Like many classic car enthusiasts, I cherish my 1996 Jaguar XJS. It was running beautifully after an 1800-mile drive home, reaffirming my confidence in its engine’s reliability. Then, in what can only be described as a moment of automotive folly, I decided to clean the engine bay. Armed with pressurized water, I inadvertently introduced moisture into places it definitely shouldn’t have been.
The immediate aftermath was disheartening. My freshly cleaned engine sputtered to life for a mere half block before dying completely. Initial investigations revealed oil in the spark plug wells, a consequence of a poorly installed valve gasket by a previous owner. Following forum advice, I meticulously cleaned the oil, but to no avail. Despite new coils installed before my long drive and recently replaced coil wiring, the engine remained stubbornly lifeless. It would occasionally sputter with starting fluid, offering a glimmer of hope, but soon even that faint sign of life vanished.
Suspecting ECU damage from my engine cleaning mishap, I inspected the unit. To my dismay, I found the telltale signs of corrosion, similar to battery leakage in a flashlight, across about a quarter of the plug area. Adding to the concern, a pin had broken off inside the connector, possibly during my attempts to unplug it – these Jaguar connectors can be notoriously stiff.
Turning to online forums for solutions, I searched for recommendations for a reputable Car Ecu Specialist. Unfortunately, the forum posts I found were outdated, with no replies to my private messages. Google became my next resource, leading me to a repair service in Florida. The technician sounded confident, claiming expertise across all makes and models, and quoted a reasonable $250 for the repair. Hopeful, I sent my ECU off, only to be met with disappointment a few days later. The technician called to inform me that my ECU was beyond repair, stating he couldn’t remove the main processor without risking complete destruction. When I gently inquired if perhaps a Jaguar car ecu specialist might be better suited, he became defensive. We ended the call amicably, and my ECU was returned, still broken.
This experience has led me to seek advice from the Jaguar community. The ECU for the 1996 XJS is known to be rare and difficult to source. While some forum discussions suggest cross-compatibility with the X300 ECU, my local dealership advised against it. They cited different part numbers and potential “drivability problems due to tuning differences,” recommending sticking to the original XJS ECU. The dealership further complicated matters by stating that the correct ECU part number, LHE1410ED704, is specific to XJS models from VIN 221300 onwards, which is supposedly the last production group.
However, amidst this ECU saga, I stumbled upon a potentially simpler culprit: the Crank Sensor plug. Upon inspection, I found it soaked with water. Could this be the root cause of my no-start issue all along?
My current predicament leaves me with two urgent questions. Firstly, can anyone definitively confirm if my ECU is truly unrepairable, or was the initial assessment premature? Secondly, and most importantly, can the Jaguar community recommend a trusted car ecu specialist who has genuine expertise with Jaguar XJS ECUs and can provide a second opinion, or ideally, a repair solution? My Jaguar XJS, with its immaculately clean but silent engine, awaits a knowledgeable car ecu specialist to bring it back to life. Any recommendations for a reputable car ecu specialist would be greatly appreciated.
