Persistent error messages

[D_Doran]

Alan,

My problems were never located, but the garage which will be doing my servicing in the next few weeks have just got a new diagnostics kit which they think will be able to trace old error messages. (Currently the error has to be still showing after youy switch off the engine, connect the diagnostic computer, and then switch back on again).

My other intermittent error warning is the Drivers Airbag light on from time to time.

I'll let you know if it gets sussed.

Damian

[mike020150]

Alan,
The traction control and ABS both use the ABS sensors for their basic wheel speed data. Hence, there are plenty of opportunities for their error messages to be flagged either as a result of poor connections or failures of wheel sensors. Sometimes damp conditions seem to trigger the messages, particularly when the sensors are on the limit of their range due to physical damage or even excess hub bearing movements. Mike.

[alanXK8]

Thanks to Damian and Mike for the latest replies. It does sound as thought the wheel sensors are the next thing to look at.

Having just got the latest edition of the JEC magazine I am wondering whether to submit a short article on this problem to the XK8 Forum as it does seem to be an XK8 thing. Unfortunately it also appears that most main agents can't get past first base in tracking it down.

Maybe we could even get David Marks to do a feature piece on this kind of fault finding? I'd gladly submit my car as the guinea pig!

Alan, Farnham, Surrey

[mike020150]

Hi Alan, It will be interesting to hear the outcome of your visit to Dave Marks today. Mike.

[alanXK8]

Hi Mike,

I got my local dealer to do a computer check for fault messages and they came up with 1095, but I didn't get the prefix letter. Although they offered to investigate I phoned Dave Marks who felt pretty confident, from what I told him, that the fault would lie in the BCM box. This is what the dealer thought as well, but apparently they cost £800 + to replace.

Dave fitted me in at very short notice so I left Surrey at 4.30am on a trip to Nottingham. There, Dave opened the BCM and spotted a couple of cracked solder joint on the pcb board. He then re-silvered them and sealed the box up again to keep it water tight. The computer check then showed no faults. It is quite a specialist piece of work and not something I would reccomend other people to try for themselves unless they are pretty experienced.

So far.....the messages have not reappeared, but of course it is early days yet. I am hopeful that this was the source of the problem., but I guess only time will tell.

Incidentally I had already cleaned out all the ABS wheel sensor connectors, and that hadn't stopped the messages coming back.

So it's fingers crossed!!

Alan

[alanXK8]

Hi Mike,

I got my local dealer to do a computer check for fault messages and they came up with 1095, but I didn't get the prefix letter. Although they offered to investigate I phoned Dave Marks who felt pretty confident, from what I told him, that the fault would lie in the BCM box. This is what the dealer thought as well, but apparently they cost £800 + to replace.

Dave fitted me in at very short notice so I left Surrey at 4.30am on a trip to Nottingham. There, Dave opened the BCM and spotted a couple of cracked solder joint on the pcb board. He then re-silvered them and sealed the box up again to keep it water tight. The computer check then showed no faults. It is quite a specialist piece of work and not something I would reccomend other people to try for themselves unless they are pretty experienced.

So far.....the messages have not reappeared, but of course it is early days yet. I am hopeful that this was the source of the problem., but I guess only time will tell.

Incidentally I had already cleaned out all the ABS wheel sensor connectors, and that hadn't stopped the messages coming back.

So it's fingers crossed!!

Alan

[mike020150]

Hi Alan, Well the trip to Trier should give the car a good test. Another gold medal for Dave Marks and his electronic diagnostic skills! Mike.

[franck]

Hi sir,

Firstable i introduce myself, I am Franck from France I own several Jag (420,E type, XJS and XJR-s) and have bought recently a convertible XK8 1997.

About: "ASC Not Available" and "TRAC Not Available" with associated ABS warning light on, I think having found how to resolve this problem and thank you very much to the french XK8 forum

http://xk8forum.actifforum.com/portal.forum

I had this problem, and in this site some members had this problem, and to resolve it; only change the battery which is to old.

To see if it was the battery, I have plugged a battery charger on the battery (without disconnect it) and check in turning the kee (do not start the engine) and all fault indicators had desappeared.

