Total Circuit Failure

[RAJ]

It looks like I've joined the Jaguar Electric fault club after only two week.

On my way to the Barnsley Classic Car and Bike Rally yesterday, full of pride of ownership. dressed to kill in my polka dot Cravat and Panama.
Hood down, well the sun was shining.

Ignition on, allow for system check. fire up allow engine to settle back to tick over, off we go.

Reverse out of drive, forward about 100 metres. Engine dies. I'm not quite sure if at first it wouldn't come out of gear or it was me panicking to get it to restart.

Anyway it did eventually restart, everything fine so off again. Out of our estate onto the main road, again engine failure. No traffic around I managed to coast across the carriageway onto a shop frontage. Give it a couple of minutes, fired up again. So I'll try again and call for a newspaper. Stop, start no problem, hole in the wall stop start no problem.
Off to Barnsley, I've got my AA card.
Get to Barnsley about ten mile, traffic lights, again failure. T,lights at green so hazards on, try again, o/k. Through lights about 100 metres, again failed.
Trying to puzzle things out I took the ignition key out pressed the lock unlock buttons, o/k it fired up again.
I managed it to Cannon Hall. Had a great day. Loads of people commenting on my car and taking photo's.
What about getting home in all that traffic? I decided to leave early, just in case. Drove home as sweet as a nut.
But the radio is dead? So on at least one occasion it must have been a complete electrical failure.
I've yet to re code it.

On all the cars I've had the only one that had a similar problem was a BL Montego.
This is very disappointing, I know I saved about £4000 on the dealer price, buying private. But still, very disappointing.

I have to take my wife to Hospital Wednesday, I daren't take her in the Jag.

Ray

[mike020150]

On a car that you've just acquired and know little of its history, don't rule out the simplest of issues, like a failing battery or corrsion on the battery terminals. The electrics are complex but these cars are extremely sensitive to voltage drops which produce a myriad of spurious signals and weird symptoms. Either borrow a known near new battery and try it or get a local garage to do a drop test on your car's battery. Anything less than near new performance and it's worth replacing the battery just to eliminate it. Mike.

[RAJ]

Many thanks for your early reply Mike.

I've just been out in it and it's puuuurrrfect again

Your mention of spurious and weird symptoms sounds about right. But the guy I got it off assured me he had replaced the battery not long ago.

However, one of the symptoms I've noticed that could be related.

I understand with the convertible, the door windows drop a little when opening the door. Then return automatically on closing. Recently the windows were dropping on opening but not returning. they just kept on dropping every time I opened the door. I would return them via the window switch.
This has sorted itself out as well as, the windows drop a little and return automatic again.

The vehicle has been off the road since February.

There is a none franchised Jaguar garage in Snaith near Goole, not far from me. The gentleman has an enormous reputation in our area. I'll probably take it along and let him to check it out.

Oh, I re-coded the radio and that's o/k now

Ray

[MarkyM]

Well the recode indicates that you lost power, either your battery connections aren't right or else the battery is on it's way out.

Unless you have a receipt that says the battery was changed in the last two years then it's the most likley suspect. go for a type 19 (and not 170 as the 19 has a higher cranking amp. I paid £63 inc from my local battery specialist (who fitted it) so less than a third the price of a main stealer.

Also if the purchaser was a dealer of sorts it's more likley he used a better battery from another car as opposed to having to pay out for a brand new one (it keeps the costs down)

Mark

[RAJ]

Running as sweet as a nut.

Haven't had the battery tested but it looks like it's just come off the shelf.

Followed the instructions in the owners handbook. Windows doing what they should.

Ray

[RAJ]

Last Wednesday evening on a run out, flicked on the main beam, again total failure including lights So I decided to get my electrics checked out.

Result,
Yep Marky and Mike, the diagnostic showed the battery on it's last legs. I found the receipt for it. The previous owner had put a new one on, in 2002

A wiring fault for the headlamps and the crankshaft sensor faulty.

Also the key fob battery on it's way out. I've replaced the one in the spare and got another for the one with the car.

Haven't got the bill yet But I'll be happy knowing it's sorted and I can get on with my enjoyment in it.

Ray

[RAJ]

Result,
Yep Marky and Mike, the diagnostic showed the battery on it's last legs. I found the receipt for it. The previous owner had put a new one on, in 2002

Ray
Whups my mistake it was new September last year. I contacted the supplier - Hatfield's Jaguar Wakefield - it is still under warranty and they will honour it.

Ray

[mike020150]

Hope that little lot cracks the problem. Keep smiling. Mike.

[RAJ]

Appleyards tested the battery and said it was o/k so no replacement.

Collected my car, new crankshaft sensor and earth fault on the lights fixed. Drove home no problems.

Next day, thinks to myself I should have tried the lights while at the garage, D'oh!
I started the car lights on o/k, main beam o/k. Switch lights off, engine cuts out

I restarted, same again.

Nice day so wash the car, hood down posing through the village get some fuel and back to the garage to complain.

About half way there on a piece of straight road I pull over and check the lights again, no problems.

So I carry on and check the lights under power, a slight hesitation but then o/k.

Through another village another piece of straight, tried them again everything o/k.

How can I take it back if there's nothing wrong

Had a load of fun driving back home

Tonight started engine and checked the lights, everything o/k

Here's hoping

Ray

[MarkyM]

Fingers crossed.

As to the keyfob problem did you open that up and replace the batteries and clean the contacts with some electrica contact cleaner?

I had one of mine that refused to work and after a little cleaning locks and unlocks the car from 40 feet away

Mark

[RAJ]

Fingers crossed.

As to the keyfob problem did you open that up and replace the batteries and clean the contacts with some electrica contact cleaner?

I had one of mine that refused to work and after a little cleaning locks and unlocks the car from 40 feet away

Mark
That's a good Idea Mark, when you think of all a key fob has to go through.
But I thought there was a time limit on opening and closing. I'll check in my manual if not I'll do that.

Ray

[MarkyM]

I did rush through it a bit, but reprogramming isn't too difficult if it looses its code (a few posts on here how to do it).

M

[D_Doran]

Reprogramming is a piece of p!ss! 5 seconds per keyfob!