the right side after you take the battery tray out, Right above the radio and amp shelf.

Wayne

 

I'm always happy to learn something (and regularly do on the forum) but the XK8 doesn't have a battery tray. Also the RH luggage compartment trim panel is above the battery and can be removed without taking the battery out.



Please post a photo of this second diagnostic port you've found because I've never spotted it.

Graham

 

Graham,

I think Wayne meant the battery cover, not the battery tray....

 

In the US, most Home Depot stores have electronic contact cleaner in stock https://www.homedepot.com/p/CRC-QD-1...30-6/202262505

 

You are probably thinking of the optional power (cigar lighter) port. There was a kit available from Jaguar.

The other possibility is that your master cylinder is somehow leaking. You should be able to check the brake fluid level in the clear reservoir above it (lift the driver side bin lid in the engine compartment). Be triple sure the fluid is not touching any painted surfaces!

 

Hmm I didn't think of the master cylinder, thanks I will check that too! Would it normally throw up a warning light or only when the level gets dangerously low?
Also once I get the OBD clean enough to use is there any harm in leaving the code reader plugged in until after the smog has been done? (Just think it may help to keep the pins from getting contaminated again)

 

GGG, That was a unexpected facetious remark. The battery/spare tire cover (tray) covers the lower edge of the carpeted edge on my XK8 for that side panel and is much easier to extract and replace if the cover is out of the way.
Wayne

 

Wayne,

Leaving aside my observation on battery tray and trim panel, the main purpose of my post was the SECOND DIAGNOSTIC PORT which I have never seen. Do you have a photo?

Graham

 

Graham, he asked for the position of the convertible top pump, I hope I was able to give him some direction. Enough of that.
Wayne

 

Thank you to all for the constructive comments. Is it possible to pop the OBD connector out but still leave it connected so it's a "pigtail" in effect? It would be easier to access for cleaning, at least until the smog is done.

 

Cant think of a really use for a diagnostics port in the boot as there's nothing of any note in there, under the bonnet maybe , but the boot? nah

 

Amazon sells all sorts of ODB2 port extensions. It’s not unheard of to keep a dongle connected— there are a host of products that ask you to do that (Insurance snapshots, phone apps, trackers, etc...).