Jaguar Repair: Car died and mechanic taking me to the cleaners!, jaguar s type, older models

Question
I have a 2001 Jaguar S-type. I see your expertise is in older models, but if you have anything at all you can contribute to my problem I would GREATLY appreciate it.  Check engine light came on. Took it to Autozone and got codes of PO153 and PO171. Drove for a couple days and light went off. Few days later car dies while driving and won't restart, but battery is turning over. Towed on a flat bed truck to mechanic. He gets same codes on diagnostic and also says system too lean bank one.  He tells me I have a fuel pump circuit fuse blown. He replaces fuse, but says it still runs rough and that fuse keeps blowing. Suggests we have some leaks in hoses and we should replace all in breather system, and also suggests we replace spark plugs. At this time he tells us the fuel pump is good. About 10 days later we've heard nothing so we call and he tells us that now the fuel pump is bad. Feeling like we're being jerked around, but not sure what else to do we tell him to go ahead with the fuel pump and to keep our total repair bill under $2K because at this point we're up to around $1200. Another 10 days later he calls and says they've been road testing the last few days and everything seems to be fixed, but that we'll have to take it to the Jag dealer to get the suspension light checked out. What????!!! We went to the shop to speak to him about it. He says the CATS system fault light is on which means it has something to do with my suspension, but if you turn the key a few times it will go off, but comes back on later. This light was not on when we dropped it off and he NEVER mentioned this light until he tries to slip it in when we're supposed to pick it up. He says they noticed it when they replaced the fuse, but figured we knew about it so he didn't mention it. The Jag dealer I called today said he could've caused it when changing out hoses, etc. by knocking something loose or clipping the wrong wire, or I could have something different wrong with it. I didn't pay for the repairs today and ''expressed'' our displeasure with the service. I told him it seemed wrong to ask me to pay $2K after keeping my car for a month and then telling me to take it to Jag to check out the CATS. I know I'm being screwed here, but not sure what to do. I guess I have a couple questions. #1 What was likely wrong with my car to begin with? #2 Did I replace a bunch of hoses and stuff unnecessarily? #3 What course of action should I be taking at this point? He has the car, I haven't paid him anything, and it still needs to go to Jag. Had we been told about the CATS issue at the beginning, I wouldn't have authorized any further repairs knowing it had to go to the dealer and not knowing a total cost of repairs on a car whose KBB value is around $6K. Feeling completely screwed!  Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,

Lori

Answer
Hi Lori,
Sorry to hear about what you have fallen into. My experience with Jaguars ended with the 1987 models. However, my background has been extensive in the auto industry and from what you tell me I can't tell if he is ripping you off or not. The Jaguar dealer can check the car over and tell you if this mechanic did anything wrong. If I were you I would just ask the Jag dealer to check the car over and give you a estimate in writing of what is wrong and what it will cost to fix it. there is a charge to do this but nothing compared to the pit falls of non-Jag mechanics getting you in the pickle you are in now. Also get them to tell you if any of the former repairs were causing any problems. They may not want to put that in writing as that would involve them in any law suits if that arises.
The Jaguar dealerships are very expensive to go to for repairs but unless you can find a independent Jaguar shop that is current on your model car you should avoid taking a Jaguar to just any repair facility. There are very few things on your car that any mechanic can repair. I am well experienced on Jaguar from 1960 to 1987 models but I will not even look at a 1988 Jag or later. I was a mechanics instructor in two different commercial mechanic's schools and was a tech line answerman for mechanics for many years and the fact that I know better than to work on a model that I have no experience on should tell you something.
A mechanic is NOT a mechanic on all cars. No matter what they tell you. A mechanic that tells you he can fix all cars is a LIAR and what you have fallen into proves it.
If it was my car, I would take it to the Jag dealer and get a written estimate and then decide what to do.
Howard