Engine Malfunction light on (S type)

[Guest]

The resticted performance warning came up on the trip computer message centre along with the left hand side amber warning light on my S type, also the engine malfunction icon is displayed, but I have no apparent loss of performance. Has anyone any idea what the problem might be?

[Mr D]

HiGeoff,

On my return home from work today, the engine malfunciton light came on mine, as with yours, I had no lack of performance. I spoke to the dealership where I bought the car, they suggested one of the sensors may be faulty and suggest connecting to a dyagnostic machine to read the failure code. The car's booked in, so will hopefully have the answer for my problem, whether it is the same fault as yours I don't know.

I'll follow up with a post when I know more.

Regards,

Dave

[Mr D]

Hi Geoff,

After doing a bit of research online last night (ask the expert (or something similar)), one suggestion with my specific fault was to carry out some very basic checks:

• Check the filler cap was closed properly;
  
• Check Oil levels;
  
• Check coolant levels.
  

I did all these this morning but when I started the car to go into work, the malfunction light was still illuminated but now other warning or words in the trip meter location. However, two hours later, I had to go and visit one of our suppliers - the journey there, the return journey, the journey to pick up my lad from nursery there was no malfunction light - strange.

Anyhow, I'm still taking it into the dealership in the morning - so will hopefully get a clean bill of health or at the very least a fault code and then £££££ :(

As before I'll post here to let you know how I got on.

Regards,

Dave

[Guest]

Hi Dave, had my car checked out and it is a faulty knock sensor that is the problem. I am in the process of getting it fixed, the cost of the sensor is only about 20 quid but it is quite a performance to change it so I don't know what the labour costs will be. I will keep you informed. Best wishes Geoff.

[Mr D]

Hi Geoff,

I took the car in to the dealers, no malfunction light on, they said there was no point in hooking it up to the dyagnostic machine as there was no fault to be read. They went on to suggest the failure could have been down to some bad fuel or over burnt fuel which could have lead to a short-term fault.

I'll just have to see how it goes.........................

Good luck with yours,

Dave

[Guest]

Hi Dave, thanks for that, hope your car continues OK. Tuesday is D-Day when hopefully mine will be fixed, I will let you know how it fares and the cost (hopefully not too much), but I am not holding my breath on that. Incidently the knock sensor monitors the cylinders firing and adjusts the timing electronically to keep it "bang on", much in the same way as the vacuum advance/!Removed! on the old distributors did I imagine only via another means and obviously more accurately. A symptom of it is jerky gear shifts through the automatic box when a "wonky" sensor retards the engine too much, I have experienced this once with mine since the fault appeared when I accelerated hard. I will give you the gorey details of the cost when I've had it fixed, still never mind it is one of those things that can go at any time and not a major problem. Best wishes Geoff.

[Mr D]

HI Geoff,

Hope you bought a lottery ticket today...... :blink: ....... ease the pain a bit.

Do you have an independent or do you use a Jag dealer?

Best regards,

Dave

[Guest]

Hi Dave, I use an independant, he is a good mechanic with thirty odd years experience and is very good on auto electrics, he is also a family friend so I know I won't get ripped off. His garage is absolutely immaculate like an F1 pit. Best wishes Geoff.

[Mr D]

Hi Geoff,

It's good to know there are chaps like you independent around - I guess it's all a matter of finding a good one. Shame Herefordshire isn't closer to Staffordshire as your write up suggests we all should use him.

Best regards,

Dave

[Guest]

Hi Dave, my car is all fixed and running tickety-boo. The down side as I expected was the cost £246-15. The killer was the labour £150-00 and that bear in mind was done by an independant who is a family friend, Lord knows what it would have been if Jag had done the job. The cost of the sensor was £25-13 and £30-00 diagnostic charges, again I shudder to think what Jag costs would have been, on top of all that was the dreaded VAT. Apparently so my man informed me there are two knock sensors on the engine, one on the side which is easy to get at and requires nothing to be removed to gain access to it (much cheaper job labourwise), and one on the top down in the vee of the cylinders which requires the manifold and various other bits and bobs to be taken off before you can see it and change it, lucky me dropped for the second option. Still it's done and paid for now and I am happy to have my car back in A1 condition, hopefully that will be it now for a long time apart from services and MOT's, but unfortunately you never know particularly with the electronic engine management side of things as they go without warning. Best wishes and thanks for your interest. Geoff.

[Mr D]

Hi Geoff,

Great news you've got the car sorted to your satisfaction, as you say you've had to pay a few bucks to get it done, you're fortunate you've got an independent whom looks after you.

Happy motoring mate,

Dave

[TonyBuon]

Hi Can you tell me the name of your repair place in Hertfordshire - I need same

[Guest]

Hi Tony, sorry I think you may have misunderstood my location I am in the West Midlands not Hertfordshire. Dave with whom I exchanged posts with on this subject is in Herefordshire. However good luck with your car, best wishes mate Geoff.