I have a couple of questions. I have a '98 XK8 coupe with 155,000 miles. Has had exceptional care. I've had it about 2 months. Sometimes( has happened 3 times) I'll be driving along at about 60 mph and the engine just quits. I slip it into neutral, and hit the key and it starts right back up and we're off. Any ideas why it just quits? Also, sometimes it just won't turn over. I sit and play with it for awhile and it will eventually start. Everything else electrical works but the starter. Any ideas? This is my first time posting questions, so if I need to do something differently, please let me know. Also, do the Jaguars take a special engine oil? Do most of you do your own mechanical work?

 

The butterfly valve in the throttle body gets dirty on these cars over time, and the gunk on the edges can restrict the movement of the butterfly in certain conditions, causing a stall (usually at speed!). It's a common issue...search the forum with keywords like stall, butterfly, throttle, etc and you'll see several threads.

Easy fix. Remove the intake tube and thoroughly clean the throat of the throttle body and the butterfly valve...both sides of the valve, with special attention to the edges. You'll see what I'm talking about. Use Throttle Body Cleaner only, and a soft rag. No brushes, just lots of rubbing.

I had the problem several years ago...one cleaning and it's never happened again.

The occasional slow starting could be several things...other guys will chime in.



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when it quits on you when you are driving down the street, sounds like the throttle body. you need another one. When you say you try to start it sometimes and it won't turn over, do you mean it cranks but won't start, or do you mean when you put the key in the ignition switch and turn it over nothing at all happens?

 

drbsmithmd, as for the oil... I use Mobil 1 Full Synthetic oil 5W-30 from WalMart and an OEM filter and oil/drain/sump plug seal off eBay. Oil change on the XK8 is very easy to do.

I think most people on the forum work on their own cars. Two years ago I started by taking the car to Jaguar / Indy's to fix, but now I do most myself. (And we have good local dealers and indy's!) The cost at the dealer/indy is just too high for me to get everything fixed. And around here, no-one wants to touch the XK8, which I personally think is a good thing. These cars are very different than other cars, and in my opinion requires a different type of personality to keep them running. If you are a XK8/XKR owner, you're about there!

This forum is your best resource to fix these cars and to keep them running. The collective knowledge base of the forum is the best!

 

When I put the key in all the lights come on and "System Check" light comes on, but when I turn key to start, nothing, no starter. Then I turn it all the way off and try again. The time it takes to finally turn the starter over seems to be getting longer, but, so far, it eventually has turned over and then it starts immediately.

 

Dr, you could try cleaning the battery connections to start. Make sure you have the radio code before disconnecting. It should be in you paper work, a four digit number.


Wayne

 

You may have a bad connection somewhere in the power or ground circuits, or the ignition switch may be at fault. It would not hurt to check and clean all the connections to the battery and the engine to chassis ground.
There is no radio code for US market cars.

 

I've been reading the threads about cleaning the TB and butterfly which brought up some more questions. What is a " hard reboot or reset"? What kind of code reader should I get for my XK8? Finally, is there a repair manual that you would recommend for working on these beauties?

 

RJ237, Just as information, the four cars I have had an occasion to disconnect the battery, 3 required a code, mine included.
Dr, at the top of this forum is a ton of information on DIY projects and a manual for download.


Wayne