Old Shaguar or Modern Aldi

[Noel Tidybeard]

if the gas pressure is low in the a/c it wont switch on so ergo fans will not run

 

shirley it can only be switch, relay, fan or  broken wire

[HillmanImp]

I guess so Frank. I am leanig towards something in the wiring now as seem to have discouted everything else but will check the power at the relay tonight.

 

Interesting point re the aircon though. I was using that as proof that the fans were not working. I have used the aircon on other cars (where the aricon itself was borked) to cool it in traffic when the fan switch stopped working for a few days until the new one arrived but suppose it depends on the car. Not exactly* sure how the aircon works.

 

 

*I have literally no idea.

[The Moog]

Just pop to Halfords and buy a tin of Lucas smoke. Pour into ignition and away you go

[cort16]

I recon it's fine but if you're not sure spend 60 quid or what ever getting an auto spark to look at it and know for sure.

[Noel Tidybeard]

Just pop to Halfords and buy a tin of Lucas smoke. Pour into ignition and away you go

out of stock seems to be brewed from distilled unobtanium

 

must check grandads shed/garage as he worked for lucas and could get most things buckshee

[HillmanImp]

Sorry for the late replies, I was feeling maximum vomitus all day yesterday for some reason, still not quite right today. Only had 3 cans of weak beer in the evening too so it was not that.

 

Anyhow, dropped the car off at sparkys today for them to (hopefully) sort out. Noticed another XJ8 was also in there for electrical maladies. I might have to see if they do some sort of saver scheme?

 

Whats Lucas Smoke?

[The Moog]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/09/04/u8yjeha9

[The Moog]

[Volksy]

Whats Lucas Smoke?

 

It's what came out of my ears when I was fixing the rear lights on your GT6.

[HillmanImp]

Ah, I see. I think I should be able to get it from the same place I get the sparks for my grinder. They do trade in's so I think I should get a good price against it for the tub of steam I still have in the garage somewhere from when I last owned a Rover.

[HillmanImp]

Right, Jag apparently sorted. They have repaired the wiring for the radiator fans and replaced 2 seals on the AC and re-gassed it.

 

Seller was bigging up how he used the air-con all summer but seems like he was a bullshitter so assume he was aware of the problems with the fans but no matter, I got it cheap enough.

 

Going for a drive tonight so will see how it performs. 

[HillmanImp]

I just remembered that I sent of the V5 for this the other day and noticed that its not gold as it looks in the photo's but it's Posh Beige.

 

IMAG0969 by Afalseicon, on Flickr

[The Moog]

What's the paint code? Just been trying to repair blemishes on my brothers x308. Paint code is SEC which is rover gold. Cant get the paint blended in so quicker buying new bonnet for £35

[HillmanImp]

Will check. The copy of the V5 is at work but can check on Monday.

[cort16]

Beware that Jaguar have 3-4 shades of the same paint code. My XJR had the front wings and bonnet off another car with the same paint code fitted and it was flippin miles off.

[The Moog]

That would make sense. He got bonnet and boot replaced for £100 fitted which I think is a bargain

[HillmanImp]

Got up to drive to work yesterday in the Shaguar to find there had been a frost. So I started it up and set about spraying some de-icer on the windscreen only to notice what sounds like a death rattle coming from the engine. Not sure how long it had been there as you can't hear it from in the car.

 

I listened a while with the bonnet up and decided that the rattle was coming from the rear of the engine. Then I realised I was kidding myself and it was coming from the front where the chains are.

 

I have done a bit of reading up and I might be able to get away with just replacing the tensioners but I might not.

 

The car was advertised as having had the chains and tensioners done but it seems that they have not been and I have been done.  Bumhats. I noticed the lack of receipts for the chains when I picked the car up (or any other receipts) and was worried but had only paid £500 for it, was 200 miles away from home and did not have a train ticket back so just took it anyhow as it was probably worth a punt.

 

I have got a quite from the local independent Jag specialist and they reckon that it will be £300 +VAT for just the tensioners or about a grand plus VAT for the full shebang so it looks like I am having a punt myself and doing the whole job. 

 

I have downloaded some photographic instructions (all 76 pages - I have shorter books) and will look at this in the new year. In the meantime Meg is on full time duty. I will need to have a good read of the instructions and see if I actually need any special tools or whether I can fudge them.

 

I am inspired buy the work Mr B does to his cars, that I can actually do something this complicated to a car without totally knacking it, however he is skillful and I iz a Gordon the Moron but hell, its just a giant lego set innit. How hard can it be?

 

Worst case scenario is that I chuck £300 at it on a chain kit, fook it and weigh it in and spend another £300 on a Mondeo so have not really lost much eh?

[Sigmund Fraud]

 

I am inspired buy the work Mr B does to his cars, that I can actually do something this complicated to a car without totally knacking it, however he is skillful and I iz a Gordon the Moron but hell, its just a giant lego set innit. How hard can it be?

 

Do your homework before starting, be methodical, take pictures for reference if necessary. WCPGW ?

[cort16]

Is it a 4.0? It's pretty tight in there I guess the radiator and all that will need to come out along with the bonnet as it opens the wrong way?

