So I have a customer/friend who bought a 99 XK8 with 75K on it about 2 years ago (only put 1000 miles on it in 2 years though). Anyway, he wants my shop to detail the car but knowing I own and have owned many Jags he told me he has this intermittent Failsafe Code that restricts power. I ran my generic code reader on it and got nothing but locally I have a Jaguar/Range Rover specialist so I opted to have them check it.


Shop claims it needs a new ABS module and brake light switch. While I have personally had this kind of thing happen (owner 2000XKR) my problem was battery related. I know the ECM and throttle control can also make this happen. I did some searching and see that the brake light switch apparently can cause this fault also. How can I know it ABSOLUTELY needs the ABS replaced or rebuilt ? The shop wants just over $1500.00 to do this work and my friend said if that's the case he will just trade the car when the light isn't on, LOL.


I figured the switch is probably $100-$150 of the total but still..... he overpaid for the car and it needs some detailing help to make it look nice again but then its one of those..... spend 1500 and maybe it needs another 1500 in 2 months or cut bait and just detail it and sell it.


Any input would be greatly appreciated. I have to talk to my friend and the shop on Monday.


FYI the shop has been in business for many many years, about 10 stalls, always busy, family owned but all that said they are the same shop that gave me a free inspection on my Range Rover and came up with over 4K in repairs it needed. Most of which is 100% true but there pricing was way over the top even for a shop IMHO.


Thanks in advance, John

 

Not the expert here (those guys will chime in shortly), but I had to repair my ABS module and I never pulled a restricted power code at any time. I just got the abs/traction control errors.

I read where the brake switch will cause unrelated error codes and will also disable the cruise control. Does the cruise work?

Have you pulled the codes yet? Post whatever you get and the experts will be able to better point to the issue.

 

Get the code for the ABS fault. It's probably C1095, abs pump failure, very common. They always want to replace, not repair. I'm sure you have the skill to remove the module and solder the posts. The process has been covered here many times, so just use the search. My favorite technique is in this link:

JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource

You can check the brake light switch by dis connecting the plug and test continuity with a meter. The outer pins are one circuit, inner the other. One is for brake lights , the other cruise control. With pedal up you should have continuity in one set, pedal down the other. I forget which is which but you will be ablee to sort that out if it works at all.