So before to spend more and more money, check the battery first.

[Nik]

Hi Francki ,
Welcome to the forum , Yes you are correct , many , many problems with XK electrics can be traced to a defective battery or one that is low on charge , happened to me when I first purchased my car and the body processor would "forget " the window memory , replace the battery and problem solved ,

Best Wishes ,

Nik

[alanXK8]

Hi Franki, and thanks for the message.
Its always wise to look for the easy possibilities first so the battery is a good starting point. But I had mine checked and that was not the problem. Neither was the ABS sensor points on each of the 4 wheel hubs.
In my case it does seem to have been something more basic involving cracked solder joints in the Brake Control Module, which really requires expert attention unless you are very brave.
These faulty messages are a real pain in the a** and cause a lot of frustration, so it is really a case of eliminating one possibility and going on to the next. Unfortunately I don't think there is just one magic solution for all the people who have had a similar symptom.

[D_Doran]

Looks like my problem has finally been traced to the hydraulic pump for the ABS about to fail. Waiting to get a price from a company over on the mainland which repairs/reconditions the pumps. *gulp* worried!!!

[alanXK8]

Damien,

Its worth asking whether the ABS pump you refer to is the same thing as the "BCM" which is a black box in the LHS front wing and is an electro mechanical thing with valves and a circuit board that works the ABS.

If it is, then your fault could be the same as mine, cracked solder joints. A new box is about £800 but they can be fixed by someone who knows what they are doing. That might be £150, so its worth checking that route out first.

Best wishes
Alan

[D_Doran]

Alan, thanks for that. It is that black box you are talking about. I will look into the soldering option before spending that amount of money! I know they are expensive, but aparently there is a company which offers refurbished/reconditioned parts as a back-up.

Cheers, Damian

[555ttg]

I have just bought my wife a 1997 XK8 convertible, and, although I distrust dealerships with a passion, thought it prudent to get the diagnostics done on the car, as several codes were showing.

The main problem, which seems to be the jist of this thread, is the ABS module, part # LJA2210AH

This problem, is an absolute winner as far as the dealers are concerned, as it creates a revenue stream, equal or greater than, the profit on several sales of NEW cars!

The dealer in my case, tested the unit, came up with code CA(?)1095, checked all other functions, and everything pointed back to the ABS module. In Canada, the dealer's price is about £1500.00 plus another £1000.00 to diagnose, remove, refit and re-map.

These modules, are programmed to each individual car, so any replacements, have to be re-mapped, to work in your particular car, hence the exhorbitant costs!

I am a Jagman of long standing, and refused to be held to ransom, by my lack of knowledge of the 'modern' cars, so after a few sleepless nights, researching and searching on the internet, I have found a rebuilder, of these, and other, modules, in the US. The cost????? US$110.00 plus 2 way shipping, turnaround, 1-2 days, warranty???? LIFETIME REPLACEMENT!!!!

Imagine the dealer's surprise, when I explained that I would be sending my unit off to be rebuilt with a LIFETIME warranty against defective workmanship/materials, for 1/50th of their quote!!!!

I also, during my research, I discovered the correct transmission oil, (dealers state only use ESSO LT71141 @ $75.00/litre), for only $4.99/litre locally!!! (I intend to get the transmission serviced as a precaution, while the other work is being carried out). Finally, on the subject of excessive dealership/manufacturer mark-up, I also found the 'new' hydraulic fluid, recommended for the convertible top pumps, locally, PENTOSIN CHF 11S,
instead of paying the dealership $110.00/litre, I got it for $22.00/litre!!

So as a newbie to the XK8 forum, I hope I can help fellow XK8 owners, with the results of my sleepless nights!!!!

[alanXK8]

Hi to "Welshman" and thanks for the new information. I don't know the extent to which these BCM problems are MAINLY soldering problems on the board (which can be fixed), or require something more extensive, like a re-build.

When I took mine to David Marks (in Nottingham) he was very confident that it was just the solder, and he does have a lot of experience with them. That might be easier than sending your box to the USA for a rebuild, but then maybe your problem is different!

AlanXK8