 

500 quid car though WCPGW? philbusimo did the belt on a v6 Avantime as the first belt he ever did, which is renowned as being a complete and utter bastard so as long a you've got the right tools and time why not?

[Volksy]

 

 

"I am inspired buy the work Mr B does to his cars, that I can actually do something this complicated to a car without totally knacking it, however he is skillful and I iz a Gordon the Moron but hell, its just a giant lego set innit. How hard can it be?"

 

*Switches Phone Off*

 

 

Has it got any Antifreeze in it?

[cort16]

I've been thinking about this and what would happen if I did it. PAY THE 300 QUID FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

[320touring]

I've been thinking about this and what would happen if I did it. PAY THE 300 QUID FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

Or do it, put it back together and doubt yourself then sell it to me for 100;)

 

Good luck-you'll be fine!

[Taff]

it's only nuts and bolts, I always approach these matters with "some bugger put it together, how hard can it be to get it apart?" frame of mind.

 

Mind you, all my cars are in bits and scattered around Wiltshire

[HillmanImp]

Is it a 4.0?

 

Its the 3.2 so its not as bad so quite a lot of the 76 pages of photos on t'interweb can be discarded as I dont need to worry about the VVT shizzle etc which makes things a little easier.

 

*Switches Phone Off*

 

That would be a good idea. I will be ringing up asking questions about the 'Can-train' and 'shankcalf pulley' and whether 'the car is meant to be of fire, it doesn't mention that in the instructions' until you rush up from Sheffield to save the day.

 

However if you happen to be bored in January feel free to pop up to Baildon for a day or two for lots of free beer you will be more than welcome

 

Has it got any Antifreeze in it?

 

 

Yeah, the orange Jag stuff. I do need to replace it as have no idea how old it is. I bought a new thermostat housing to fit at the same time as changing the coolant as it has the old plastic one on at the moment and they are apparently shite. I apologise for sounding like an Ebay ad but I have genuinely bought it and 'have not got round to fitting it yet'.

 

Will order the bits me thinks and have a crack at it, I have nothing to lose.

 

Here is the website I found with the instructions. They are pretty good so I cant see how I can go wrong really.

 

http://jaguar.blackonyx.net/tech/timingchain.htm

[HillmanImp]

Spoke to the Jag specialist about this. Think I need to speak to another one though. 

 

He basically said to me that from my description of the problem, it sounds like I need to get the full shebang done but that will cost about a grand to be done professionally. 

 

When I said I don't really fancy doing that, I may as well get another car, he said that if I just get the top tensioners done at a cost of £320 it would not completely stop the rattle but it would stop any worry of it failing. 

 

3 scenarios here:

• He was flogging me snake oil in the full change, its not really needed and when he realised I am a massive cheapskate, he reverted to the cheaper option. 
• He is just going to get the £320 work done and its going to fail anyhow but at least they have some cash.
• It really does need everything doing but its not really too bad to leave it, especially on an older car which does not have that much life left in it anyhow. Its nothing that can't be picked up properly in a couple of years time. 

Has anyone got any experience of these? They are a well respected garage so I would hope 3 but was not sure what to think. 

 

The appeal of giving it a crack myself has kind of faded since bird found out that she is not getting her post renewed with the council early next year so I can't really be throwing money at something I might just cock up/end up having to get professional help anyhow after I drown in my own stupidity.

[John F]

Holy thread reincarnation...!

 

John F, on 12 Jul 2012 - 4:57 PM, said:John F, on 12 Jul 2012 - 4:57 PM, said:

Same with my £400 Calibra V6.

Other than consumable parts it's cost me an alternator in 5 years / 60,000 miles. And as it's a very tidy pre-facelift example it's probably worth nearly double what I paid for it.

Not that I'll be selling it.

 

I've still got this Calibra... I've now had it 9 years, and it needs a radiator.

 

So that's a radiator and an alternator in 9 years. Oh yeah, and a 2nd hand nsf propshaft 'cos the inboard CV joint started to rumble.

 

Prices for tidy early V6s are now around £1500

 

Back on topic...

 

Mr Imp, how much would a replacement Jaguar cost that didn't have rattling chains? And how much would yours be worth over the bridge?

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Unfortunately, the XJ8 is a much needier beast than six cylinder versions. I have never done it, but from what I have read on the Internet, changing the upper timing tensioners change seems to be a fairly straight forward thing.

 

Lots of people seem to replace only the upper tensioners. I don't know whether this solves the problem or not long term, but it does seem to be much more commonly done this way, than doing the whole job.

[cort16]

TBH for an easy life I'd just get someone else to do it especially given the time of the year. You could have it back and fixed before christmas.

[barefoot]

Plus one on this, 

 

You seem to like the car?

Get it sorted, hang onto it for a bit longer than planned and enjoy it.

[HillmanImp]

TBH for an easy life I'd just get someone else to do it especially given the time of the year. You could have it back and fixed before christmas.

 

Oh aye, I am definitely doing that now as cant afford to balls it up. My only issue is if he does do the £320 fix as suggested, is that actually going to sort it?

 

Why was he saying it needed the £1k job first and then change his tune.

 

If it is indeed the 3rd option above I will get it done. If its going to be £320 for a fix that will break in a couple of months I won't bother. At the moment I can't figure out if I can get away with the £320 or not.