[x300] 96 x300 stalling and cluster problems

I am helping a friend with her 96 x300. it does not stay
running by It self and the instrument cluster is going
crazy as if I am cycling the ignition on and of any
suggestions are highly appreciated–
hamie
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In reply to a message from hamie sent Sun 5 Oct 2014:

At a quick guess on little info, I’d suspect that the
alternator smoothing was shot and you have spikes onthe
charging rails that the battery can’t suppress & smooth.

Take care as it could be costly if by running it you take
out the ECU or other CU’s!–
The original message included these comments:

I am helping a friend with her 96 x300. it does not stay
running by It self and the instrument cluster is going
crazy as if I am cycling the ignition on and of any


Neil 1997 3.2 http://www.jag-lovers.org/v.htm?1242166704
MALDON, United Kingdom
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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“Crazy?”

To clarify. Are the gauges needles swinging wildly to-and-fro? The cluster
warning lights flashing crazily?

If so, these are classic signs of an ignition coil giving up the fight and
joining the dark side. Usually but not always accompanied by running
problems.

Fairly typical X300 situation.

Cheers

Doug Dwyer
Pacific Northwest USA
1995 XJRFrom: “hamie” cjautoclinic@gmail.com

I am helping a friend with her 96 x300. it does not stay
running by It self and the instrument cluster is going
crazy as if I am cycling the ignition on and of

In reply to a message from Doug Dwyer sent Sun 5 Oct 2014:

Doug, whichever way if they ignore it it will cause
EXPENSIVE problems. A diagnostic osciloscope is probably
needed before that happens, I’ve had/got failing coils but
as long as the battery is GOOD it suppresses the spikes and
you just get a random misfire!–
The original message included these comments:

If so, these are classic signs of an ignition coil giving up the fight and
joining the dark side. Usually but not always accompanied by running
problems.
Fairly typical X300 situation.


Neil 1997 3.2 http://www.jag-lovers.org/v.htm?1242166704
MALDON, United Kingdom
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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Lacking an o-scope the more common method is to buy a new coil and try it in
all 6 positions. Sometimes you get lucky with the very first swap!

Or, if the bad behavior lasts long enough, disconnect each coil one at a
time. When the cluster craziness stops, bingo, you’ve just found the
offending coil and saved yourself the trouble of trying a new coil in
numerous positions.

Or, remove the coil cover and run the engine in a darkened garage. Often the
offending coil will give off a light show of its own :-). Notice I said
“often”, not always. Lack of dramatics on this ‘test’ doesn’t prove a coil
is good.

Having had several coil failures over the years (usually accompanied by the
berserk cluster antics) I can attest that there is indeed a possibility of
secondary damage. One time a particularly bad ‘coil failure event’ wiped out
my air bag control module. Gah! Fortunately these are $40 items on Ebay so
it wasn’t all that hateful

Cheers
Doug Dwyer
Pacific Northwest USA
1995 XJRFrom: “Neil Maldon” neil_waveley@btinternet.com

Doug, whichever way if they ignore it it will cause
EXPENSIVE problems. A diagnostic osciloscope is probably
needed before that happens, I’ve had/got failing coils but
as long as the battery is GOOD it suppresses the spikes and
you just get a random misfire!

In reply to a message from Doug Dwyer sent Sun 5 Oct 2014:

Just a suggestion. If it is a 1996 it has OBD 2 compliant
self diagnostic capability that cost Jaguar millions to
develop. Why not buy a $20 code reader and find out what is
wrong. Pete–
Pete55Tbird
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Neil,

As mentioned here a few days ago, bad ignition coils can cause behavior just as you have described.

Earl Kiker
Houston
95 XJS Conv. 4.0
97 VDP

Lacking an o-scope the more common method is to buy a new coil and try it in
all 6 positions. Sometimes you get lucky with the very first swap!

Or, if the bad behavior lasts long enough, disconnect each coil one at a
time. When the cluster craziness stops, bingo, you’ve just found the
offending coil and saved yourself the trouble of trying a new coil in
numerous positions.

Or, remove the coil cover and run the engine in a darkened garage. Often the
offending coil will give off a light show of its own :-). Notice I said
“often”, not always. Lack of dramatics on this ‘test’ doesn’t prove a coil
is good.

Having had several coil failures over the years (usually accompanied by the
berserk cluster antics) I can attest that there is indeed a possibility of
secondary damage. One time a particularly bad ‘coil failure event’ wiped out
my air bag control module. Gah! Fortunately these are $40 items on Ebay so
it wasn’t all that hateful

Cheers
Doug Dwyer
Pacific Northwest USA
1995 XJROn Sunday, October 5, 2014 6:59 PM, Doug Dwyer dougdwyer1@comcast.net wrote:

From: “Neil Maldon” neil_waveley@btinternet.com

Doug, whichever way if they ignore it it will cause
EXPENSIVE problems. A diagnostic osciloscope is probably
needed before that happens, I’ve had/got failing coils but
as long as the battery is GOOD it suppresses the spikes and
you just get a random misfire!

In reply to a message from Earl Kiker sent Sun 5 Oct 2014:

Earl, maybe I’ve been lucky because although I’ve had a few
failing coils over the 6 years I’ve owned this X300 I’ve
never experienced the flickering instruments and lights.

Also in reply to Pete although the OBD11 does register some
random engine codes related to a misfire I’ve never had one
of the ones which are alledged to identify individual
coils/cylinders, either with a reader or a live scanner, but
I don’t an upmarket one eg Auto Enginuity.

The only threads that I can recall over that period relating
to fickering lights & instruments have either been down to
charging, wiring/earthing issues or have just died without
any outcome being posted.–
The original message included these comments:

As mentioned here a few days ago, bad ignition coils can cause behavior just as you have described.


Neil 1997 3.2 http://www.jag-lovers.org/v.htm?1242166704
MALDON, United Kingdom
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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