Here's a doosey. 2 weeks ago car goes into limp mode and poor engine performance message appears as well as check engine light. In the beginning it was sporatic but then quickly moved to always being in "limp" mode. Changed plugs and it went away for 20 minutes but then returned. So we brought it Jaguar dealer and they found the code for "Ignition Control Module - 2". They replaced and car was fine until the end of the test drive where it went back into limp mode. They kept the car for 2 weeks and have now given up - recommendation was that it could be the ECM - but not really sure (pretty sad). Well we brought the car home and started checking fuses, relays, grounds, etc. thinking they probably haven't been moved in 13 years - we also swapped some of the relays that were the same,..... well don't you know for the last hour of driving it's been almost fine - on two occasion the "Poor Engine Performance" light came on, car went into limp mode and just as quick came back out. Thoughts .... were really stuck? Thanks in Advance.

 

James,
I moved your post to the XK8 section where it should get more attention.

 

This post may be of some help:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=20245

Good luck, and keep us posted.

John

 

The first thing I would check are the brown relays that are related to the ignition circuit for 'burnt contacts' and then look at the harness connectors for oxidization on the terminals. There was a TSB for the date code for faulty relays but I don't remember if I have it in .pdf or paper. I doubt the ECM has failed but it sounds like an intermittent circuit fault.

bob gauff

 

Bob, didnt u just advise an xj8 member with the same ecm module code?

 

I am having the same issues with my 97 XK8 Coupe. The code came up leading me to a possible bad ignition module. I swapped the modules places expecting my other 4 coils to show bad but they didn't, so I am now in the same situation as you. I have had the same symptoms with the "Poor engine performance", running as you call it Limp. You didn't happen to have the 1368 (Ignition monitor Bank) code or the P1227 having to do with the Mechanical Guard Circuit during the scanning? I swapped the plugs and it ran great for about a minute and went into the limp mode. Did your AC and all other accessories shut down as well when it went limp? I can't even drive my car out of the driveway at this point. I hope you don't mind me following your thread cuz I'm frustrated. Thanx,

 

In reference to Johns post https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=20245, I had the same codes for my 97 XK8, except mine were for the opposite bank and the other 4 plugs. I swapped the Ignition coils to see if my ignition coil was actually bad but I still got the same codes, which leads me to believe that it's not the ignition modules. The mistery goes on...

 

Thanks for the replies. We're back in Limp mode all the time. We did check all the relays and fuses .... no luck. Decided to send the ECU to get rebuilt. Will post when I get it back as to if that solves the problem. Let's hope .... thanks agiain

 

It appears the rebuild of the ECU did the trick. Sent it to a company in Tennessee (found them on Ebay) - they received it on Tuesday - rebuilt it on Wednesday and I got it back on Thursday. Probably have 2 hours on it and no issues.

 

Hey JamesJag, congrats on the ECU rebuild fixing your problem!

John

 

Follow up in a couple months will ya?

 

how much was the rebuild? Name of company??

 

Auto & Truck Electronics in Rogersville TN. - $400 and comes with a lifetime warranty ..... didn't read the fine print on the warranty so not really sure how good it is .... but I'm now on day 4 with no issues - went about 75 miles today.

 

Thanx James, I guess that's my next step as well. I'll let ya'all know the outcome of mine as well when I get my ECU back from being gone thru. I keep gettin asked when Jagula's going to be back on the road. Guess I better get busy.

 

Did you have to have the ECU synchronized by a Dealer or were you able to just plug it in and go? I'm trying to decide on whether to have mine rebuilt or buy another one. I've had the same issues as you. Thanx

 

Plug and play - no dealer intervention needed. I did have the negative battery terminal removed while reinstalling

 

After a few day driving can you post back and confirm no more problems??
And could you tell us who did the ECM work?? I'd like to note it down, always like to have options available.

 

post #13 xjr guy...

 

Thanx James, I sent my ECU for my 97 XK8 Coupe off to the same folks you did. Hopefully, I'll have good luck as well. I did ask them if they would bench test it to make sure it needed rebuilding. They said if it didn't need to be rebuilt, they would send it back and only charge me for the shipping. I'll drop an update when I get it back. Price was $407 which included their mailing it back to me. Doing it this way is way cheaper than taking my Jag to the Dealer to find out if my ECU / ECM is bad. Thanx again.

 

It is most likely the throttle body. $1800 for a new one. I just replaced mine after trying everything else.

You can probably find one used, however the risk is that it has the same issues.