I love this 99 XK8. I remember years ago having a Triumph Spitfire MKIV. Great little car, but no power, raining thru the soft top, LUCAS electronics that failed all the time. But fun to drive.
This car is so much better, real power, roof is well made and seals great, BUT there is a ghost of LUCAS in the electronics. Stability Control Loss warning in intermittent, left turn signal works sometimes, sometimes not (almost like it stops working when it gets hot), cigar lighter does not work, but fuse is fine.
It has all these buttons for telephone, and fuses for telephone but nowhere is there anything about using a telephone or what the buttons are for.
Oh well, the CD changer works, the stereo has great sound, it starts, runs great and is a real joy to drive.
If someone knows what the telephone is about, let me know, I know this model is before Bluetooth, so I no idea what it is,
Also have found many useful posts on this site, so thanks to all the EXPERTS out there who help us neophytes enjoy the ride.

David Dyer
MAJ US Army (Ret)

I have found that one fool is a shame, 2 or 3 a law firm and 4 or more a congress. Thomas Paine

 

Welcome aboard David! Advice: Drive the car as much as you like. Many people that park it for weeks/months at a time are constantly chasing gremlins. Fix what you can when you get around to it.

If you enjoyed the Spitfire you might like what I just finished building/restoring last year: A convertible GT6 with a 5-Speed tranny, improved electrics and a bit more power. Too bad you don't live closer. ;-)

Always good to have another Vet,

Jim M
CDR USN (Ret)

 

David - the phone feature is for a hardwired Motorola phone that came with the cars that were ordered with the phone. If you had the phone - it would be housed under the lid of the center console. The features are useless with today's cell phone technology


Recommend going to the How To's and downloading the docs

 

have the battery load tested. These cars are far from the LUCAS electrical days. But a low battery will make the car do stupid electrical burs as many of the components on the car require to have min volt to work correctly. You can have a car that fires up fin and run well but the battery still just weak enough to cause some of the issues you are having MAYBE. If the battery is good maybe a wheel sensor is throwing the stab control warnings.
Do you know the maint history of the car? It is VERY VERY VERY important that you find out of the timing chain issues that strike the 97-02 models has been addressed. If I didn't say it, it is VERY important to make sure your tensioners are up to date.

 

no maint records, but tensioner and timing belt were replaced by dealer I bought it from.
thanks for info on battery, I will check that out.

 

CDR, thanks for the info. That GT must have been a real project. I do not have the skills for that kind of project, so I admire anyone who can do it.
Thanks for your service.

 

You are right Brag... Battery issues pop up everywhere. It may send you off on a wild goose chase. I drive my XK8 in the winter as long as the roads are dry. Do use a solar trickle battery charger. Do still place a full charge on the battery once in awhile. In addition, pry open the battery covers. You'd be surprised at how low the water is. Rich