Good day all. We have a 2005 XK8 that has failed our state emissions test for not being able to write the VIN to the state data base from the PCM.
I understand this has been a problem with some of the cars from this year. Jaguar has attempted to write the VIN to the PCM and cannot do it. The solution
is for them to replace the PCM (very expensive). I am told there are some computer repair companies that are able to write the VIN to this PCM.
Has anyone had this experience? If so what reliable sources are out there?
Thanks in advance for any input.

 

I find it hard to believe that a state would fail your inspection for something that you have no control over! There must be some accommodation to get past that requirement.

 

From memory, some have found used ECUs for the later cars (you have to match the part numbers exactly), but the "raw" ECU has to be "coded" to your specific car (VIN being one thing, but also all the specifics to your car).

Other option is to have the ECU repaired. Folks mention ASI all the time for this. There is a charge for inspection, and then an actual repair is extra.

To my (limited) knowledge, this is not a common problem...

Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

This is most odd!

Anyone know more?

Even my car (2004 STR) supports it (it is OBD mode (*) 9, PID 2 i.e. GET VIN).

But I am fairly sure such old cars are NOT mandated to support it.

With a bit of effort you can use such as an ELM327 to issue the mode 9 and see the result.

IDS/SDD also should show it, I think.

(*) strictly it is a Service, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OBD-II_PIDs#Service_09

 

Thanks so much for your response. We have contacted Oregon DEQ and the EPA. I also contacted Jaguar customer service. Basically DEQ recommened SOS
computer repair. EPA very nice, said they give guidelines but states administer the program as they designed it. Jaguar after 2 attempts and the last being a rude
gal "it is too old for customer good will". I am still looking for a reasonablly priced fix.

 

Thank you for sharing this advise. Where is ASI located and might you have contact information?
Again I truly appreciate any help. Rick

 

I assume this is to stop people swapping ECUs before the test to get the car to pass.

I would be surprised if someone hasn't already come up with an OBD spoofer that will output whatever values are needed to pass the test - in this case the only spoofed value needed would be the VIN.

 

I'd be wondering:

1. does the car (the PCM, which Jaguar call ECM) support that OBD request?

because if not then no other similar XK8 will, and that state will be wrongly failing cars

2. if it does, and I expect it does, then what's wrong with this state's test?

i.e. is it the test device at fault or what?

You can find out whether the car supports it using your own appropriate tool. Jaguar tech support can probably say but will no doubt be expensive - customer service are not going to know!

 

Automotive Scientific Inc. (ASI)

5168 Hwy 11W Rogersville Tn. 37857

Hours 9am to 5:30pm Eastern Time

Toll Free - U.S.A & Canada: 1-866-983-6688

https://www.autoecu.com/

Best of luck with ASI.

 

Good day all, thanks so much for the input. A little back round about my self. I have worked in the automotive repair industy most of my life. ASE master
also L-1. I have my own Snap-on scanner . Before sending this for inspection I checked for any codes and to be sure a monitors had run, all was good.
When I went to log on, the car was not detected. I manually input the VIN. Once on the system you could see only a portion of the VIN was showing. I am not sure if this is a 50 state requirement but our state does require the VIN to load from the ECM.
All that being said we are continuing to pursue a reasonable solution. I have been in contact with SOS automotive computer repair they believe they can write the VIN to this ECM. I will keep you posted.
A final note I have obtained information from the state. The was first sold here in Oregon and has never been able to use the ECM for VIN information.

 

FWIW, the standard OBDII information is only available over the ISO-9141 network. The car also features active CAN and SCP networks, but they do not offer OBDII information In short, see if you can "force" your scan tool to use ISO-9141 only. To my knowledge, getting the VIN is a standard OBDII PID.

Other option is to find a friendly inspection station where the tech is willing to go past this VIN query and go with the rest of the OBDII protocols (all available monitors completed and code P1111). You are able to get P1111 and see all the completed monitors, right? Check here for more details: jaguar-drive-cycle

Last option would be to find a more experienced Jaguar tech that can better operate the SDD tool to properly "code" this ECU to your actual car. It involves laptop software and a proper USB cable. To my (superficial) knowledge, it consists of telling the software what actual option was installed in the car (adaptive cruise control, adaptive suspension, etc.) as well as many dealer options (alarm system behavior, DRL, etc.) and push all of this into the ECU.

 

I will go back in under the generic OBD II and see what I find? 1 other note as I think about this you can see the VIN but it only loads the first part, base car and the last part sequence #s what is missing is car specific info. As if it was never loaded from MFG.
Again thanks so much for the input.

 

Came across this also: successful-re-program-flash-2005-xk8-ecu-190075/

 

It would help if you gave the actual information i.e. what DO you get back and what do you NOT get back?

BTW I can confirm my older Jaguar does support the Get VIN OBD service fully so yours almost for sure does too

 

The first 3 characters are there, European Jaguar. the next 8 are missing. the last 6 are there, serial number. SAJ????????A44293. The vehicle specific
are missing. Information from Oregon DEQ data base this information has never been there.
Thanks again for the input. Rick

 

What are the other digits (the full VIN)? Should be on a sticker in the door jamb or visible through the windshield on a plate. There is some built-in logic in a VIN, maybe somehow yours is inconsistent.

Good writeup here: Vehicle_identification_number

 

To me this sounds like a tool problem not a car problem.

 

The actual VIN is SAJDA42CX52A44293. There has never been a question about the car, all docs and labels are correct. the ECM does not have the complete VIN stored as if it never was written to the engine controller. I am sending the ECM out tomorrow to SOS Diagnostics to see if they can write the VIN to the controller.
I will keep you all posted.
Thanks again, Rick

 

Fingers crossed.

 

Jaguar group following this thread. I sent the engine controller out to SOS Diagnostics/ SOS locksmith. They recieved the computer 12/11/2019 at about 10am. I recieved a call 4:45PM.
the VIN had been written to the processor it was ready. Est given $300. actual cost $195.
I picked the ECM up this morning, installed it, ran the car to clear the monitors took it to DEQ passed. My sincere thanks to SOS great job very professional. All my dealings with these folks
were the best you could expect. I did a lot of research before going with these people frankly they were the only ones who were confident they could handle this issue.
I also want to thank everyone who offered help and support this is a group.

Thank you all , Rick