X Type 2.0 Diesel Hot Starting Problem

[Phil Jay]

I recently bought my X Type diesel knowing it had a hot starting issue which I believed could be overcome by an ECU software update at a cost of around £60.00. I've looked at various posts and have noticed a number of people talking about an 'ECU re-flash' which I assume is the software update.

Today I approached a local Jag dealer and an independent.

 

The Jag dealer confirmed that a software upgrade was available, but it didn't work for all X Types and they would have to check the VIN number to see if my car was suitable for it. If it was the cost would be £240.00 plus VAT, as they had to run the programme for a couple of hours. This is significantly more expensive than what I had previously been told. Can anyone advise what they have been paying for this upgrade recently please?

 

The independent checked with a main dealer and confirmed the upgrade was available, but the fault, in view of the mileage - 104K - was more likely to be worn injectors and at £200.00 each, plus fitting and VAT, and suggested I live with the problem if I can as the age of the car - it's a 2005 - makes the viability of doing the work borderline.

 

I would be grateful for any thoughts or advice on what to do next please. I live near Tamworth, close to Birmingham.

Many thanks, Phil

[Old Peter]

Hi Phil,

 

I have had a look around and I think you might be able to get fuel injectors for a bit less than £200 each.  While there are some for sale on eBay, I would be more inclined to see what is available around some of other Jaguar parts suppliers such as Just Jags, The David Manners Group [Halesowen area] and Rimmer Bros.

 

Living with the problem is a thought but not a solution.  I will still keep my eye out when trawling the internet for Jaguar bits.

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[Old Peter]

Hello again, Phil.

 

I just had a thought that Terraclean might clean up your injectors and solve the problem Apparently there is fuel injector cleaner available.

 

It might be worth investigating.

 

Regards,

 

Peter. 

[Phil Jay]

Hi Peter,

That's an interesting thought, especially as I planned to go down the Terraclean route any way, so many thanks for helpful suggestion. I'll have a word with the guy's in Coleshill and get it booked in.

All the best

Phil

[Phil Jay]

Hi Peter,

I've booked in to have the car Terracleaned next week, so will report back on the outcome. I have to say that I'm really not impressed with the two Jaguar dealers I've spoken to so far. How can you justify £240.00 plus vat for a simple software update when there are good Jaguar specialists offering a full 12,500 service, including parts, labour and vat for just over £200.00? In the short time that I've had it, I've been so pleased with the car that I had even contemplated looking for a XK8 as a weekend toy as prices of earlier X100's are very good right now. Jaguar prices are funny - very expensive when new, then plummet like a stone until they achieve 'classic' status and then start to rise again. However, dealership service would put me off buying another one!

Phil

[Old Peter]

Hi Phil,

 

I am in London at the moment visiting our daughter, and have just got the internet connection sorted out.

 

Like you I am and have been for some years astounded by the prices charged by the main dealers for what I consider minor problems.  I had the amber engine warning light come on six months ago, took it into Colliers in Tamworth and was charged £69 for the diagnostic service -- just 30 minutes -- which indicated that the EGR valve was a bit sticky.   A mechanic I use charged me £20 for the same service when the light came on again.  Apparently it costs around £300 for a new valve to be fitted.  The cure for a sticky EGR valve is half an hour on the A38 giving the engine a bit of a burst.

 

Depreciation on many of the top of the range cars can be most disconcerting.  When I retired in 1999 I bought an 8 month old Rover Sterling - cost new £27,500 - for £12.500.  Price halved in 8 months!  Jaguars are a prime example as there are so many optional extras that will push the price up from say £33k brand new to around £60k, and depreciation appears to take no notice of the extra bits, such as interior trim choice, full electric seats, touch screen with Sat Nav, Jaguar Voice [which is a waste of money]

and around £20k spent on the options may only get you about £4k on the price when you sell the car three years later.

 

I have used a mobile mechanic for the last 13 years, who used to work for Colliers, who has done a great job for me. Unfortunately, software in a modern car is main dealer only.

 

Let me know how the terraclean  goes as mine is going in towards the end of May to ensure emissions are as low as possible for the MOT in June.

