Jaguar XF S 3.0D PCM P065A Alternator Failure

In this video I look at the 'battery warning' fault that left me at the side of the road in the rain. The car is a MY2010 Jaguar XF-S 3.0 D UK spec. Here I find the alternator has failed, and I replace it. In terms of removal and refitting, think 'chicken's bum' when getting it between the subframe and sump. Don't believe those online reports that say it can't be done - it can, but you need a pry bar to move the engine laterally as well as jacking it upwards! Good luck!

[@melvinjohnson7033]

Not many Jaguar repair DIY videos out there. I can only imagine how much this would have cost at the Jag stealer. Thanks for sharing.

[@MrSullione]

Thanks for the video Leon. I have a 2010 XF with the 5.0L engine and my battery light came on recently at night. Luckily I was driving on fairly open local roads. As the shutdown of components progressed I began losing engine power. What I did not know at the time was the car was going to shut down. Shifter went to park and back into the console. Your term, grinding to a halt, is correct because you are not going anywhere glad I wasn't on the highway things could have turned out much differently. My advice for those that read this is simple, if the battery light comes on find a place to pull over quickly. I made it to the corner on my block when I ground to a halt. Called for a hauler to get me down the street, thats when I finally read my manual and found that there is a way to get the car into neutral in order to move it, wrecker still got paid though. Read your manual people. Pry up the strip between the cupholder and usb,lighter and ipod connector box, turn the retainer with a coin or screwdriver and pull the handle up. I didn't have to lift my motor, I did have to remove an idler pulley as my top bolt was behind it. All is well now and I want to say thank you again for the video.

[@undisturbed809]

MrSullione did you have to replace the altinator?

[@simonganderton7740]

Thanks Leon, I did this job today on my XF-S 3.0D and I found your guide very helpful. Though I really doubted that it would ever pass the sump I persevered and it eventually popped out, it wasn’t pretty but I couldn’t see any alternative method so thank you for proving it could be done. Cheers

[@clivecorlett8204]

Hi Leon. Thanks for the Video. I have the same type same age XF as you. Changed my alternator this weekend, you gave some very useful tips. I managed to just push the wastegate to the side, once those bolts are out and not remove it completely, I needed to jack the engine sideways say 10mm as well as up. I struggled to take the tension out of the belt though, a webbing strap and long 3x2 leaver eventually solved it. I found a referb Delco for £101. My friends, friend just paid £800 for a new alternator in an F-Type at a specialist NOT main agent. PS I used your other video to change the door locks on both off side doors. I think I owe you a beer.

[@coldsteve6639]

I changed my alternator on My 2014 Jaguar XF on Monday evening. Thanks for the video - it was really helpful. A couple of observations from my experience. It is not necessary to jack the engine up in order to be able to remove the alternator from between the engine and the subframe. If you loosen both the front engine mount nuts, the engine can be 'barred' across sufficiently to remove the alternator. A good method is to use the small bracket on the subframe near the starter motor and the starter motor lug. Second point is the 'security bolt' on the regulator. It can be easily removed using an impact driver with a phillips bit. It is just quite tight - hence why you had to drill it out. Apart from that, very helpful.

[@devaplan]

Really helpful. Not a job I would attempt so much respect for your can do and have a go attitude . Mine is in the garage for this job!

[@grahampearson594]

Thank you for this video. I got caught out yesterday with my alternator failing. Its a bugger of a job! Have seen some of your other XF clips, very clear and easy to follow👍🍻

[@daniellee8702]

Thanks for the video it helped me out load pal, I had to get my alternator off as my freewheeling pulley on the alternator had gone, I didn’t take as much stuff off as you did and I didn’t jack the engine up I just pushed it to one side and the alternator fell right out. Thanks again

[@planetzogg1]

Brilliant vid. My XF sat down in a garage forecourt with the exact same symptoms and I was scratching my head as to what had caused it. Trusty recovery service came out and tried to recharge the battery but no luck and nasty burning smell from the engine bay. It was the alternator. It was a bit sketchy driving when the dash warnings came thick and fast then the instrument cluster went dark!

