[Frank Drebbon]

Hi I got a Jag xj 3l diesel on a 64 plate about a year ago, dreamed of owning one ever since I saw one, but it's becoming a real nightmare, please help.
All the time I have had it the stop start has never worked, and I have a constant message start engine low battery, had battery tested and was told it was fine, charged it today for about 5 hours and got in car and message still there, never had any problems starting tho, that's one problem.

The other is the car does not like water, the car is not used much but the few times I have gone out in it, it's gone into limp mode, turn off and on and some times it's fixed or left for a few days and it's fixed so nothing for garage to fix 🤬 not sure what the weather was like on the days it went into to limp mode.
But on days for sure over a few months I washed the car with sponge and hoses off not pressure washer, and the same day I have had problems,
first time I could not change gear was stuck in about 4th, drove about 10 miles and then 2 hours later drive home with no problem.
Second time I could not close the driver's door, could not lock the car, about 3 days later problem gone,
Then yesterday it was raining heavy and that evening I went out and the wipers kept stopping straight up and then they just stopped at the top after just one mile.
Got in it this morning dry and wipers work again, it's like it will only work on dry days and I can not wash it any more. Sorry it's so long but I can not Trust jaguar's flag ship to get me any where

 

[JimboV8]

Welcome to the forum, enjoy.

 

[OBC John]

Hi I got a Jag xj 3l diesel on a 64 plate about a year ago, dreamed of owning one ever since I saw one, but it's becoming a real nightmare, please help.
All the time I have had it the stop start has never worked, and I have a constant message start engine low battery, had battery tested and was told it was fine, charged it today for about 5 hours and got in car and message still there, never had any problems starting tho, that's one problem.

The other is the car does not like water, the car is not used much but the few times I have gone out in it, it's gone into limp mode, turn off and on and some times it's fixed or left for a few days and it's fixed so nothing for garage to fix 🤬 not sure what the weather was like on the days it went into to limp mode.
But on days for sure over a few months I washed the car with sponge and hoses off not pressure washer, and the same day I have had problems,
first time I could not change gear was stuck in about 4th, drove about 10 miles and then 2 hours later drive home with no problem.
Second time I could not close the driver's door, could not lock the car, about 3 days later problem gone,
Then yesterday it was raining heavy and that evening I went out and the wipers kept stopping straight up and then they just stopped at the top after just one mile.
Got in it this morning dry and wipers work again, it's like it will only work on dry days and I can not wash it any more. Sorry it's so long but I can not Trust jaguar's flag ship to get me any where

Hi Frank. Welcome to the forum.
Such a shame you're not able to enjoy your XJ but from your description I would suggest that, despite what you've been told about your battery, it is in fact your battery.
Just measuring the voltage (which should be at least 12.5v when the car isn't running and north of 14 volts when it is) won't tell you the condition of that battery.
If you believe it's the original battery, buy a new one.

 

[mac_doctor]

Welcome aboard, sir.

I have campaigned long and hard to get people to stop washing their cars, and this is a very good example of my point.

Does your car have two batteries, or just one? (I believe that the early stop-start cars had two, and you may have been apprised of only one)

 

[chris-b]

I was once shown (by a jaguar tech) that the battery date of manufacture is stamped on top of one of the battery contacts. I can't remember whether it was the positive or negative.

 

[JimboV8]

I was once shown (by a jaguar tech) that the battery date of manufacture is stamped on top of one of the battery contacts. I can't remember whether it was the positive or negative.

It’s on top of the negative post. Top 2 numbers are the week of manufacture and the bottom 2 are the year.

 

[OBC John]

It’s on top of the negative post. Top 2 numbers are the week of manufacture and the bottom 2 are the year.

I did not know that. Every day is a school day.

 

[Frank Drebbon]

Thanks for the welcome
It's got 2 batteries, what's the best way of finding out if batteries are no good, I am sure they are original, other than the message batter power seems fine even leaving it for weeks between starts, I have drove 200 plus miles in it and the moment I stop I get the low battery message.
When I put it on my new charger today it did say 12.5 v and went up to about 15 when charging.
The other problems have to be linked to water getting in somewhere near electrical components tho, my confidence in the car is a all time low, been looking at other cars on auto trader but nothing compares to the Jag 😢

 

[mac_doctor]

I have to confess that if I were in your place, I would have taken the car to JagCare (my local indy) and asked them to fix it.

