1998 Jaguar XJ
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

1998 Jaguar XJ Transponder Key Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

Got a call from a man in Downtown National City, parked in one of the lots near the main commercial strip. He had a 1998 Jaguar XJ and a key that turned freely in the ignition but wouldn't keep the engine running. It would catch for a second and die. He'd already had a fuel pump test done at a shop. Clean bill of health.

That start-and-stall pattern is the immobilizer talking. The transponder in his key wasn't being read correctly. He had his original key, but it had been on a ring with a couple of heavy fobs for years and the key head had taken some abuse. The chip inside was still there, but the connection between the chip and the antenna coil around the ignition barrel was unreliable.

I cut a fresh key blade to match his locks, enrolled the transponder to the vehicle's immobilizer on site, and tested it through several cold start cycles right there in the lot. Solid starts every time.

He mentioned the dealer had quoted him a multi-day turnaround just to look at it. He'd already lost two days chasing the wrong diagnosis. We wrapped the whole job in under two hours from the time I pulled in.

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LCO#6792

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