Oh, OK... They do give loaners at no cost.. You could've played with a Land Rover....

As long as the choice was yours... (meaning, if they didn't offer I'm gonna give Lucas a piece of my mind!)

Honestly, there is a funny back story with me and loaners with them... It's not that I'm obsessive or anything..

 

"Therefore, it would be foolish to use a patch job that someone without a warranty might employ. This is not a judgment on the capacitor itself, only a caveat with respect to the fact that the warranty program will fix the problem without needing to change the design of the car."

Understandable, but I can't see much difference if any between clipping a properly fused capacitor across the battery and installing a 'boom-boom' sound system which contains similar capacitors. If it's considered a problem, consult the warranty company and get their opinion IN WRITING so you have a legal leg to stand on. Can't go wrong that way.
Leedsman.

 

My car is still at the dealership. According to Lucas, they have called a Jaguar field service tech in to look at the car because they were stumped. I purchased my car back in December of '10; since that time it has been in the shop a total of 9 weeks and counting. Even though warranty has paid for most of the issues, if the cost of this repair (if they ever find it) is above $600 - I will have exceeded the $10,900 purchase price of the car in just repairs! Of all the used cars I have ever owned, this has never happened. I have had BMWs, Porsches, Audis, and other American cars new and used; but this by far is the worst experience ever. As I wander through the forum and see all of the other people with the "limp mode" problem (Yes - I use limp purposefully for its phallic reference) and Christmas tree of dash lights that come on; I have to believe that Jaguar could have done a much better job in the granularity of the diagnostic capabilities of this vehicle. I absolutely know that I will never own another Jag. If my car ever goes into limp mode again after this episode, instead of the dealership - I am taking it to my doctor for a prescription of Viagra!

It is a shame that my old Ford Taurus with almost 170K miles has better reliability and maintenance than my Jag. Total Taurus time in the shop 5 days in 6 years. Total repair costs - approximately $800.

 

You're very unlucky and if you've seen the forum as you say you know the others did not have their cars off the road like you. I've yet to find a marque where no-one is unlucky and don't expect to.

 

Well at least they seem genuinely interested in finding the real problem rather than just tossing parts at it. I hope for your sake they find it once and for all. It's really a shame that a Marque gets such a bad rap from what often turns out to be poor service. Same thing that helped ruin MG & Triumph back in the day.

 

Wow... I was wondering what had happened... Like "Bodyman" Jim said, they are trying to figure it out and not just toss stuff at it and hope that fixes the issue. Also, since they do everything they can to get it right, it sometimes takes them a bit to get your car back. To be honest, it was my dealer experience that has kept me positive on the brand...

Now I'll repeat a little jab I threw at Mike at Jaguar Cleveland that made him chuckle... "Now I know why there are so many low mileage used Jags out there... The owners put more miles on the dealer loaner cars than their own."

He laughed, called me an @ss, as he handed me the keys to a LR2.........

 

LOL - That made my day!!!! As your comment suggests, I thought I was reasonably safe buying a low mileage car. I knew I was getting an almost 7 year old car, but with less than 8K miles/year - normally, that is a pretty safe bet. All of the people who told me, "You will regret buying that Jag" are having a field day with me. After the car is sorted out, I am going to dump it (I mean sell it!). I have my eye on an '04 911 Turbo (black with 22K miles) that a co-worker is going to sell. I would keep the Jag, but the wife refuses to drive it because it has been so unreliable. It's a shame because I am sure the car will be sorted out and someone will be getting the benefit of my pain - so be it.

 

BertrandGrey; I've followed with interest your "saga" with a fault (going into limp-mode -- love the Viagra gag) on your Jaguar.
To me this is nothing more than appaling incompetence over diagnosing the fault, and secondly fixing it. Electronic-control faults in modern microprocessor controlled machinery, of which cars are but one example, are quite fixable provided the right people with the right training and experience are directly involved. Frankly, it seems to me those people concerned with diagnosing your car's fault don't know what they are doing, or worse. I can't go into that 'worse' aspect, but replacing the autobox for the described fault seems, to put it mildly, surprizing. The cost aspect here is horrifying.
I had the same fault, apparently, with my car and I found a solution that has proven to work over a 9 month period. When I posted my particular solution on this website, I was met by some pretty unpleasant criticism, one poster even describing it as a "bodge", another telling me he would "keep coming down on me" as long as I kept mentioning it. Being fair on this one, some contributors here excercized their brain cells properly, and could see the rationale of my particular solution to my 'limp-mode' fault.
Well, here I am again, and I'll say it once again: When diagnosing and fixing faults, go for the easy, simple, and cheap things first. Once again I say, there are no guarantees here. You have to take it one step at a time.
My own limp-mode fault solution fitted into the easy, simple, and cheap category nicely, costing around $20. For me, as I had the parts already, it cost nothing. The capacitor fix has been posted on this website, and it took me more time and work writing about it and clicking the camera's shutter than it did to make and apply the capacitor in the first place. C'est la vie, c'est le guerre.

