Campaign S479 - ECM Reprogramming for No-Start: Overview
303-35V8 XJ Series/XK8
DATE 11/99
Amended 04/01
MODEL
1997-99 MY
XK8 Range
1998-99 MY
V8 XJ Series NA
VIN
See text
Difficult Cold Start - Normally Aspirated Engines - ECM Flash Reprogramming - Service Action S479
Remove and destroy Bulletin 303-35, amended 03/00. Replace with this Bulletin. The reference to Service Action S472 has been removed since the service action has been cancelled.
Issue:
Since the launch of Service Actions S819 and S471 further developments in software have become available.
A new PDU disk is now available, labeled "XK8/XJ Series DRIVEABILITY supercedes S471" 'S479', which may be used to reprogram the ECM of the following vehicles:
^ 1997-98 MY XK8 VIN 001036-020733
^ 1998 MY V8 XJ Series VIN 812256-819771 NORMALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES ONLY
^ 1999 MY XK8 VIN 031303-042775 NORMALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES ONLY
^ 1999 V8 XJ Series VIN 853936-878717 NORMALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES ONLY
Note:
1998 XK8 VIN 020733-031302 and V8 XJ Series VIN 819772-853935 do not have ECMs that can be reflashed. S479 does not apply to supercharged vehicles.
Customers may complain of difficulty in starting the engine, from cold, on vehicles within the above VIN ranges, under certain running conditions. In some instances a no-start condition may be reported. Many of the affected vehicles may have been reprogrammed on a previous occasion, under Service Action S819 or Service Action S471. Since Service Action S479 supersedes both Service Action S819 or Service Action S471 do not perform Service Action S819 or Service Action S471.
Note the following service guidelines:
1. On vehicles which have not been previously reprogrammed to S819 or S471, perform S479 at the next service opportunity, or as soon as can be arranged in case of a customer complaint.
2. On vehicles previously reprogrammed to S819, but not reprogrammed to S471 condition, perform S479 on all affected vehicles at the next service opportunity, or as soon as can be arranged in case of a customer complaint.
3. On vehicles previously reprogrammed to S471, perform S479 on a customer complaint basis ONLY in the case of additional cold start complaint.
4. On vehicles previously reprogrammed to S819 and S471, S479 should be performed on a customer complaint basis only.
5. On 1999 MY vehicles, S479 should be performed on a customer complaint basis only (since they already are at the S471 software level).
Note that Service Action S831 (technical bulletin 303-36) references this Service Action. It may be necessary to perform this S479 reflash on some XK8 vehicles which have been modified to remove a cracked EGR pipe according Service Action S831. This is fully detailed in technical bulletin 303-36.
ERROR HANDLING
^ A process that has failed is repeated twice before the application advises the user that there has been an error.
^ The message, 'An error has occurred', will be displayed. Select the check icon to proceed.
^ Instructions for the correction of errors and the installation of the fuses and/or relays will be displayed.
ERROR PROCEDURES
Parts Information
Warranty Information:
Note:
Always perform a DCS claims search first to determine whether this service action has been performed on this vehicle. The warranty selection under the vehicle inquiry will give a listing of all claims against the vehicle. If S471 or S819 appears in the fault code field, proceed as follows:
1. On vehicles which have not been previously reprogramming to S819 or S471, perform S479 at the next service opportunity, or as soon as can be arranged in case of a customer complaint.
2. On vehicles previously reprogramming to S819, but not reprogramming to S471 condition, perform S479 on all affected vehicles at the next service opportunity, or as soon as can be arranged in case of a customer complaint
3. On vehicles previously reprogrammed to S471, perform S479 on a customer complaint basis ONLY in the case of additional cold start complaint.
4. On vehicles previously reprogrammed to S819 and S471, S479 should be performed on a customer complaint basis only.
5. On 1999 MY vehicles, S479 should be performed on a customer complaint basis only (since they already are at the S471 software level). If S479 appears in the fault code field, do not perform this service action.
CLAIM SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:
Warranty summary codes have been assigned to this service action in order to simplify claim submission. The dealership will be reimbursed the parts and labor time allowance as indicated.
DCS DEALERS
Submit claims using the appropriate summary code for the vehicle model and work performed. Follow standard campaign submission procedures.
NON-DCS DEALERS
Submit claims on the Recall Campaign Summary form W-25. Enter the appropriate summary code for the vehicle model and work performed in the Repair Code column. Do not use the W-1 warranty claim form.