[@dipakdave7457]

Thanks Leon , appreciate your comprehensive explanation for knowledge . My xf 2.7-2008 125k has suffered same. But as I not mechanical nor have the dexterity I have asked my garage to replace it. Cost expectancy £458.

[@paulbembridge9239]

A couple of points that I've found out while doing mine. Firstly, you don't need to take the whole wastegate assembly off, just the right hand (looking forwards from under the car) pipework. Secondly, the easy way of getting the alternator out and back in between the sump and the subframe is to rotate it until the single lug is pointing down then rotate it so that the pulley is vertical (pointing towards the bonnet), then it should slip through the widest gap, towards the rear of the car easily and without recourse to screwdrivers and levers. I only found this out after 4 hours of going insane trying it your way.

[@HighlandViking78]

This just happened to mines, £590 for a new alternator fitted, goes into the garage on Friday, fingers crossed that it's the issue, just forked out £150 on a battery 😡

[@surreyarborist]

Thanks for that my Mrs xf died same warning faults like you had.

[@philipeichler9294]

Thank you for sharing this. I was able to do this same job on my car today based on what you recorded 😊

[@garyfaultless563]

Great saved me a lot of money.justed followed your guide.took me 2 steady days

[@amritaramdeholl5595]

Hello All, Thank you for this video. FYI: Leon's Jag had 115487 miles when the alternator went bad... my 2011 Jag XF alternator just went bad yesterday at.... 115467 miles.... interesting.... FYI - I did not need to unbolt engine and jack it up... I guess the US design is a little different... the alternator was super easy and done in a few hours... and no i am not a mechanic. However, after changing the alternator... the light still blinks on and off and the tire pressure is going off on all four tires... so, i am thinking a computer fault designed to be triggered at 115000+ miles marker. I will let you know. Thanks

[@fishandreptileinfo]

Thanks Leon, really interesting video. a great lesson to refer to.

[@kalcha4099]

Great video! Exactly the same thing happened to my Jaguar XF - a battery symbol followed by warning lights for ABS, gears etc then the whole electrics went off as I was driving and I had to pull over. Zapped a brand new battery of all its amps within a few minutes of driving. One word of warning. If this happens, try and quickly get the car into neutral before stopping, otherwise you won't be able to move it as it will be stuck in gear.

[@Darknessfighter]

really great video, thanks

[@-Grom-]

Nice video, thanks for that. I;m just wondering don't you have torch light in your mobile, that would make it possible to see something in tricky lightning conditions. It's amazing how such a little diode can make this big chunk of device useless. I had to replace radiator fun in my xf and it's more than likely that some tiny pcb element failure made it useless.

[@johnxxx4915]

Any problem with the battery light on but the car starts and runs fine is your not using the car enough, yes that's right. I changed my alternator, battery and voltage regulator and it still showed the battery light on. After several phone calls I was told it's my fault for not using the car every day, if you use it for 5 days on the trot the computer will sort itself out. With mine the computer would shut down leaving me with no radio, A/c or Sat Nav. It's the software in the XF.

[@stephenwilson5620]

I had the same problem I got the alternator refurbished and its putting out 13.5, I also checked battery it fine but still getting the fault, any suggestions folks

[@nathlad9290]

My alternator has just packed up I've got it booked into a garage the cheapest I could find round here is £420:(

[@BigDave1965]

Thanks Leon for a brilliant step by step guide to the hardest job I have ever done on any car, One question I fitted a new alternator (probably recon although does have a lucas label on it) and although its charging getting 13.6 volts at the battery now the battery warning signal still comes on, does this need to be reset with the SDD software? one difference with the fault light - when the fault first appeared and I reset the fault on the center screen it kept reappearing after a few mins in the message center - now after replacement it doesn't reappear only the small triangle stays on next to the clock. One of the hardest parts of this job is re-fitting the boost pipes - the metal pipe that goes up behind the alternator is a pain - we managed this by my oppo pressing down on the pipe as i pushed the pipe into the hose, next issue was re-fitting the boost pipe - 2 problems - refitting the small vac hose and fitting the center large hose back on - we decided to spit the casting by removing the 3 center bolts and fitting it as two parts - this was i was able to hold the large hose while my oppo pushed the aluminium part into it. when jacking the engine up to remove the old alternator we couldn't remove it but as soon as we loosened the near side engine mount bolt it dropped out. Anyway thanks again Leon - Looking forward to your video on replacing the timing belt lol

