Handsome bastard, fighting me all the way...

[eddyramrod]

Now then... a tale of spannering.

When I took possession of Handsome, his EML was on.  I knew about it; @HMC assured me it wasn't affecting the driving experience, and for the first day or two, he was right.  However last Sunday I went to the Lakeland Motor Museum for Drive It Day, and began to experience hesitation under throttle.  So, on Tuesday I took it in to Martin's garage to have the codes read.  I got a phone call yesterday.

Both banks were running lean, and it seems there's a plastic box at the back of the engine, part of the intake system, and this was broken.  I authorised a replacement.

So this morning I got a phone call telling me the car was ready.

Here are the broken bits.  EML is now off and there is no hesitation when I apply throttle.  Just as a Jag should be!

Meanwhile as you may have noticed, @NorfolkNWeigh offered me a 1/43 model X350.  It arrived today.

And now it's in my paintshop.

Oh and just because I can...

Here it is round the corner, with a neighbour's X-Type in the same green.

[2flags]

Well done ad well swapped. Great cars Jags. I have an XType myself and love it! It comes a time when a car needs a new owner, It seems that time had come for Huggy.

[danthecapriman]

Nice one Eddy, sounds like you’ll be back to hesitation free license loosing driving again.
It’s certainly a handsome looking car too, and the colour really suits it. Classy and sophisticated!

[eddyramrod]

I suppose I should have taken before-and-after photos but I didn't, words will have to do.

The other day I decided to do something about the glue residue on the rear number plate, from where sticky pads had apparently been allowed to rest on it.  Three vertical strips were distorting the letters and It occurred to me that I might get a pull for improperly displaying the plate.  So I delicately scraped at them with a Stanley blade, and got most of the residue off.  The VRM is now decently legible again.  I was in two minds about buying a new plate but now I don't need to   Yay me!

[eddyramrod]

Oh and since I haven't done one yet...

Finally, the pez shot!  I didn't have to put any in the day I got it, that's my excuse.  This is from a week or so later.

[eddyramrod]

At some point I need to replicate this...

I know it's the wrong model but it'll do for me!

[eddyramrod]

The other day I was taking some stuff out of the trunk and putting it back, and I noticed a hissing from, it seemed, the left rear wheel.  Next time I wanted to drive it I looked at the tyres beforehand and they seemed ok, but the car was sitting low.  The dashboard confirmed my diagnosis: faulty air suspension.  It's going to the garage round the corner tomorrow, where it can stay until we get back from Knockhill.

Isn't there always something!

[gadgetgricey]

I am joking

Hopefully will be a quick and easy fix and not too much of a hit on the wallet.

[eddyramrod]

1 minute ago, gadgetgricey said:

I am joking

Hopefully will be a quick and easy fix and not too much of a hit on the wallet.

Hopefully, yes!  Thank you for the levity, btw, it put a smile on my chops.

[brownnova]

2 hours ago, gadgetgricey said:

I am joking

Hopefully will be a quick and easy fix and not too much of a hit on the wallet.

S’not that one you need it’s… 

 

Good luck with the repair Eddy, hopefully it’ll be easily rectified! 

[eddyramrod]

Oh it'll certainly be easy!  I won't be so much as opening the shed door, the garage can deal with it.  Paying for it might be a different story though.  Just have to keep my fingers crossed there.

[eddyramrod]

It needs a new air suspension strut, with airbag.  The garage can get one, £450 +VAT.  So I had a look online, and found an ebay seller offering them (supposedly new) at £235 with free postage.  Obviously I've ordered one.

[Doctormop]

Fingers crossed it does the job Eddy,

[paulplom]

On 7/28/2022 at 10:32 AM, eddyramrod said:

The other day I was taking some stuff out of the trunk

WTF is a trunk?!

[eddyramrod]

The new strut has arrived today.  I put it in the trunk and walked round to the garage to tell them.  Yes sir, we can fit you in... a week on Friday.  Well they are always busy.  Sign of a good garage, or just capitalising on local closures (two gone in the last 12 months)?

[twosmoke300]

The lucky bastards ! ( the garages that have closed. )

[eddyramrod]

Well the day finally arrived, and Handsome has now been to the garage for some suspension fondling.  As far as I can tell it now works ok, but then since I picked it up on Friday afternoon I haven't been anywhere.  Cost for fitting: £78-odd.  Happy customer!

I'm going a bit further tomorrow (like maybe 2 miles each way) so I should be better able to judge the outcome.

[High Jetter]

Jag? Have you got breakdown cover?

[eddyramrod]

I got there and back without FTP so I think it must be all right now.

[gadgetgricey]

5 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

I got there and back without FTP so I think it must be all right now.

There was a horrible grinding noise the whole time and car was a bit sluggish though.:)

Glad its sorted and £78 seems a bargain.

[eddyramrod]

2 minutes ago, gadgetgricey said:

There was a horrible grinding noise the whole time and car was a bit sluggish though.:)

Glad its sorted and £78 seems a bargain.

Oh trust me, neither of the above happened!  Sluggish is not a word I can use about this car, unless maybe I was trying to push it.  Grinding noises I leave to my neighbour's Vauxhall Insignificant.

[eddyramrod]

I noticed something today...

When I had that diesel Astra last year, I was inclined to turn up the CD player so that I couldn't hear the engine.  Now I have a V8 Jag and I turn up the CD player because I can't hear the engine!  Handsome is just too damn quiet.

Still a lovely car though.  I like it a lot.

[eddyramrod]

Handsome's MoT is creeping closer - it's due on the 23rd.  I have therefore booked him in for next Wednesday, 14th.  Wish us luck!

[eddyramrod]

He's gone in this morning.  I just have to wait now...

[montytom]

13 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

He's gone in this morning.  I just have to wait now...

Good luck fingers are crossed for you

[gadgetgricey]

2 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

He's gone in this morning.  I just have to wait now...

Congrats

 

[eddyramrod]

And we have a pass   So I've been for a little victory lap and stopped at a mate's house for a brew, seeing as his garage door was open; always a sign that he's in.  His V12 E-type was under its cover, his Daimler XJ40 out at a local garage for some little bits of bodywork.  This is the life eh!

So thanks, everyone, for the good thoughts, they obviously did the trick!

[Dobloseven]

Saw Eddys Jaguar last weekend and it is a nice looking machine. Can't believe those models are as old as they are. Good to see them kept in daily use. 

[eddyramrod]

Six months later, there's nothing to report running-wise.  However I did show up at the Practical Classics jaunt to the Lakeland Motor Museum, and got a little blurb in the current issue!

Thanks to @Ian_Fearn for the scan.

[danthecapriman]

20 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

Six months later, there's nothing to report running-wise.  However I did show up at the Practical Classics jaunt to the Lakeland Motor Museum, and got a little blurb in the current issue!

Thanks to @Ian_Fearn for the scan.

That issue has just fallen through the letterbox so I’ll have a gander! I’ll post you the issue if you want it?