Have you taken a spin in your Jaguar and then out of the blue, the ‘Failsafe Engine Mode’ warning appears on the screen? This warning light can be a real heart-stopper and leave you wondering what could have occurred to your luxurious car. Jaguars are packed with sleek, high-tech features, but like any mechanical system, they are not immune to problems. But what does this warning light mean, and what should you do when it comes on?

What Is The Failsafe Engine Mode?

This warning light is a safety feature that comes equipped in your Jaguar. It protects the engine and transmission if the car’s computer recognizes a problem. Once a complication is detected in the engine or transmission, the system reduces the engine power to avoid making the problem worse. This is why your Jaguar may feel slow or have trouble accelerating when it enters the failsafe mode. It is like the Jaguar is saying, ‘Hey boss, something is wrong, and we need to check it out!’

Since this car mode is useful in preventing serious damage, it becomes necessary to know why the mode was activated in the first place.

Causes Of Failsafe Engine Mode

• Throttle Body Failure: One of the most common causes of the failsafe engine mode activation in Jaguars, is a throttle body malfunction. The function of the throttle body is to regulate the air intake to the engines and to determine the power output of the engines. If this part fails, the car computer may sense strange air intake and cause it to go into safe mode for the engine. The symptoms of a faulty throttle body include poor accelerating power, stalling, and at times, no power at all.
• Mass Airflow Sensor Failure: The MAF sensor is an important part of your Jaguar that effectively controls the air-fuel mixture required in the engine. When this sensor fails, the engine computer gets bad data that might lead to the failsafe engine mode. A dirty or faulty MAF sensor in your Jaguar may cause the engine to idle roughly, have poor fuel economy, or make check engine light come on. Cleaning or changing the MAF sensor is usually a simple job, but when you ignore it, you’ll end up causing more problems for the engine.
• Transmission Problems: It may sound surprising to hear this, but even Jaguar’s high-performance transmissions are not immune to problems that can trigger the failsafe mode. Transmission issues may lead to the car’s computer diminishing power to the engine, as a way of protecting the automobile. Some of the transmission problems that would prompt the failsafe mode include low transmission fluid, a bad transmission control module, or even a slipping transmission.

If your Jaguar enters failsafe mode because of transmission problems, it may stall, shift roughly, or make unusual noises while you’re driving. This is why you should take your car for a mechanical inspection as early as possible before the problem intensifies.

What Should You Do When The Failsafe Mode is Triggered?

If your Jaguar ever goes into the failsafe engine mode, you should not panic. The first action recommended is to carefully pull over to the side of the road and turn off your engine. Then try to turn on the engine again to see if the system will recalibrate or reset on its own. Sometimes, the failsafe mode is activated by a temporary hitch, and turning the car off and on again clears the problem.

However, if the issue continues, you should take your Jaguar to a mechanic for a check-up. Driving the car with an active failsafe mode can lead to additional harm, especially if the problem is severe.

Where Should You Go To Resolve A Failsafe Engine Mode?

If you realize you are struggling with a Failsafe Engine Mode in your Jaguar, do not hesitate to visit us. At Rowlett Motorwerks, we have the expertise to get your car back on the road as soon as possible. Our job is to diagnose and understand your Jaguar’s problem, and then determine how best to solve it. We have our shop in Rowlett, TX, and serve Jaguar and other European automobile drivers from places like Rockwall, Garland, Sachse, and Wylie, TX. Come to us today for a well-maintained Jaguar.

* Jaguar F Type Car image credit goes to: Sue Thatcher.