New Jaguar owner
#1
New Jaguar owner
I purchased a 2004 jaguar xjr because I always wanted one, I knew it would be a bit of a project. I have replaced the air spring shocks, some bushings, and the suspension compressor. It still feels like I'm getting some pressure or roughness in the driver side area when I drive and especially when I'm braking. Any suggestions for a smoother ride. Also, I'm having a hard time passing emissions, I've driven 150 miles and I'm still failing three of the readiness test. Please give suggestions.
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mhannaoui (09-10-2020)
#2
For an up-market car like this, it is essential to have the fault codes read. Even though you may have no fault lights up on the dash, there may be stored codes that need clearing out, then the car run to see what comes up afresh. The next thing is - do you have a Jaguar specialist near you, or at least somebody who works on European cars ?
Whilst the XJ you have is a fine car, (I had two from 2010-2016), the Achilles Heel of the car is the short life of the suspension bushes. So, again, it is essential front and rear is inspected for wear and tear. Common wearing bushes are - front and rear air spring unit lower bushes, rear lower wishbone bushes, and the front wishbone arm trunnion bushes. There are others but they last a little longer. XJRs tend to be driven energetically, and, again, this accelerates wear.
Anyway, tell us a bit more about the car - mileage ? When you bought it, did it look taken care of and cherished ? As a 2004 it is now 16 years old. I would also strongly suggest you check the fuel tank securing straps, These are well known for rusting through at a certain point and the tank then drops down. Did you get any info on what work has been done on the car when you bought it ? Just so you know, the car was late on sale, and the project manager got fired for it. The aluminium technology took quite some time to sort out. Jaguar put the car on sale with a number of issues outstanding expecting to sort things out under warranty - "every customer is a tester". Not good if you want to maintain a good reputation !! Most of these should have been dealt with long ago.
Whilst the XJ you have is a fine car, (I had two from 2010-2016), the Achilles Heel of the car is the short life of the suspension bushes. So, again, it is essential front and rear is inspected for wear and tear. Common wearing bushes are - front and rear air spring unit lower bushes, rear lower wishbone bushes, and the front wishbone arm trunnion bushes. There are others but they last a little longer. XJRs tend to be driven energetically, and, again, this accelerates wear.
Anyway, tell us a bit more about the car - mileage ? When you bought it, did it look taken care of and cherished ? As a 2004 it is now 16 years old. I would also strongly suggest you check the fuel tank securing straps, These are well known for rusting through at a certain point and the tank then drops down. Did you get any info on what work has been done on the car when you bought it ? Just so you know, the car was late on sale, and the project manager got fired for it. The aluminium technology took quite some time to sort out. Jaguar put the car on sale with a number of issues outstanding expecting to sort things out under warranty - "every customer is a tester". Not good if you want to maintain a good reputation !! Most of these should have been dealt with long ago.
Last edited by Fraser Mitchell; 09-05-2020 at 05:30 AM.
#3
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Yes the vehicle was well taken care at least it looks nice. It has 97,000 miles, don't kno much about work that was previously done. Thanks for the advice
Oh quick question, what's the deal with the parking break seems that I have to turn it off before every drive, didn't realize that the first couple drives.
Oh quick question, what's the deal with the parking break seems that I have to turn it off before every drive, didn't realize that the first couple drives.
#4
The parking brake (UK = Handbrake), should release when you put the car into gear to drive off, and automatically come on when the drive is put into Park. I almost never used it on the two X350s I owned. It doesn't come on when the car is put in Neutral. This electric handbrake is normally trouble free, but if it wears out it's a big job to replace the actuator; I think they built the car around it on the production line ! By automatically applying/releasing the brake the mechanism gets use, thus making sure it doesn't seize up through lack of use.
BTW, the car looks very nice and well taken care off from looking at the photos.
BTW, the car looks very nice and well taken care off from looking at the photos.
