Help! Anyone experience warnings similar to this?

[Caro]

I've had my (second) S type since March and have an ongoing fault which even a Jaguar dealership can't diagnose, let alone fix!  The car's been in their workshop for nearly 4 weeks on and off and the following problems keep recurring.  They tell me they've never come across this, which I find hard to believe (or they think I've got deep pockets in which case they're also wrong!).

 

Here's a typical example of how the problem emerges - please drop me a line if you've ever heard of anything similar.  The car is 5 years old and has 75,000 miles on the clock:

 

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Journey 1: air bag light on (orange) constantly within the fuel level display.  Couldn't unlock doors manually: had to use ignition so I could activate the door lock electronically.

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Journey 2: parkbrake fault light, beeping, parkbrake fault on LED display.  No airbag light lit.  Had to manually release the handbrake.

 

·        
Journey 3: As
journey 2, but then 15 miles or so into the journey, airbag light on and off intermittently, then on constantly.  Doors functioning as normal again.

·        
Journey 4: The full monty: ABS failure, DSC not available, brake fluid level low, parkbrake fault, restricted performance.  All warning lights on.  Had to manually release handbrake.

·        

Journey 5: as journey 4, but no odometer, no speedometer, sat nav not working fully.  Windscreen wipers came on for one sweep and then went off. Haven't even tried to pair my phone with the bluetooth system

·        

What the car usually
does at this stage (and Journeys 3-5 were to Wimbledon and around) is restore the restricted functioning: at this point, the steering resumes normal power assistance and the car seems 'lighter' somehow.  I'm sure there's a technical term for it, but I don't know what it is.  This did not happen this time, but I'll let you know progress in the week and a half coming before
it can come back to you.

[Vanden Plas]

Hello There,

 

I had a similar problem to you on my S Type shortly after I bought it 1st the orange airbag light would keep coming on and off when it felt like it. This turned out to be a problem with the connections inside the steering wheel which is connected to the air bag I think it was called a watch spring connector or something like that, they removed the steering wheel cleaned the contacts and now its fine.

 

The other faults such as messages from the dashboard display and passive alarm keep beeping was traced to a fault in the wiring behind the offside headlight somewhere. The Jaguar expert said that some of the wiring looms used were not of a very good quality from Eastern Europe somewhere and water was able to get inside and cause the problems, This could be your problem hope you get it sorted. 

[Caro]

Thanks for your response.  I've been advised by the Jaguar dealership in Sevenoaks that the problem is caused by an ABS fault (requiring replacement) and as you suggested, a faulty wiring loom.  With repairs totalling around £4k. 

[Vanden Plas]

Wow £4000 that's a lot of money to get mine repaired was about £400 if I were you I would look around for another place to take it there are lots of Jaguar specialists around, plus the main dealers are going to be charging a high hourly rate for the Labour which can soon run up if they cant find where the cause of the faults are I can give you details of where I took mine but it's not so near to Kent.

 

You should be able to find somewhere online nearer to you Good Luck.

[KathyWriter]

Hello Vanden Plas,

Could you give me the name of the garage you mentioned, the one near Kent? If possible, a telephone number would be great too - but I'm sure I could find it online if it's too much hassle.

Thanks a lot,

Kathy

 

[Russ68]

Hi Kathy,

Nice to hear from a lady S-Type enthusiast, welcome to the club!

I can't help materially with your faults, but £4K is bonkers and would write off many older cars. Sounds like you need to find a trusted local specialist who will look after you without taking advantage. Unfortunately I can't help with this also being that I do my own mechanics and I'm on the Isle of Wight!

Perhaps one of the chaps can recommend a garage service in Warwickshire if this is where you are. Or search online and check reviews? A decent independent should hopefully sort you out .

All the best, Russ

[TargetDan]

Check your battery voltage. A slightly low voltage might cause all of these symptoms. Check it when cold, think it should be at least 12.45v

[Nick2]

The closest I have come to your problems was a combination of ABS, airbags, DSC, parkbrake and gearbox failure indications.  All cleared using a scanner except the real problem which was an ABS sensor (changed for £50).  Subsequently changed starter motor as well which has so far prevented any more low-voltage events which seem to ause all sorts of problems.  My local independent workshop can also scan the car and clear faults, and I would think that most independents can do this. 

[Diddler]

If you have had an OBD check I would think faulty earth wire.

[jampot]

As mentioned I would start by replacing the battery and checking the earth, we had a Range Rover in with a list of faults, Land Rover wanted the owners right arm, fixed with a new battery.