[@costelkoko9886]

Geoff Harrison you have my respect for doing this by yourself . I reckon my alternator needs to be changed but I think I'll take it to a garage as I don't have the tools :)))

[@ericsmythjnr]

This is a great video and am half way through taking the alternate out of my Jaguar XF. Just 1 question, is there 2 or 3 bolts holding the alternator in?

[@HUGOBMONEY]

Great video thank you very much

[@davefrance3721]

Excellent video Leon. Sadly I dont have access to a pit or ramps. My alternator failed but I only got an occassional flash of the battery light evey 3 or 4 miles and only for a second or 2. The car shutdown completely on my journey home that night. Since the dealer replace my alternator on Monday, I get the Restricted performance mode activated when I accelerate really hard and it has completed 2 gear changes and is almost ready for the 3rd gear change. I have to shut down the car and lock it then the error goes away, but comes back if I boot it again. Its OK if I boot it hard in one gear up to the redline though. Do you think they have disturbed a component under there somewhere ?

[@christopherrichards4845]

Dave it may be a coincidence that this is happening as this happens when the secondary turbo actuator sticks due to carbon build up. It can be removed quite easily and cleaned but usually sticks again. I have not had the problem for a long while since driving the car more briskly.

[@chriswood1832]

Good video thanks for all info

[@lb2084]

Brilliant video many thanks

[@ajmagic111]

Very informative Thank you

[@johnxxx4915]

I have the same problem with battery light on the dash, however had it all checked out and it's not the battery or the alternator. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[@costelkoko9886]

John Isles my battery light just came on the dashboard last night. Any news ? I hope this is not the start of my problems with the Jaguar XF. :(

[@johnxxx4915]

Try changing the battery in your key fob, yes might sound silly but it solved my problem. Let me know how you get on.

[@johnxxx4915]

Hi Costel, how did you get on after changing the key fob battery.

[@costelkoko9886]

Hi , John Isles thanks for the reply. Still waiting for the hey fob batteries. Surprisingly the warning is coming on and dissappear after few seconds but back again in about 2-3 hours. Also very weird when I get in the car and I try to start the engine (Press the brake + start button = engine running ) but in my case I have to do it twice to start the engine.

[@albertdube7328]

Amazing. I had to spend a cold london night due to failure of light systems. It cascaded from battery to wiper malfunction, to gearbox fault then even the hazards could not come on . Upon recovery the gearbox and wheels were locked so car had to be llifted by crane as this was a motorway blockade. Now my problem is charging is at 14V but i have not measured current during charge or when car is off as in the video so i will try this weekend and see. Untill i do the work i am just sharing

[@xavierestrada2694]

Would this work for a Jaguar XF 2011?

[@jsylvester1945]

Hey leon Question. What is that black single wire that is connected to the top bolt, on your positive battery clamp?

[@GRAHAMHC1]

I think I will now flog my Jag before this happens looks a bit pricy at dealer

[@chrisyang209]

my Jaguar XF 3.0 2010 also has a battery flashing for a second my i start my car sometimes. should i also change my alternator

[@undisturbed809]

Chris Yang did you change the altinator?

[@leonfletcher6045]

If it only flashes on for a second, I wouldn't worry about it.

[@undisturbed809]

Leon Fletcher I tried to jump start my jaguar xf but it hasn't made any sighs of life, my air vents also stopped working and I'm getting gear box fault and low battery fault alert message on the dashboard.

[@leonfletcher6045]

@@undisturbed809 I wouldn't attempt to drive the car with a low battery as you'll get faults in all sorts of weird systems. Charge it up (or replace if damaged/end of life) then see what faults remain, if any.

[@undisturbed809]

Leon Fletcher so I should replace the battery?

[@jimbrown9967]

Eeerrrrmmm