Advice on Fault messages please.

[anaw]

I've just bought a 2006 XK8 with 5,603 miles on the clock and NINE Jaguar services in the book. I know that telling this will not win me any friends ! My other 1996 one was the pride of my life but this new one is something else.

HOWEVER ! After a great 350 mile run home ( probably further and faster than she had ever been in one day ), I thought that I detected a slight lumpiness in the engine when I engaged reverse, and as the hood was going up the driver information panel lit up with a series of red and yellow faults before settling on red and yellow triangles and the message, engine system fault.

I have a full years Jaguar Warranty but the nearest Jaguar dealer is 40 miles away.

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated even if it is addressed to "lucky sod".

With thanks - Tony, B8 JXK

[davidr]

Tony - your car sounds like an incredible find. Congratulations and well done! (You lucky sod!)
The first thing I'd look into is the battery. If it's the original it could well be 10 years old and has obviously had very little exercise. This may have reduced it's capacity to hold a charge well.
Modern vehicle electronics are extremely sensitive to voltage drops and will start throwing out spurious error messages if there's even a slight drop below the optimum voltage.
Hope that helps
David

[mike020150]

David is right about the battery being the number one suspect in these circumstances. However, if borrowing a known good one or replacing it doesn't effect a cure, the next step is to have the stored codes read. There are lots of simple relatively cheap options for reading the generic fault codes so, these days, many keen enthusiasts have the kit. Why not try asking for help at your regional meeting? Failing that, you will need to have the codes read professionally. Limp home mode is just that so don't be tempted to keep driving the car with a dashboard full of lights. It could make a simple fault worse and more expensive to correct. Mike.

[anaw]

Many thanks gents, what a great club ! I shall get to it. - Tony.

[anaw]

You were spot on with your diagnosis gents. I disconnected the battery, put it on trickle charge for 8 hours then called Jaguar Assist. A knowledgeable AA patrolman was with me inside half an hour, the engine was fired up and the computers checked. No faults found.

I'll have to take her for a long top down test drive today, just to be sure ( or somethin' ).

Very many thanks again. - Tony.

[mike020150]

It's a lovely bright sunny morning ideal for a top down drive. Enjoy it! Mike.