hello,
I'm new to this forum but going to start with electrical issues with my 1997 XJ6. I had a 1995 XJ6 back in the 90's and nothing good to say about that one. The 1997 XJ 6 was purchased new by my parents and has been fairly reliable other than burning a valve and rear end issues that cause for a complete rebuild.
Problem now is all of the dash warning lights flash at times and the gauges go from reading to zero. Car does not mis a beat but when it first happen, it cared the hell out of me. Got to my mother and parked it until today. First though about a grounding issue and checked the grounds in the trunk and all is good there. Never had the cluster out nor know how it comes out but need some direction. Help! Thanks car has 192,000 miles.

 

:-(

 

It's almost a certainty that you have one or more ignition coils starting to fail.

Figuring out which one can be a problem. Remove the coil cover and run the car in a dark environment. If the problem occurs, the faulty coil will sometimes reveal itself by a visible flashing in the opaque epoxy at the top. Unfortunately, lack of flashing does not prove a coil is good.

I urge you to buy true OEM replacement coils....the ones made in Japan by Diamond Manufacturing. Many of the alternate brands do not hold up well.

The correct area to post questions for your car would be the "X300" section

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks, I will try to post in the proper section next time. there is a random misfire that says coil. Never had all the wording lights flash from a bad coil before and All of the original coils have bee replaced at some point with aftermarket. Thanks for the tip on the coils also. 1997 has OBD II and the misfire cylinder should show on a scan

 

The OBD II on these X300 cars wasn't the greatest at misfire detection. I've disconnected coils on a running engine and still no code.

The instrument panel insanity being caused by a bad coil is a bit weird, yes. I never woulda believed it if I hadn't been thru it myself!

Cheers
DD

 

Weird would be a understatement. Did not have time to mess with it today but will take a close look Tuesday. Had it scanned at autozone and a waste of time. I have put off working on this car and it time to getter done. Thanks again for the pointers. It helps a lot

 

ditto here. Coil packs or low battery

 

Battery Is not low and replaced all the coils today with new ones and still the same issue. Did not much think coils was causing my problem but after reading the post and some in other treads, worth a shot. Took some cell phone video this morning right after changing the coils in 36 deg weather.��

 

In all the years of reading/hearing about (and experiencing) the instrument cluster craziness the only time I've ever heard of it *not* being the coils it was a TCM failure.

I can't recall how the TCM was isolated in that case, sorry.

Did you get the bona fide OEM coils made by Diamond Manufacturing?



Cheers
DD

 

I did not. I had purchased 9 about a year ago and only replaced 3 and had 6 left. 3 were beck And the other six were in a white box with just a part number. Thought about the diamond manufacturing after getting on here but hate to buy them and still not fix it. Drove it to my mother's and got her ford truck until I can get a plan of attack. Thanks for the help and direction. Been looking around the forum some and motivated to fix it and other small things I can but I do have other projects that need attention as well. Right now even at 192,000 engine is in great shape or I would be looking to swap in a Chevy LS.

 

Forgot to update this. I did nothing to fix the problem and has not tone it since.

 

Maybe it had to get used to the new coils for a minute? Just a thought. How long did it do it after you replaced them?

 

The next week. Before it had a code of misfire on two cylinder. It been running great ever since. Put new tires on it this morning and in a couple weeks I plan to change all the hoses since the ones on it are orginal.