... or at least diagnose it.

 

[#steve]

Where abouts is the water leaking in?

Google Auto Electricians near you and take the car for a diagnosis. They will find the problem.

 

[OBC John]

Thanks for the welcome
It's got 2 batteries, what's the best way of finding out if batteries are no good, I am sure they are original, other than the message batter power seems fine even leaving it for weeks between starts, I have drove 200 plus miles in it and the moment I stop I get the low battery message.
When I put it on my new charger today it did say 12.5 v and went up to about 15 when charging.
The other problems have to be linked to water getting in somewhere near electrical components tho, my confidence in the car is a all time low, been looking at other cars on auto trader but nothing compares to the Jag 😢

Halfords will tell you if the battery if shot.
If the battery is good then either the alternator is shot or the battery monitor (BMS) is.
As has been suggested, you need to get the diagnosis of a qualified auto electrician.
On the subject of your assertion of water ingress, what evidence do you have of this and where is it?

 

[Frank Drebbon]

Can not find any water in the car, had bonnet up today and cleared a load of leaves out of window gutter and poked the holes to make sure they are clear and flushed with bottles of water, I do keep on top of clearing leaves out but not to the extent I did today.
It's just all the main problems I have had door not clicking shut, gear box locked in one gear and wipers all after car got wet and all fixed them selves after dry weather.
It was my local mechanic said battery was fine.
Tomorrow I am going to give the car a good wash and test my leaf cleaning to the max, and then charge it all day with my old charger, then see how it goes, and will try halfrauds 🤞🤞

 

[OBC John]

All those apparently unconnected issues point to a dodgy battery not water ingress. Classic symptom.
Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[Grahamess]

Check the fuse boxes and make sure that all the fuses are clean and tight and that there is no moisture anywhere.

 

[mac_doctor]

... and stop washing it!!!

 

[Frank Drebbon]

Stop washing it 👍 first wash since November 😢 it's funny my dad keeps saying get a new battery it fixes most things, will be that to top of the list thankyou 👍 maybe it will fix my marriage 😭😭

 

[EliteZags]

so this is a 9 year old battery and you're just trusting someone telling you its fine

 

[JimC64]

Hi I got a Jag xj 3l diesel on a 64 plate about a year ago, dreamed of owning one ever since I saw one, but it's becoming a real nightmare, please help.
All the time I have had it the stop start has never worked, and I have a constant message start engine low battery, had battery tested and was told it was fine, charged it today for about 5 hours and got in car and message still there, never had any problems starting tho, that's one problem.

The other is the car does not like water, the car is not used much but the few times I have gone out in it, it's gone into limp mode, turn off and on and some times it's fixed or left for a few days and it's fixed so nothing for garage to fix 🤬 not sure what the weather was like on the days it went into to limp mode.
But on days for sure over a few months I washed the car with sponge and hoses off not pressure washer, and the same day I have had problems,
first time I could not change gear was stuck in about 4th, drove about 10 miles and then 2 hours later drive home with no problem.
Second time I could not close the driver's door, could not lock the car, about 3 days later problem gone,
Then yesterday it was raining heavy and that evening I went out and the wipers kept stopping straight up and then they just stopped at the top after just one mile.
Got in it this morning dry and wipers work again, it's like it will only work on dry days and I can not wash it any more. Sorry it's so long but I can not Trust jaguar's flag ship to get me any where

Hey Frank, welcome aboard....

Sorry to hear of your issues with the big cat, not great.

Many people have already given great advice, the main one being the battery, always the battery on these cars, right through the range pretty much, they hate weak, old or failing batteries and it causes all sorts of issues.

To put things into perspective, mines has just turned 7 years old, no major issues or problems, but....starting to have a few low battery messages, easily enough cured in the short term with a decent run. That said, I'm changing it out anyway in the next week or so, job done.

I'm not saying it's a cure all, but certainly a place to start and shouldn't cost the earth.

Cheers
Jim

 

[Niels]

Start-Stop Sytem not working indicates, that the car itself deems the battery unfit. That system deactivates itself, when the capacity of the battery is poor. Therefore the swapping of starting battery needs to be told to the car electronics. Otherwise it will continue to act like the battery is near death.
Non locking doors are worn out lock mechanisms. Look in the stickies section for guideance how to replace these.

 

[MrKis]

May as well do both batteries if you have two. The little one isn’t expensive and can be had from Tayna. Mail order.