XJ XJ6 / XJ8 / XJR ( X350 & X358 ) 2003 - 2009

Bags of water

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Old 05-27-2017, 03:31 PM
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Default Bags of water

Hi,
I have one of these beautiful alumininium beasts. Underneath, roughly in line with the windscreen, there are a couple of holes in the floor pan, about 2cm diameter, with plastic bags of water above them. Yes, bags of water resting on the top of the floorpan.
What are they for?
Many thanks
Bill
 
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Old 05-27-2017, 03:44 PM
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Photo would be helpful
 
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Old 05-28-2017, 02:33 AM
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Yes, indeed. Here they are. I have made a small hole in one of the bags, and loads of water came out, about a litre I would guess, but there is still some there.
I've had a thought - are these some sort of temporary storage for the water from the aircon? Maybe the water is supposed to evaporate through the bags rather than drip down like most cars?
 
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Old 05-28-2017, 05:26 PM
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I think you have a leak somewhere and it's soaking the carpet and the plastic bag is the covering under the carpet check your water run always under the bonnet are not blocked
 
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Old 05-29-2017, 03:32 AM
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Hi.
All the carpets seem dry, and all the drains seem clear. When I bought the car in October last year, the large drain for the wiper on the drivers side was completly blocked, but I promptly cleared it.
I have attached a photo showing as much of one of the bags as I could pull through the hole.
Could it be that these bags were inflated to keep muck out of the cavity, and that over the years they have filled with water?
 
Attached Thumbnails Bags of water-waterbag.jpg  

Last edited by Billwood; 05-29-2017 at 05:02 AM.
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Old 05-29-2017, 01:31 PM
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Good a guess as any.
 
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Old 05-29-2017, 02:57 PM
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Does anyone else have these bags? Are they full of water, or air, or empty?
I'm tempted to rip them out, being full of water can't be right . . . .
 
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Old 05-31-2017, 12:46 AM
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I have the same issue. Can others climb under their car and see if we are missing some rubber grommets?
 
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Old 05-31-2017, 02:52 AM
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Hole and a void behind it on mine. Nothing behind it as far as the length of my finger can tell.
 
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Old 05-31-2017, 04:08 AM
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Thanks for looking Chris, Maybe your later 2006 model wasn't fitted with these, because they kept filling with water!
Anyway, I have ripped out as much of the plastic bag as I easily could, and what was inside? Sponge foam! Soaking wet sponge foam! My guess is that this foam filled bag was there either to stop muck getting into the cavity or as soundproofing, and over time it have been holed allowing drain water to get inside.

I’m pleased that this area can now dry out, and I might even try pulling out the foam as well.
BTW, there was a large black foam filled bag in a cavity under the bonnet, driver’s side, that I removed ages ago as it was dislodging the drain pipe in that cavity. Pics attached. Nothing to do this thread maybe, but similar design concept.
 
Attached Thumbnails Bags of water-bag1.jpg  
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Old 05-31-2017, 07:25 PM
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What are the purpose of the holes? Is it a jacking point?

What is the purpose of the plastic bag and foam? Remind us about diapers?

Do all cars have this or did they stop after issues arose. My 2004 has the soggy bag and I wouldn't mind pulling it out, but would like to know what the purpose of it is before I remove it. ,

If it is sound proofing I think I could fill the void with expanding foam and then put grommets in those holes. I don't want to make it water tight if it is a drain of some type.
 
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Old 05-31-2017, 07:52 PM
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Who knows what treasures are hidden deep within our cars...
 
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Old 06-02-2017, 01:31 AM
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The jacking point is just next to the hole, it is on the edge where all the body panels meet and are riveted together. The Jaguar supplied jack is shaped to fit over this edge.
My guess is the bags are just cavity fillers, to keep dirt out, but did more harm than good and were not fitted on later models. I don't like the idea of a wet sponge in my car, so I'm going to pull as much of it out as I can.
I wouldn't use expanding form. If water did get in, it would never dry out! A grommet would be an idea, there are a couple of smaller holes in that area that would allow drainage and ventilation, if needed.
 

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