2001 XJ8 - Suspension Fault Light

[Pazuzu]

Chaps, need some advice.

Bought a lovely old XJ8 the other day to waft around in and it's all been fine apart from the appearance of the 'suspension fault' message which has appeared over the last few days.

It comes and goes but currently it's more on than off.

The car doesn't have CATs and apart from one brief 5 minute episode when I got scrolling messages saying No ASC and No ABS it doesn't appear to have any noticeable effect on the car.

I'm guessing it's a sensor somewhere so bought a generic code reader as I've only got BMW and VAG specific ones myself but it's come up as P1111 which appears in this case to mean that I need a Jaguar specific code reader to get any detail!

Is it a case of it could only one of a couple of accelerometers maybe so I can just swap them or have I got to get the codes read properly?

Thanks!

Phil

[Sebring440]

Can't imagine what could trigger a suspension fault in an ordinary X308 XJ8 but these obscure and intermittent OBD faults are invariably caused by a low voltage from the battery.

[R8Steve]

First thing to check would be all the connectors at the top of the actual shocks as they are known to corrode.

The other two sensors are located at the middle of the firewall and another one is at the front of the spare tyre well.

As has been mentioned above though a low battery will create havoc with random warning sensors on these. One of ours used to bring every possible warning message up on a low battery and when checked on diagnostics afterwards had 17 pages of faults!

Every XJ we've had (8 and counting) has had electrical fault issues at some point.

[Sebring440]

R8Steve said:

First thing to check would be all the connectors at the top of the actual shocks as they are known to corrode.

Pazuzu said:

The car doesn't have CATs

[Pazuzu]

I did wonder about low battery but it's only the 'Suspension Fault' warning and on a single occasion some related warnings so I was erring toward a buggered sensor or wheel speed monitor.

As above the car doesn't have CATs so I was surprised to see a suspension warning at all!

P.

[Pazuzu]

New battery coming today so we'll see if that helps.

Thanks,

Phil

[havingabarth]

An overcharging alternator can cause the ASC/ABS thing, might be worth a quick check with the multimeter before putting in the new battery.

[Pazuzu]

Confession time - I'm an idiot.

I genuinely thought it didn't have CATS as it's just an XJ8 and there are no buttons or anything that I've seen to do with suspension but upon actually looking under the plastic bits on the top of the shocks I do have CATS and a loose plug on the drivers side was causing the light.

On the plus side it's got a lovely fresh battery with a 3 year warranty now as well

Thanks to all who offered advice.

Phil

[R8Steve]

That makes more sense!

It couldn't come up suspension fault if it didn't so I was a bit confused at that one!

Glad you got it sorted.