Intermittent not starting issue and shows fail safe engine mode and several other codes

KIMBERLEYSMITH

MEMBER
2001 JAGUAR XJ8
V8
AUTOMATIC
90,000 MILES

I have a brand new battery in my car. The car will be driving okay and I'll park the car and turn it off go about my business return to the car and it wont start. I'll sit and wait for a few minutes and then it will start with no problem. This happens numerous times. It also will show fail safe engine mode and several other codes before completely losing power and shutting down completely. I will sit and wait for a few minutes after the car loses power until I turn the key and the car starts right up with no codes or warnings on the dash. I have the car parked today because now it wont start but only clicks and all the lights work like the battery is no longer dead. Do I need a hard battery reset? Please any knowledge or thoughts? Many thanks!

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Hi,

Are you only getting a click again? Usually, the symptoms you described correlate with a weak connection. The starter places the largest draw on the battery, so if there is a weak connection, that is when it will fail. The most common cause is either corroded or loose battery terminals or a weak engine ground. Also, the starter itself may be going bad.

At this point, you said the lights are working. Do me a favor and try this simple test.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Let me know the results.

Joe