Shagged XJS - GOT THE MOVES LIKE JAGUAR. NOW with inept attempts to start after one year on its bum

[Guest Breadvan72]

  On 26/07/2015 at 10:39, TagoraSX said:

I'm on the lookout for an XJ-S too, a 3.6 manual.

 

Don't take the asking price as an indicator of condition, there are LOTS of sheds about, BEWARE!

 

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C624295

[Justin Case]

  On 02/08/2015 at 08:31, Breadvan72 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C624295

The overdrive on the Bullshit Generator is working perfectly. WCPGW

[Guest Breadvan72]

Those earlier ones had the proper Lucas Bullshit Generators, not that Bosch crap they put on the later versions. 

[Junkman]

  Quote

 

A full stainless steel exhaust system gives a great engine note

 

I noticed at recent classic car meets that there seems to be a contest going on who has the loudest and most obnoxious sounding car.

The ones with the noisiest flatulence always have this polished stainless rubbish fitted. I hope this daft fad goes away as quickly as it came,

preferrably at the next MoT test.

[xtriple]

I watched a shit film late last night that was filmed in 1999 and starred that bird who played 'Phoebe' in friends and some other lass who was a bit gorgeous on the sly... anyway, I digress, they were trolling around in an XJ-S convertible which must have been a fair few years old by then (it wasn't a facelift) and it was a lovely red metallic with cream leather and it was lovely - the shine on it was feet deep and not a trace of a ripple anywhere.

 

The car was definitely the high spot of a very sorry movie. Downside was it made me think of you!

[Guest Breadvan72]

Not good just before bedtime!

[Bear]

  On 02/08/2015 at 15:37, xtriple said:

I watched a shit film late last night that was filmed in 1999 and starred that bird who played 'Phoebe' in friends and some other lass who was a bit gorgeous on the sly... anyway, I digress, they were trolling around in an XJ-S convertible which must have been a fair few years old by then (it wasn't a facelift) and it was a lovely red metallic with cream leather and it was lovely - the shine on it was feet deep and not a trace of a ripple anywhere.

 

The car was definitely the high spot of a very sorry movie. Downside was it made me think of you!

 

I invented post-its.

[anonymous user]

  On 02/08/2015 at 15:37, xtriple said:

I watched a shit film late last night that was filmed in 1999 and starred that bird who played 'Phoebe' in friends and some other lass who was a bit gorgeous on the sly... anyway, I digress, they were trolling around in an XJ-S convertible which must have been a fair few years old by then (it wasn't a facelift) and it was a lovely red metallic with cream leather and it was lovely - the shine on it was feet deep and not a trace of a ripple anywhere.

 

The car was definitely the high spot of a very sorry movie. Downside was it made me think of you!

I've met Breadvan, he looks nothing like Phoebe from Friends, now if you'd said Monica I could see a bit of resemblance

[Clanger]

Fat Monica, or the shaggable Monica?

[Guest Breadvan72]

Both

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

  On 02/08/2015 at 15:37, xtriple said:

I watched a shit film late last night that was filmed in 1999 and starred that bird who played 'Phoebe' in friends and some other lass who was a bit gorgeous on the sly... anyway, I digress, they were trolling around in an XJ-S convertible which must have been a fair few years old by then (it wasn't a facelift) and it was a lovely red metallic with cream leather and it was lovely - the shine on it was feet deep and not a trace of a ripple anywhere.

 

The car was definitely the high spot of a very sorry movie. Downside was it made me think of you!

 

  On 02/08/2015 at 16:42, RichardK said:

I invented post-its.

 

 

Romy and Michelle's High school reunion - though I'm not sure why I know that.

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120032/

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

  On 02/08/2015 at 06:12, Breadvan72 said:

Dirtier than twelve Dagenham shop girls on pay day:-

 

WP_20150802_06_26_18_Pro.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very original!

 

In fact so original it has still got the black distributor cap, probably the original rotor - and by the looks of things - the factory fitted and now thoroughly ossified plug wires with the high voltage label. The AJ6 seems to shrug off such things (a later V12 can burst into flames given the same treatment - google 'Marelli burn') but may well idle smoother and feel slightly happier if they're replaced.

 

There is only one thing really which stops these engines with any regularity and that is the crank position sensor. They seem to last about 100,000 miles - but some last much longer.

 

The CPS can fail in two ways - either they break down gradually causing strange vibrations and engine behaviour - or most often, they fail once and completely. With a bad CPS, the fuel injection module doesn't know the engine's position so does not fire the injectors or the spark plugs - dry plugs with no spark is nearly always a bad CPS.

 

On older Jags with the AJ6, the bad CPS  tell-tale is that the engine cranks without registering on the rev counter. This diagnostic test doesn't work on late cars - but at 1992, IIRC yours falls into the earlier category. Worth remembering if the car cranks but won't start at some time in the future. Fortunately they are still available - replacing one is an easy job which takes a few minutes.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Mega know how, thanks chap!

[Guest Breadvan72]

Car has some paperwork with it and seems to have been looked after quite well, ish, although the rust was neglected  (and may I fear be much worse than I can see at present).  I am the fourth keeper, the first one being a Jag dealership, IIRC.  Jag stamps in the book up to about 10K miles ago.  Books present, jack and spare OK, toolkit gone but I found one on eBay.

