Jaguar XF 3.0d cutting out

[Ryan26]

Posting this for my dad. We have a 2011 Jaguar XF 3.0d which randomly cuts out when driving. It will start up again fine and runs perfectly, but then the rpm will drop and will cut out. This happened a few months ago but fixed itself. There are no warning lights, limp mode etc. The only issue with the car is the fuel gauge is not working, permanently showing empty. Hasn’t been run low on fuel either, and currently has almost a full tank with this issue. 

We are thinking fuel filter, but does anyone have any idea what this may be before taking it to a garage.

Thanks 

 

 

[PaulT]

Try changing the fuel filter before taking it to a garage. A partially blocked fuel filter can also make the car go in yo RP - Restricted Performance - causing the car to be very under-powered.

[Coolcity]

We had a VW transporter van for our business years ago, and we had a similar problem. We went to several garages including 3 main dealers over 7 months trying to fix it. Almost all of them tinkered with the timing, to the point that it was so far out of place we couldn't get it to run at all in the end. Then a mate of mine decided to take the fuel tank off. In there we found a tiny piece of foil, we think the inner part of a cap seal from Redex or something like that, that every so often would be sucked up to the pipe at the end of the fuel tank, get stuck there. stop the fuel flow ands cut out the engine. 

Of course, once the engine stopped and the pump stopped trying to suck fuel through, the bit of foil would drop down to the bottom of the tank and (apart from the fact that by now the timing was screwed) it ran fine again. So what should have been a 20 minute, more or less free fix had cost us over £2k and we never got it running right again after that. 

So - what I'm saying is it definitely sounds like a blockage, possibly something the filter is picking up that's loose in the system, than then floats away again when the engine stops and it settles down. It could be something different of course, but your symptoms are identical to the letter to what was happening to our VW. 

 

 

[Ryan26]

Didn’t think of this, could explain why when it first starts it runs perfectly with no lack of power. Then shortly after rpm will drop followed by the engine cutting out. 

[Bigvic]

I would go with the fuel filter first too

[Ryan26]

Finally changed the fuel filter, unfortunately hasn’t solved it. Continues to start and run perfectly with no lack of power for around 20 seconds, then the rpm drops and engine stalls. Could this be anything to do with the fuel gauge permanently reading empty, making the car think it has no fuel when it actually has a full tank. Or as previously mentioned, debris in the system repeatedly being pulled back through. 

[Coolcity]

4 minutes ago, Ryan26 said:

Finally changed the fuel filter, unfortunately hasn’t solved it. Continues to start and run perfectly with no lack of power for around 20 seconds, then the rpm drops and engine stalls. Could this be anything to do with the fuel gauge permanently reading empty, making the car think it has no fuel when it actually has a full tank. Or as previously mentioned, debris in the system repeatedly being pulled back through. 

That would be my best guess, but I'm no mechanic and just trying to think logically. It definitely sounds like some sort of fuel starvation issue - or at least that's what the computer thinks is the problem - maybe the computer is telling the engine to shut down as there's no fuel going to it, even though there is.  Seems a hell of a coincidence to me that it's cutting out and the gauge is reading zero. 

Might be worth a look on Youtube, the Americans in particular like to post vids of every little fault they find with cars. There just might be something on there. 

[Bigvic]

Ok

To rule out problems from the tank, you’ll need to put the fuel output from the fuel filter, the hose that goes to the engine, into a bucket of diesel. If the engine keeps running, then you have a problem somewhere from the tank up to the bit you pulled the hose off

[XfPS]

Hi did you ever get this sorted? I'm currently having the same issue with the same model. No warning lights just no fuel level and showing fuel low even though there is diesel. I've seen that a connector in the fuel pump can cause this but wondering if you managed to get to the bottom of it.?

[XfPS]

On 9/15/2022 at 7:34 AM, XfPS said:

Hi did you ever get this sorted? I'm currently having the same issue with the same model. No warning lights just no fuel level and showing fuel low even though there is diesel. I've seen that a connector in the fuel pump can cause this but wondering if you managed to get to the bottom of it.?

For those that may come cross this, the connector was the issue.

Engine would start but only drive a few yards and cut out. No warnings just the low fuel and empty fuel gauge. Even with over £100 of fuel. Saved alot of money doing this at home. There are you tube videos on this. (thankfully) 

[TattooedCamperDan]

On 10/7/2022 at 9:55 AM, XfPS said:

For those that may come cross this, the connector was the issue.

Engine would start but only drive a few yards and cut out. No warnings just the low fuel and empty fuel gauge. Even with over £100 of fuel. Saved alot of money doing this at home. There are you tube videos on this. (thankfully) 

Hey. I'm having the same issue as I write this. What connector did you change. Do you have any links on where you looked. 

Cheers in advance