BertrandGrey, I'm very sorry, and fully sympathize with you over all this trouble you're experiencing with your Jaguar. I fully understand if you never want a Jaguar again -- hell's bells, I'd feel the same in your shoes. I still feel the responsibility lies with your repairer at least as much as with the car though, and I'd be seeking redress.

Once again, my sympathies,
Leedsman.

 

As more than one has said, that solution did not fix an issue but masked it... Like using "fix a flat" to repair a tire or "stop leak" to repair a radiator. These solutions are cheap and the part then functions, but nothing that is faulty has been repaired.

I'm sorry if I don't "exercise my brain cells properly" but I have always fixed an issue properly and have had many cars serve me reliably beyond their expectation.

I'm happy your "fix" works for you, but the point I try to keep making is it is not a universal fix for every issue. As you have stated, proper diagnosis is required, and then fixing the fault with a proper replacement is the best advice to give users on a forum. Silicone and Duct Tape are not proper replacement parts......

 

Yea, people I worked with gave me lip service on my S Type all the time as well. It always got worse when I showed up in a dealer loaner. Funny thing is, as Mike and Lucas can attest to, the reason I had it in the dealer so much is that I'm a picky SOB. Many of the trips were cosmetic in nature and a result of my drive for perfection. The most interesting saga that was mechanical in nature was my issue with codes and restricted performance. My car would jump into restricted performance under heavy acceleration where it would shift close to redline. It would then store mis-fire codes. If I didn't have the warranty, I would have started looking at fuel delivery and ignition components. But since I had the warranty, I took it in. They had the car for over a week. Kept testing it, even had me come back to drive it while they data logged it on a scan tool. After all their work, they discovered a bad catalytic converter. It was replaced under the emissions warranty, and all was good. While some people may have been upset that it took them a while to fix it, I was impressed that they didn't just throw parts (like coils and plugs) at it (they may have, but didn't just give me my car back claiming it was fixed). This is the way they always seemed to treat their customers.

So, a Porsche 911 Turbo?? That is a different jump. I'm sure you're aware of the maintenance costs that go with one... They are tough machines, and will run for a very long time with the proper maintenance, it's just the maintenance costs for one scare me, even as a DIY person. I understand how this experience has turned you off the brand. I had very similar indirect experience with Volkswagen, to the point that I would never consider one of their products. I appreciate some of their cars, even like some..but after seeing the problems with a group of them (three Jetta's) and the way the dealers handled them, I will not purchase one.

 

Bertrandgray..if I may....After you get this all sorted out and sell your Jag (if that's what you're going to do). I would suggest a newer one, perhaps an 07 or 08 Select Edition with the extended warranty which would give you some peace of mind on any repairs. Hate to see someone give up on these cars because of current problems on your car. I seriously doubt another S-Type would be as problem prone.
Good luck..

 

The thread re. "filter capacitor" is not being read properly (yet again). A contributor pointed out that filter capacitors apparently ARE installed in Jaguar microprocessor controlled cars according to the service manual, but he said a part number was not given. Installing a filter capacitor across the battery that fixed a "restricted performance" problem should then indicate to the picky who want their cars functioning precisely as the maker intended exactly in what area the problem lies.

I have never advised anyone here to hold down any device, capacitor or otherwise with "Duct-tape". In fact, yet again, if my postings are read properly, care is taken to make sure a fuse is wired in series with the capacitor concerned in case of a short which can set the car on fire and write it off. In my last employ, I was the electrical safety officer, hence the attention to safety.

Speaking generally, I had thought it was clear from reading all the various troubles with Jaguar cars on this website that the manufacturer does NOT always "get it right". The silly nonsense over ATF fluid in the ZF autoboxes, laughable to any decent engineer, is a classic example of this. I'm talking of the "sealed-for death" policy -- not my gag, that came from a U-tube video. The troubles of Toyota, world's biggest car manufacturer, with their accelerator problems is another example.
Leedsman.

 

OK, I have read it and the responses... And I will go on record as saying the "capacitor" is only masking an underlying wire fault. Granted they are hard to find and fix, so again, if it worked for you, great, but advising others that it will "fix" their problem is not something I agree with. Finding the ground or connector fault and fixing it is the best thing to do (what I think ultimately is the problem with the OP's car).

The Duct Tape comment was sarcasm.......