 

On a more positive not I filled up my S Type on Friday with top of the range Diesel and got 41.8 mpg which included the M25, the Blackwall tunnel and the stop start driving through Greenwich and the area round it, and the 2.7 litre engine sounded really good and was more responsive.

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[Phil Jay]

Hi Peter,

I've just got the car back from the Terraclean process and the difference is immediate and very positive. First up the hot starting issue is significantly better, in fact virtually eliminated. The best £96.00 (inc. VAT) I've ever spent. Whilst there, the lads told me they have just acquired an additional Terraclean unit which cleans all the engine ancillary's such as the ERG valve etc. The process I've had done cleans the injectors and engine internals etc. Apparently, when they clean ERG valves they come up like new and performance is noticeably improved. Unfortunately, the process takes much longer - a full day, so the cost is greater, but I'll have it done at some point. So next up is to give it a full service and change the fuel filter and hopefully that will resolve the problem. I can totally recommend the Terraclean though. The car runs really well and the performance is much sharper. I'm sure you will be pleased when you have yours done!

All the best

Phil

[Old Peter]

Hi Phil,

 

Thanks for the feedback on Terraclean. I had heard good reports on the service, but not from someone who had a problem solved such as yourself.

 

I will be booking mine in  ---  the mobile mechanic who Terraclean pointed me to has been in touch with me and I will probably have in done in the next three weeks.  His quote was £114 inc vat for my 2.7 diesel which is the same as a garage in Brownhills.  When it comes to the EGR valves I do know he has not got the equipment to do that, and the cost to do it manually on the s type is in excess of £300.

 

Regards

 

Peter.

[Phil Jay]

Hi Peter,

The garage I used quoted me around £250.00 inc vat for the secondary clean, which includes the EGR valves and a number of other ancillary equipment items (I think the DPF was mentioned but can't be sure). It's a much longer process and they need the car all day, as opposed to the 2 hours for the standard clean. I shall definitely have it done, as on the strength of yesterday's clean, the hot start problem has been sorted. The garage is in Coleshill, no far from you, so if you're interested let me know and I'll give you their details. Next up for me is a major service and with a bit of luck, I'm hoping all should be back to normal. I'm sure you will be pleased with Terraclean and look forward to hearing the outcome.

All the best

Phil

[Old Peter]

Hi Phil.

 

I think I would be interested in the EGR valve cleaning service, particularly as the S Type has two of them, plus two turbochargers.

 

I will check out what the secondary service covers.

 

I will be ringing to book in my car before its MOT which is due in late June, and I always have my car serviced at the same time.

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[Phil Jay]

Hi Peter,

Well the good news is that the Terraclean process seems to have cured the hot start issue (keeping fingers crossed as I say it - not easy when you're trying to type!). When hot, it starts normally now and achieves normal revs straight away and the engine management light goes out. I've just done a run up to Derby this evening and the fuel consumption is improving mile on mile, so am I a happy bunny? You betcha! I'm booking it in for service next week - just bought a genuine major service kit off fleabay for £54.00, so that's the next step. After which I think I'll go for the second Terraclean which should get the car nicely set up for a bit of tuning later in the year.

The guy's that did mine are Spanners Auto Centre, Station Road, Coleshill. Nice lads, they even picked up and fixed a fuel leak on a pipe to one of the injectors whilst they had it.

Looking forward to hearing how you get on with your S Type Peter - please let me know.

Best wishes

Phil

[Old Peter]

Hi Phil, 

 

Thanks for the information about the garage in Coleshill and will probably get my EGR valves Terracleaned there.

 

It does appear that the machine is quite expensive to buy from Terraclean and I think the price of a service will gradually come down as there will be more competition.

 

I have put the address of Spanners into my little black book!

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[JAGUAR JIM]

My XTYPE diesel had hot start problem. My mechanic said straight away it needed software update. After visiting various forums went back to mechanic and asked about terra clean. He stated in 99.9% of cases update solved problem. Had it done today at an independent garage at cost of 100£. Problem solved. My jag has done 141000.+ miles. Hope.this helps .

[Old Peter]

Hi James, and welcome to the club.

 

The poster above [Phil] had the same problem and terraclean solved it.

 

I am glad that the same thing solved your problem, too.

 

Regards,

 

Peter

[Lancastrian in exile]