#5
Nice vehicle
Very nice vehicle i have a very early sc in very good condition the park brake comes on auto when put into park and off as you put it into gear mine has 55000 up drives like new very quiet the previous owner put 18 rims on the tyres are pirel noisey i shall change them i have never liked them to hard and tend to perrish before they need changing happy motoring it nice just to wafft down the road cheers bob
#6
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#8
Nice car. I have a 2004 VDP in the same color as yours. The last time I had to pass emission I had to go through the drive cycle as well. All the codes were reset on the first drive, except for 2 or 3 that took a solid week and way more than 150 miles of driving before they cleared. I found couple documents online that detailed the drive cycle process, I can't recall for sure which document I used, but I believe I followed the steps in the one that I have attached here. Give it a try if you have not cleared the drive cycle yet.
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Don B (09-12-2020)
#11
Ah, EPB. (Electric Park Brake, not "Electronic" according to the manual ).
Not sure about automatic operation with Park (by which I mean it doesn't), but I use it all the time at the lights or on hills. (Always with an eye in the rear view mirror, in case the guy behind thinks my brake lights going out thinks I'm moving...) It certainly always comes off with accelerator.
Only problem is, there's a bit of a jerk no matter how careful, compared to using the brake pedal. My 1967 S-Type had a not-roll-back brake function to do with the gearbox, and that was seamless. Progress My Foot (or in this case Hand).
And what about an Emergency Brake? 2km/hr is the most I was prepared to try. They don't say what would happen, though I sorta know.
(My 1967 S-Type manual said an interlock would prevent reverse above 20mph. It actually gave a test procedure to drive above 20mph and select reverse. So I did. I know you are looking for a horror story, but it actually worked in that single test case)
Anyway, the dashboard brake light should come on with either the EPB or a fault. And a message "PARKBRAKE ON" should appear if the parkbrake is on and the vehicle is moving. (from the manual) It helpfully says "release the parkbrake or stop" !!!. User manual obtained from the sticky's.
If the battery has been disconnected, there is some sort of parkbrake reset procedure, according to this forum.
All that, for a parking brake!
Edit: Hmm, "The EPB is automatically applied when the key is removed from the ignition". And since it's automatically released when coming out of Park, I have always parked with EPB on and didn't know it! "If you wish to keep the EPB off, press and hold the EPB switch down and, at the same time, remove the key."
Not sure about automatic operation with Park (by which I mean it doesn't), but I use it all the time at the lights or on hills. (Always with an eye in the rear view mirror, in case the guy behind thinks my brake lights going out thinks I'm moving...) It certainly always comes off with accelerator.
Only problem is, there's a bit of a jerk no matter how careful, compared to using the brake pedal. My 1967 S-Type had a not-roll-back brake function to do with the gearbox, and that was seamless. Progress My Foot (or in this case Hand).
And what about an Emergency Brake? 2km/hr is the most I was prepared to try. They don't say what would happen, though I sorta know.
(My 1967 S-Type manual said an interlock would prevent reverse above 20mph. It actually gave a test procedure to drive above 20mph and select reverse. So I did. I know you are looking for a horror story, but it actually worked in that single test case)
Anyway, the dashboard brake light should come on with either the EPB or a fault. And a message "PARKBRAKE ON" should appear if the parkbrake is on and the vehicle is moving. (from the manual) It helpfully says "release the parkbrake or stop" !!!. User manual obtained from the sticky's.
If the battery has been disconnected, there is some sort of parkbrake reset procedure, according to this forum.
All that, for a parking brake!
Edit: Hmm, "The EPB is automatically applied when the key is removed from the ignition". And since it's automatically released when coming out of Park, I have always parked with EPB on and didn't know it! "If you wish to keep the EPB off, press and hold the EPB switch down and, at the same time, remove the key."
Last edited by ChrisMills; 09-11-2020 at 04:07 PM.
#12
According to my notes from assembling a list of Jaguar Acronymns, Abbreviations and Terms, Jaguar alternately refers to the system as:
Electric Park Brake
Electric Parking Brake
Electronic Park Brake
Electronic Parking Brake
For example, here's the title page of the EPB section of the Chassis Systems Technical Training Manual:
And from the Chassis section of the Workshop Manual:
And this Jaguar Tech Tip video:
Cheers,
Don
Last edited by Don B; 09-13-2020 at 08:53 AM.
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AD2014 (09-13-2020),
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