Sealed transmissions are not a "Jaguar" thing.... Open the hood of any newer car and you will see that many have sealed transmissions. My guess, because of the sensitive nature of modern computer controlled auto-boxes, they basically want the general public to keep the heck out of them. Think about how many posts we get on here from people not knowing that there are different ATF's or coolant.. Generally speaking, many people should not even open the hood and leave it to a professional.

Ooooh, the Toyota thing.. I love that one... Guess what the court system and our Federal Government discovered... Low and behold, Driver Error! The only fault Toyota made was not placing a "brake override" routine in their software... Hmmm...Like the "Limp Mode" that everyone loathes! But, it has been proven that if the brakes were applied (they were not, the black boxes confirmed it) the cars would have stopped..If this doesn't sound familiar, read up on the cases of sudden acceleration with Audi back in the 80's...

All this makes my signature comment all the more valid!

 

Even if the capacitor might "fix" this OP's car it is under warranty so would need to be tried as part of the warranty process or secretly by the OP "just in case" it might work (being very careful to leave no trace of the attempted fix of course).

Here, "fix" means workaround the actual fault without truly fixing let alone understanding it properly. I'm no fan of such bodges - a proper engineering solution ought to be used - but in extremis might try this.

 

Latest update as of this morning:

Dealer installed a new gas pedal. Evidently it solved a portion of the problem (what I don't know), but the Christmas tree of lights came on again and went into limp mode. They are now looking at the throttle body and connectors.

I don't know if this thread is getting too long, but I intend to keep posting updates until the problem is fixed because it appears to be of interest to a lot of people (and therapy for me). If this goes against some forum rule, let me know - I don't intend to violate any rules. I am appreciative for all the support I am getting. I could not imagine going through this alone.

+1 to all of you!

 

I believe you're not breaking forum rules - and I for one am interested (plus hoping they do fix it).

hmm, some cars had a fault in a major wiring harness (apparently caused during production) such that corrosion sets in. Usual problem area is behind the front bumper but sometimes behind either of the front wheel arch (wheel well) liners. You could perhaps remind them and even mention this article (which happens to be an STR):
Jaguar S-type 4.2 V8 R | Long Term Tests | Car Reviews | evo

possibly also see Jaguar Forum.co.uk • View topic - 2004 Common fault

 

No problem Bertrandgray,

Please keep us updated, I'm sure that apart from the members who have responded there are more than a few lurkers who are interested in what happens.

 

"I don't know if this thread is getting too long, but I intend to keep posting
updates until the problem is fixed because it appears to be of interest to a lot
of people (and therapy for me). If this goes against some forum rule, let me
know - I don't intend to violate any rules. I am appreciative for all the
support I am getting. I could not imagine going through this alone.

+1 to all of you!" (Copy and paste, Bertrandgrey).

Thank you Bertrandgrey. Like yourself, I also intend to continue to post to help you as much as I can. I will not be deterred in that objective by any other contributor.
Let that be fully realized. Not wishing to state the obvious, but after all this discussion, after all this time, after all that money has been spent, you STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM.
I think that says it all.

Leedsman.

 

Yes, Bert..Keep us updated..

Like John (JagV8) stated, it does sound like it is drifting towards a faulty wiring issue.
I find it interesting the random nature of this issue with these cars. There doesn't seem to be a pattern to it. Some have it, and have it bad, while others don't. Heck, I used to spray down my engine compartment with Gunk degreaser and hose it off (Rick does too) and never had an electrical glitch... I actually traded it in with the original factory battery in it!

Replacing the gas pedal kind of makes sense. If there is an electical issue, that issue over time may have damaged components. So, as they go through it, they will replace what may be damaged. For a reference, look what happens to a lot of the climate control modules when the DCCV fails. The modules aren't problematic, but when the DCCV fails, it causes traces to be burnt in the module leading to failure. I think this is somewhat similar. I wouldn't be suprised if a new TPS (throttle position sensor) is installed as well or even a whole new throttle body.

Keep it going....

Now for a little silly sidebar.... If you want to drive something different, call them and say that you'd like a loaner now since this repair is taking so long... I'm sure they'd get you one..What the heck, put some miles on their stuff instead of your own.... I'm telling ya, I really liked the LR2 when I had it!!!

 

If someone disagrees with a viewpoint, it does not necessarily mean that written words are "not being read properly". The capacitor idea has a certain degree of technical merit. But, no one is obligated to accept it. And it is not applicable in the present case.

The car in general is known to work without a user designed add on circuit.

The car in question is under warranty.

It only makes sense that the owner benefit from the warranty by getting it fixed without resorting to non-standard equipment and design.

The capacitor is your baby, but it is not for everyone or every situation. And it is certainly not the best solution when the warranty coverage will pick up the tab to return the vehicle to operating as designed.