jaydeeuu

As an added comment to previous posts on the "seized nut issue" - this week moving wheels/tyres around I found I had two seized nuts - the chrome covers just spun and removing them (the covers), then using a smaller socket plus breaker bar, I found it impossible to shift them.

The tyre fitter who had fitted new tyres on the two wheels was unable to help (bashing on a socket & using his air stuff just spun the socket) - however I noted the comment by ANDYDJ (thanks for that) ref specialists and checked Google. I found one 10 mins away who removed both nuts within 15 mins; charge £30.00 which included two brand new replacement nuts.

Chatting away (as you do) he mentioned that the S type was a common call out for him (at garages, tyre fitters etc - his main customer base) & recommended that I should remove all of the other nuts and lubricate with copper grease (already also mentioned in an earlier post)

Now for the next journey into the unknown !!!!!! - MOT next wednesday

Regards .... John

12 hours ago, Raistlin said:

John,

Your problem is almost certainly a faulty brake pedal travel sensor. This is located in the brake servo. We have tried to replace the item but it proved beyond the capabilities of a moderately well equipped workshop and a replacement servo cured the problem. If you look at your servo you should see two electrical connectors on the front face, either side of the master cylinder mounting. The other electrical connector is also involved in the DSC function although its name escapes me at the moment.

In later cars (2006 MY), a completely different servo was used and the DSC function was wholly contained within the electronics of the car, obviating the need for the servo mounted sensors.

Hi Paul .... Many thanks for the response, I will pass your views on when I get the Jag serviced - as a further puzzle with the brake pedal.

Before starting the car and with my foot on the pedal, the pedal is hard; as soon as started the pedal becomes quite soft and appears to have a fair bit of movement. This is something I have not experienced in other cars I have owned/used, and the basis for the rear pad comment from my local garage.

John

On 04/04/2016 at 7:00 PM, Raistlin said:

I think that it can't be too long before an S-Type owner switches on the ignition and gets the horrific shock of seeing multiple failures all being reported at once.

The problem is that the electronics in our cars is susceptible to firmware corruption at low voltages and as a result the car will try to "fail safe" by shutting down various systems when it detects a low voltage state.

In days gone by, you'd get a warning of impending battery failure because the lights would go dim and the starter motor would make the instantly recognizable churning noise.

Not so with our cars though. The first indication is when you get the heart-stopping song and dance routine on the instrument panel.

Following advice, I adopted the following solution and offer it here as food for thought.

I tend to put my car's battery on trickle charge once a week overnight. Since I started doing so, I've never suffered the failure routine again.

Being of a generally lazy disposition though, it had to be easy

I wanted a trickle charger that would condition the battery and could remain connected without any possibility of damaging the battery or associated electronics in the car.

I chose a CTEK trickle charger following advice and a fair bit of research (I HATE to spend money and not get the best value).

CTEK's web site

Further, I wasn't keen on lifting the boot floor and messing with crocodile clips so I went for their panel socket which is a small panel fitted in the boot lining. It has a three colour flashing LED system to indicate battery condition. I've found this to be somewhat pessimistic but, rather that than the other way round. Here is a

Link

showing what I did with my setup.

I have the luck to be able to use this in a nice warm dry garage but I know of several who just plug the output lead of the CTEK in and close the boot lid outside their house and there seems to be no problem with water getting in to the boot.

No. I don't work for CTEK I'm sure there are some equally good trickle chargers made by other manufacturers but this works for me.

On 25/05/2016 at 1:21 PM, jaydeeuu said:

I have the dreaded battery drain ( 2004 2.7D) and currently keep it under control with connecting a trickle charger - I still get every other day DSC & parking brake issues but now well versed in sorting them, (DSC whilst keeping foot on brake before & during starting) - however reason for the post is whilst "surfing" the forum, I spotted comments re the GCEM, I have noted that some 45/60 mins after locking the car the headlamps will flash - apparently?? this denotes there could be a fault with/to this GCEM (whatever it is) that causes my "battery drain" - can anyone comment - this weekend the car is having a coolant leak attended to and I intend to discuss the battery problem at the same time.

Regards ... John

As mentioned in an earlier post, I suffer from battery drain which I keep under control with a trickle charger. Surfing the net with regard to  "headlamp flashing"  leads to comment which apparently relates to a known fault within the loom that can be corrected with a Jaguar "fix it" - the flashing indicates a fault in the wiring in front of the O/S headlight, which causes the battery drain - additional comment implies that the flashing issue would not be apparent to most people, i.e if the car is garaged, or parked out of sight.

I will be having this "fix it" soon, which hopefully will cure my problem.

