Failsafe engine mode, is it fatal?

[norwoodnomad]

hi,

I have done 3k miles since getting my 1997 xk8 convertible, London-Croatia-Munich mostly motorway.

I have had 3 instantances where the Failsafe Engine Mode light has come on. At first big panic, pull over turn off, open bonnett look for anything obvious nothing. Restart all clear carry on nervously no problem. 2 weeks later happens again this time unable to pull over straightaway, carring on with no obvious problem eventually stop check everything again all seems ok start off cleared drives well. Got home checked all fluid levels ok. Bought one of those BT odb2 dongles and torque pro to see if there were any fault codes, none. Heading back to London via Munich and it happens again, have the torqure running monitoring coolant temp and that still showed no fault code. Had to keep going another 150 miles to Munich car drove like a dream......Any ideas will I have to take it to a dealer when back in London.

 

cheers

 

 

[Old Peter]

I think you ought to get it to a Jaguar Specialist, Barry.  It might be nothing serious but on the other hand keeping on running the car when the amber light comes on might cause something that you don't want to happen.

 

Regards,

 

Peter

[knightsmith]

Barry,

 

It might not have any bearing as it was a different make of car , But I had a new BMW M3 which did the same thing, kept restarting it and everything cleared, but the warnings would still come back now and then .

 

As it was under warranty I took it in expecting it to be just a computer glitch. It was the fuel pump beginning to fail .

 

But I hope your is something more minor.

 

ATB,

 

Trevor

[jag2]

bmw s suck trevor i had a x5 before the jag in and out the stealership ever 2 weeks without fail. ultimate driving machine aye right should be worst driving machine more like it .never had an audi .  mercs are long way in front of the bmw. and Jaguar is better than them all. charlie

[knightsmith]

Charlie,

 

If you think BMW's are bad, never buy as Aston Martin, i've had two, the two worst cars i've had in my life. The Jags have been the best.

 

ATB,

 

Trevor

[designXKR]

hi,

I have done 3k miles since getting my 1997 xk8 convertible, London-Croatia-Munich mostly motorway.

I have had 3 instantances where the Failsafe Engine Mode light has come on. At first big panic, pull over turn off, open bonnett look for anything obvious nothing. Restart all clear carry on nervously no problem. 2 weeks later happens again this time unable to pull over straightaway, carring on with no obvious problem eventually stop check everything again all seems ok start off cleared drives well. Got home checked all fluid levels ok. Bought one of those BT odb2 dongles and torque pro to see if there were any fault codes, none. Heading back to London via Munich and it happens again, have the torqure running monitoring coolant temp and that still showed no fault code. Had to keep going another 150 miles to Munich car drove like a dream......Any ideas will I have to take it to a dealer when back in London.

 

cheers

Find your local indie with a Jaguar diagnostic kit and get codes read. If you are in South London I would recommend J&DS Autos in Penge or the Jag Workshop in west London. I know both of them have the proper kit and can give you really good advice on what is happening.

[norwoodnomad]

Hi all, thanks for replies,

ok so isolated the problem well sort of. The engine failsafe mode comes on when ever I used the cruise control, finally the CC stopped working but when ever I tried to use it the failsafe mode would come on again. A common problem with this model seems to be brake pedal switch or vacuum tubes/solenoid. As they are both difficult to access I'm going to wait till the summer is over and I have to put the top up again. I have a perfectly good right foot so no probs.

 

cheers

[Jagslag]

When you get time pop over and I`ll plug my WDS into it,cheers Trevor.

[dsouthworth]

I have a 2001 XKR with adaptive cruise control. It wasn't working when I bought it and the engine failsafe mode is always on - plus the amber light and the ACC unit amber light as well. I knew of the issue when I bought it. Question is... has anyone else had this problem and resolved it, or has anyone been successful in either taking the system out of circuit, or reducing it to a normal cruise control? Thanks...