 

Heater seems dodgy.  Knob missing from driver's seat tilt (eBay again), one knob missing from climate controls (eBay).   Some tendency for the myriad warning lights to come on briefly when nowt is amiss (because old, I think).    Boot and footwells super dry.

 

Average 24 mpg on the computer so far.  Have been using the sport setting on the autobox a bit!

[Clanger]

  On 03/08/2015 at 11:13, Breadvan72 said:

Knob missing from driver's seat...

I won't make the obvious pun, it's like shooting fish in a barrel, just not sporting.

[Guest Breadvan72]

You are Diana Ross at World Cup 94 AICMFP.

Already did the gag on another thread, or was that on PH? Anyway, professional courtesy dictates that I say:  Fill yer boots, Counsellor.

[Clanger]

I couldn't.

 

Could I?

 

No.

 

Well, maybe....

 

No, it just wouldn't be cricket.

 

Besides, I smell a trap.

 

Runs away.

[Bear]

  On 03/08/2015 at 10:06, Magnificent Rustbucket said:

Romy and Michelle's High school reunion - though I'm not sure why I know that.

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120032/

 

Because it's a film with a Jag in it? I know someone called Ramon, too. Much amusement.

 

FWIW I preferred Janeane Garofalo in it (and Mystery Men, and TOTALLY in Reality Bites).

[Guest Breadvan72]

Daughter approves of heap:-

 

 

[Partridge]

  On 03/08/2015 at 11:13, Breadvan72 said:

Car has some paperwork with it and seems to have been looked after quite well, ish, although the rust was neglected  (and may I fear be much worse than I can see at present).  I am the fourth keeper, the first one being a Jag dealership, IIRC.  Jag stamps in the book up to about 10K miles ago.  Books present, jack and spare OK, toolkit gone but I found one on eBay.

 

Heater seems dodgy.  Knob missing from driver's seat tilt (eBay again), one knob missing from climate controls (eBay).   Some tendency for the myriad warning lights to come on briefly when nowt is amiss (because old, I think).    Boot and footwells super dry.

 

Average 24 mpg on the computer so far.  Have been using the sport setting on the autobox a bit!

I've been getting flat 20 mpg out of a SAAB 9000 Turbo I've been smoking around in (yes, I know, owch), so you're not doing too badly.

 

In terms of the knob, just craft* one out of wood, Oppan Dugong Style.

[mercedade]

Re: warning lights. More so than in any other car I've owned, both my XJ40s had a peculiar sensitivity to mismatched glass-wrapped electrikikciity glow-worms. If I replaced a sidelight bulb with a different make to the otherside, it would throw a warning light. Imagine how long it took to work that one out*

 

*No time at all, I read it on a helpful forum somewhere

[Guest Breadvan72]

I have been borrowing this 1994 car that belongs to a friend.  It has the AJ16 engine, with coil on plug ignition and other modern weirdnesses.   V smooth, mucho torquo.  The same warning light wibble occurs on this one as on my one.

 

 

 

 

 

|

[purplebargeken]

The bulb mismatch thing is well-known. Especially to those who know about it.

 

Yes, it is odd. 

[brownnova]

I've been deliberately avoiding this thread as I knew it would induce much wantage!! So now I read it all... And guess what... Much wantage!!

 

Nearly bought a V12 one about 18 months ago, but someone bought it whilst I was on the way to go look at it!

[brickwall]

Such a sexy machine.

[cort16]

My CL500 did that bulb warning thing it's really annoying. I'd gave up on trying to fix it until someone on here (pete-m I think) mentioned it and when I replaced both number plate bulbs at the same time it fixed it.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I think Breadvan's XJS is showing all of its warning lights occasionally - not just its bulb warning light, isn't it? On an XJ40, this can be a symptom of a less than fully perky battery.

 

Or is it several specific lights, rather than all of them?

[xtriple]

If I recall correctly (doubtful) my XJ-S used to show it's dash warning lights when the alternator was delivering little or no charge. It was definitely voltage related. Oh and the battery on mine was shagged and it had to suffer the indignity of a jump start from a Hillman Avenger in the snow!

 

Mine used to need a rev in neutral to make the lights go out and the alternator do its thing. Also, if I thrashed it hard and then panic braked the idle would dip quite low and the lights would come on. Again, fixed by revs.

[Taff]

I think it's nice that the car likes him so much that it winks all it's warning lights at him

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

 

 

 

 

  On 06/08/2015 at 11:48, xtriple said:

If I recall correctly (doubtful) my XJ-S used to show it's dash warning lights when the alternator was delivering little or no charge. It was definitely voltage related. Oh and the battery on mine was shagged and it had to suffer the indignity of a jump start from a Hillman Avenger in the snow!

 

Mine used to need a rev in neutral to make the lights go out and the alternator do its thing. Also, if I thrashed it hard and then panic braked the idle would dip quite low and the lights would come on. Again, fixed by revs.

 

 

I wonder if it is the alternator. If you look at the voltmeter reading on Breadvan's XJS versus the voltmeter reading on my XJ40 - mine is higher. I know that my car is charging to specification - does that mean Breadvan's is lower than it should be?

 

The two cars have different alternators. Jaguar used a Bosch one for a short while in the late 80s/early 90s - but in late 1992 switched to an uprated Nippon Denso alternator - which my car has. Still, I suspect Breadvan's XJS may not be charging quite as it should - the Lucas voltmeter looks a little low!

 

Have a look in your handbook BV  - it will say what it should be.