Yesterday I got the Stability Control Fail message and the ABS light on. Does these mean I have to clean the speed sensors or there is something else to check?

 

Felipe,

There are several things that can cause this, and more than a few threads laying out all of these and their fixes. But one thing to note going in is ... when do you get the ABS light?

If it happens before the car starts to move, that's not dirty sensors. The dirty sensor thing causes the wheels to appear (to the ABS module) to be turning at different speeds. That condition can't occur of course until the car is moving.

A search on "ABS light" brings up lots of history on this.

Good luck.

 

Our car came to us with both lights on. I tried to clean the sensors and checked each wire for a proper reading, lots of posts here about that. In the end I sent the module off to a guy on eBay who repaired It for a little bit over $50 and it was back in about a week. I was just guessing at that point and it fixed my troubles. A guy I know who is a tech told me many ABS modules fail just like this. There are threads about fixing it yourself, but I decided to let someone who knows what he's doing take care if it for such a minimal investment.

 

I think with the heat and all the vibration with age the connections just break in the control box/computer. I've been told they just need to be re-soldered..

 

+1

Felipe,

Time to get yourself a Code Reader or Scantool.

It will tell why the warning lights have been triggered and takes most of the the guesswork out of this kind of troubleshooting.

Graham

 

the 3 main causes,
1. weak battery
2. dirty wheels speed sensor
3. ABS pump control board solder joints.

 

Be sure any scan tool can read the Jaguar ABS system, most do not support Jaguar. A trip to the dealer can answer your question, but at a typically high cost.

 

Your car is a 1997 and I am sure that this check list for a 1999 car will help JagRepair.com - ABSModuleRepairs
I hope this helps take the guess work out of the equation.

 

Today I took a ride for about 45 minutes and neither the ABS light nor the Stability Control Fail message showed.

 

Have you had your battery load tested? These cars are reliant on a good and healthy battery with good voltage. If the battery is good check the connections.

 

Cleaned the speed sensors, lights still come on. Change the battery, the same. Finally the ABS module? Any other check before removing and opening the module?

 

If you had cleaned all your connections and all your testing was good then I would venture to say the module is next on the list. You have no easy way to identify the problem aside from taking it to Jaguar

 

One other thing I'd check before getting into the module: the wiring to the front sensors. You can get an intermittent open circuit here, which would produce pretty much your symptoms.

This is checked by way of the resistance test, mentioned in a bunch of threads here. It's important to turn the steering lock to lock, or wiggle the wiring near the front sensors, while watching for a change in resistance.

If no joy here, then it's on to the module.

Good luck.

 

Felipe Pr;
In addition to supporting what has already been said, check the brake fluid level in your brake reservoir, making sure that it is filled to the max. level. It contains a fluid level moniter and provides input/output to the ABS/Traction Control Module.
My 2 cents for what its worth?

 

Good point!

 

Careful going to Jag for the scan - even though almost nobody else can read the ABS. They told me it was "almost certainly" the front left ABS sensor cable. I had already cleaned all my ABS sensors. So I ordered the cable and it didnt help. It turned out to be the ABS module - $40 repair on EBay.

 

If you use the chart on my page to test all the leads and connections your battery is good and you have brake fluid and your light is on all the time I would venture to say the module is the problem. Note; readings may vary by MY car.

 

where is the abs module located in a 1998 xjs

 

This is a technical guide for a XJS 1995.25/96 not for you’re 1998 but it might help.
Link http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Auto...6%20update.pdf

 

Welcome to the forum Winston,

Please follow this link New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the New member Area - Intro a MUST section and post an introduction about yourself and your XJS to all the members.

You'll get some useful advice on where to post tech questions like this.

Graham