On a further note, I often leave the car garaged for 4 weeks plus (visiting family in Canada) - would disconnecting the battery for that length of time cause any further problems to the electrical system.

John 19/10/2016

On 06/02/2015 at 11:16 AM, owlgrr said:

Sometimes on start up an amber display shows 'DSC NOT AVAILABLE' a and stays on until a restart

Yeah .... Also get that most days, apparently (maybe) my local garage tells me the rear pads could do with being replaced? - However, spotted in a much earlier post that if you depress the brake pedal on starting, the warning doesn't appear, the comment is quite correct - which is what I do !!!.

At my next service I will have a diagnostic to query why.

John

On 22/05/2016 at 8:58 PM, jaydeeuu said:

Took my car for a pressure test - yes, agreed coolant leaking from somewhere on the n/s of the engine; however to get to the nitty gritty requires air cleaner & power steering etc removing - my local garage suggested it would be sensible to seek out a jaguar experienced operation - their thinking being the problem could be obvious to such a team thus minimising labour costs - GEOFF4474's earlier post is similar to my problem and therefore makes me think the leak could be another S Type issue (along with battery drain, parking brake, DSC not available) etc etc.

Can anyone comment before I start raiding the bank.

John (Nb car is a 2.7 diesel)

  

Took the car to N&S / Wakefield - they established where the leak was coming from - to get there resulted in removing airbox, power steering pump and turbo cooler pipes plus I'm sure a number of grazed knuckles - the faulty item was "inlet pipe, part number C2C 23804" - problem now fixed.

Next on the agenda, my battery drain, currently thought to be due to corroded wiring behind the front bumper.

John

I have the dreaded battery drain ( 2004 2.7D) and currently keep it under control with connecting a trickle charger - I still get every other day DSC & parking brake issues but now well versed in sorting them, (DSC whilst keeping foot on brake before & during starting) - however reason for the post is whilst "surfing" the forum, I spotted comments re the GCEM, I have noted that some 45/60 mins after locking the car the headlamps will flash - apparently?? this denotes there could be a fault with/to this GCEM (whatever it is) that causes my "battery drain" - can anyone comment - this weekend the car is having a coolant leak attended to and I intend to discuss the battery problem at the same time.

Regards ... John

Took my car for a pressure test - yes, agreed coolant leaking from somewhere on the n/s of the engine; however to get to the nitty gritty requires air cleaner & power steering etc removing - my local garage suggested it would be sensible to seek out a Jaguar experienced operation - their thinking being the problem could be obvious to such a team thus minimising labour costs - GEOFF4474's earlier post is similar to my problem and therefore makes me think the leak could be another S Type issue (along with battery drain, parking brake, DSC not available) etc etc.

Can anyone comment before I start raiding the bank.

John (Nb car is a 2.7 diesel)

Hi ..... Just doing a little "surfing" and spotted your post - I have a coolant leak similar to the one you describe & wonder if you were able to resolve it.

Regards .... John

Can anyone comment on how (or what) a faulty exterior temp' sensor effects the rest of the car - I only ask because recent battery drain issues arrived at the same time as the sensor became stuck at 53 degrees - I will be fitting a new one in the next day or so, hopefully this may be the solution to my battery issues.

With regard to my earlier post re' battery drain problems - I have tried all comments and no result, next week I will probably take the car to an auto electrician I know for analysis.

John

Hi Jim & Joe

Many thanks for the quick response  ....  The battery is brand new, fitted some 4 weeks ago. I have had the car for some two years with no previous issues, the battery was fitted due to your comments, i.e. a failing battery creating weird electrical issues, mainly a "park brake" problem.

As far as I am aware there are no after market additions to the car, but, maybe I will have a thorough check.

Something entirely unrelated, having never spotted it before, some times when I walk in front of it, the lights will flash???? 

John

Recently had to call out the AA due to a flat battery - after starting the car (54 S Type 2.7D / 70K miles) he checked the connections and advised there was a 0,8 amp drain??.

A thorough check (lights etc) didn't point to anything but >> Question - the exterior temp gauge has recently gone faulty showing a high reading (53) - I have ordered a new sensor, but could this faulty item be causing the drain? - By the way, the AA guy suggested dis-connecting the battery when not in use i.e. overnight - however in the meantime I connect a trickle charger which seems to do the job. 

John

Many thanks for the response(s) guys ( and yes Andy CAPS off) - clearly as I presumed a code read is obviously required and in reply to Peter, all other lights are OK.

Regards .. John

THE AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT ON MY '54 S TYPE, DRIVERS SIDE, DOES NOT ILLUMINATE - BEFORE HEADING FOR A CODE READ ETC, IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AN EASY FIX? 

REGARDS .. JOHN