Well, my experiements with this issue are over for now. Traded the XK8 in for an 09 XKR. On a final note, onced the micro switch was replaced, I never had the "no start" problem. Replacing the switch was very inexpensive, I think around $54. So i'd definately recommend trying that before looking for neutral safety switches or anything else. Back a few posts I detailed the repairs made, and as strange as it seems the micro switch seemed to fix the problem. Good luck all. Still interested if someone comes up with a better answer/solution.

 

What micro switch did you replace?

 

Hey there Gus.

The micro switch I replaced is part of the neutral safety switch. I can't remember the exact name, but I think it was the "park" switch. Again, this is a somewhat iffy fix because I had originally replaced the entire neutral safety switch and the problem stopped for almost six months. When it didn't start again we took a shot and changed the micro switch and lo and behold no problems after that in well over a hundred starts. Either my original neutral safety switch and/or micro switch was bad AND the micro switch on the replacement neutral safety switch had to fail, which seems like a long shot. I would only recommend trying this because the micro switch was so inexpensive, especially compared to an entire new neutral safety switch. Hope this helps!

Thanks, Todd

 

I have the exact same make year & model with the SAME EXACTLY PROBLEM. Same displays you are getting. Same frequency of occurence. Have you figured it out??? I`ve been having this problem for 3 years on & off. My email address is: clubhouse2@comcast.net

 

I hope this works, I think it will because my cars problem was identical,same exact codes,same read outs. Thanks so much for the info!!!!

Pat

 

Hey tspinosi
I just bought a 2000 XJ8 with 62000 miles on it, and second time I took it to work to show it off, I had to get my wife to pick me up...same codes, same problem..mine seems to be related to heat and humility....no matter what I do it starts right up the next morning...I had the reader or exciter ring replaced and for several days it worked great. Then yesterday and today it did the same thing only today it did your 15 minute thing...I'm looking and will keep results posted.

 

Same no start problem on my '98 XK8 with no codes. Seems the starter is bad. Having it replaced now.

 

I fought this very same problem, replaced the battery and has not happened since, 8 months now.

 

I dont think the starter will help,, just keep a battery maintainer on , the battery must not be at full charge and it conserves energy,, giving you the 15 minutes to recharge somewhat....or get a new battery and keep a maintainer on it.

 

Good morning..It's been awhile since I logged on...This starting problem is very strange my 2000 xj8 does the same thing you all have written about...No start, no codes, mine would let me log into computer, 24hrs later in would start as if nothing had ever happened....One evening, about 11:00 pm, it wouldn't start so I could go home..out of sure anger I rapidly turn the ignition switch on and off several times and it started right up...and since then, a couple months, it has happen again but each time the same thing makes it start...something else strange that happens off and on...I'll have two light in the rear that don't come on, but by the time get to where I'm going they will be back to working....

 

The original problem was caused by the failure of the not-in-park microswitch which is attached to a sideplate on the shifter body. I had to replace this on my X300 and the
XK8 uses a lot of X300 parts including the shifter. This switch tells the computers that the shifter is either in park or not. It fails by getting sporadic at first. If you jiggle the shifter in and out of the park slot, sometimes the switch will work again for awhile. It does eventuyally quit and need replacement.