My mom just got a 2002 Jaguar S Type 4.0 V8.

It has only been a week since we got it and today the car is having major problems starting. After it was sitting at her work parking lot for 7 hours, she couldn't get it started. It took about 10 tries to finally get it started. Even now, it takes a while to start it after you turn the ignition. I called the dealer and they can't get me in to servicing until Friday. I was like WTF? I paid $50,000 for a brand new car and it is already having problems before 1000 miles. What the heck am I supposed to do until? Get a rental? They connected me to the manager. She got my info and said she would call right back. This was 4 hours ago and still nothing. The dealership closes at 8. I've been calling for the last half hour an no one will pick up. I am so pissed.

Couple of questions:

1. Any idea what the problem might be? Can it be a bad battery on a brand new car?

2. Who can I complain to about the service? Even the manager's actions show lack of responsibility.

3. Can I return the car? I know the lemon law says u can return a car if they can't fix it. I bet they will fix it eventually but I no longer have any confidence in that car.

 

Well, I think its the battery as I just jump-started it using my car.

Can the battery go bad after just 600 miles?

 

Could be a lot of things. I wouldn't panic just yet. Jaguar is usually excellent with warranty service.
I bought a new XJS in '96, put 150 miles on it and the next day it acted like it was running on only two cylinders. The dealer transported it back (150 mi) and diagnosed the problem as a bad injector. It was such a rare problem that they had to cannibalize a new car for the new injector.

Other problems that are a little more common include bad computer chips, bad fuel and bad luck.

Hopefully your problem will be easily solved.

 

I can't address warranty service, never having had a problem with my XKR, but that dealer service is definitely not representative of Jaguar. There should be a Jaguar number to call provided in the manuals that came with the car. I'd call them.

Before raising too big a ruckus, I'd make sure Mom didn't leave something on without realizing that she had.

cal

 

Yep, and also check out any after market alarms or mobile phone kits you may have had installed. These are frequently a big drain if not installed correctly.

 

yes, the battery can go bad, as mentioned with aftermarket alarms and well, just being a Jag too. I have some friends, they were so finiky with their new Jag, they ran into the exact same problem as you did. The problem was the battery (this was about 6 years ago), they traded the car in, not even having the car for a week, and got a new one. I can't remember any loss they had on the car, or if they ran into any problems.

Regarding lemon laws and returning the car: I believe the lemon laws apply to so many repairs failing to fix an issue or so many repairs within a given amount of time. But, depending on where you live and the state law, you should be able to have a turn around time with no questions asked that you can return the car - correct?

 

I was just about to say this...... with a new car, you never know what could have been left on while it was parked.....

 

well, it could also be that british cars always have some kind of trouble, as do any cars in the world, even the venerable s2000 we all love so much... but after reading a few comments about TVRs and Aston Martins around the web, I think british cars have a few MORE troubles than the rest of the world... then again, I'm pro german, pro japanese so I guess I'm biased

 

except it's a ford

 

*nods at Josh* Yeup. 1987 was the last year I consider to be a "real" Jag. In 88 through 1990, Ford really started to mess up those cars. The mount of electrical problems due to the way the harnesses and wiring was designed was very difficult to troubleshoot. This is why those years can be found for just a few pennies for each dollar.

Lately, yes, Ford has helped Jag along into being a better car and I agree they are still great cars, but right now at my age (<30), its not my style... yet. But if I had a choice, I think the four doors are slick looking for a sedan.