Failsafe engine mode

[sportsman]

Driving home tonight when this came up. Seems to happen when driving very slowly.

It is so frustrating as I really like driving the car but I just can't trust it. I have owned Citroens that were more reliable than this.

I am hoping a scan will reveal what the problem is this time. Unfortunately I don't have a Jaguar dealership within a 4 hour drive.

[simonhirst]

15 hours ago, sportsman said:

Driving home tonight when this came up. Seems to happen when driving very slowly.

It is so frustrating as I really like driving the car but I just can't trust it. I have owned Citroens that were more reliable than this.

I am hoping a scan will reveal what the problem is this time. Unfortunately I don't have a Jaguar dealership within a 4 hour drive.

Hi. This is very frustrating. We had a round of posts on this subject a few months ago.

I've found that a scan does not reveal the problem. One member did have good advice which I followed and have not had the problem since. Whenever you start the car, wait until all the dash lights have gone out except the ones which only go out once the car has been started. Don't know why this works, but it does. If in the mode, stop the car, wait a few minutes and then restart.

Good luck.

[sportsman]

Had to be towed in this morning. Just popped out to the next village to get petrol and the failsafe plus red light came on and engine lost power. Tried all the normal stuff but wouldn't work.

The problem now is that my wife won't travel in the car even as a passenger (if we could get the A/C to work) let alone drive it. I love driving it but I just have no faith in it.

If I could sell it I would but you wouldn't sell it here without A/C and I just don't want to throw any more money at it.

It is a real shame because when it is working right (30 minutes last Wednesday) it is a lovely car.

So far it has cost us 5,500 euros. The AC, sun roof and cruise control still don't work and now the problem with engine failsafe. What will happen next time I try ti o use it?

Hate to say it but it has been the worst car I have ever owned.

I knew I should have bought the Lexus.

[Russ68]

Very bad luck David, sorry to hear of your woes. If you did your own mechanics, it wouldn't be such an issue, but relying on others to fix her, overseas as you are, sounds like it has been an expensive frustration! 

[DRJonesy]

This may or may not help you but I have had a recent issue with my 3.0L V6 2006.  First occurred last March limp mode came on, no handbrake, ABS, Cruise and engine management lights all on.  Cleared itself after an hour or two apart from the EM light which remained on for a while.  I googled it at the time and found two threads of use - one relating to a weak battery and one the throttle position sensor.  I replaced the battery the next day (it needed replacing anyway) and then the car was fine for a few months (don't think this was the fault though read on) until returning from holiday in September and the same thing happened on the M25.  This time I merely wiggled the connecter for the TPS and bingo!  The car started with no warning lights immediately.  The following day, I pulled off and on the connecter about ten times and sprayed it with a liberal application of contact cleaner before refitting.  I then used a high quality silicone grease on the outside of the sensor to repel moisture.  Since then it has not missed a beat.