When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have installed the hood struts on my 08 XJR. Ordered the 3 PC Pedal set and got it installed by my mechanic. Replaced the front lower control arms on both the sides. Still have few pending items 1) Right side passenger mirror comes loose (need to replace/repair) 2) I am getting a huge noise (front right side) when I start the car early in the morning, it only happens when I drive it at low speeds - it feels as if something is holding the brakes pretty tight and makes huge noise.
Finally got things moving along with replacing the thermostat, with the junk plastic housing P O S. Did the water pump, (auxiliary pump looked new, no heat when i looked at the car, at the dealer), serpentine belt, tensioner, idler pulley, fuel filter, with new coolant, while there.Hope to be finished working on it for a while, and get a chance to drive it, less than a thousand miles on it, since last fall.
My steering wheel leather has been pretty badly scratched and damaged since I got the car, presumably from a PO who wore a ring on their left hand and drove with the same.
Got a leather repair kit from the furniture clinic in the UK with jaguar specific 'warm charcoal' colour/dye.
Filled pitting with the flexible filler provided, dried off with a hair dryer. Put on new colour, dried off. Put on a semi-gloss top coat, looks great.
Have also used the same kit to repair scratches on the seats with pretty good results for a hamfisted fool like me.
Replaced NS front level sensor - it was throwing out bad values & causing some crazy symptoms. (rear suspension dropped right down & wouldn't raise, all 4 corners different crazy heights) After 3 recalibrations & resets, fingers crossed it seems to be ok! Also had OS lower shock bush replaced & a new battery. £700 poorer for all the above & I've got a noisy & weak compressor to deal with next! Yes, I'd be wealthier man had I bought a vauxhall corsa - but my heart would be empty........(sigh)
Just yesterday I had to park the car for another air strut refurb. This time it was front left one and I even got a discount. anyway, everything works great now and I think it leaked for a very long time. My front was bouncy over bumps and when stopping rapidly. Now it is much more firm and composed. I was said the shock inside the Air Strut was also refurbished because it had a small leak.
Next step - I need to find new rotors, refurbish calipers and put back everything with new pads...
Very unusual for the sensor to fail sometimes they are damaged
or have a wiring problem or not replaced after work on the car.
Well, car is back with the specialist today - although perfectly level it's riding way too low after the work. No fault warning on the dash, the garage is going to try another recalibration/reset. I've read quite a few posts where people have had faults after work has been done. Hoping this next reset cures it, if not I'm guessing leaks, relay or even suspension control module issues.
The X350 is probably the nicest car I've owned but I wish Jaguar had gone with conventional suspension when designing it!
problem seems sorted (I hope!) apparently the car had set itself to "towing mode" & had dropped very low, refusing to raise above a certain level. Specialist reset again at no extra cost. (Stephen Heywood Jaguar, 10 miles outside central Manchester, highly recommended) Now I'm just hoping the old Jag holds together for my 1500 mile road trip tomorrow!
On Sunday coming back home after a run into Wales, heard a couple of squeaks that sounded like brake squeal, except I wasn't braking ! Anyway today, when I went for my chiropractor session, heard them again. On arrival at the chiros, the LH front wheel was much hotter than the RH front and also had a load of black brake dust on the wheel. I also noticed judder on braking too.
So I took the car to my local mechanic who confirmed my prognosis. Only problem is he can't deal with the matter until next week. He's going to check for drag, and loose off the caliper if necessary. If that doesn't work, I'm going to swap-out the caliper.
It is good for quickly cleaning superficially dirty cars, but not for caked on grime and mud etc. The key is to keep turning the cloth and change it when dirty. There are many brands, although Triplex is the one I have found the most effective, and easy to use.
The grids in the photo is a heavy duty turf reinforcing mesh which can be driven over or parked on without ruining your lawn. The grass grows through and eventually it becomes almost invisible.
I used far more U pins than the instructions suggested to fix it down as my soil is clay. It's been down just three weeks, which is why you can see a few bare patches where I repaired previous damage to the lawn, and the grass has yet to re-establish itself. I needed additional parking, but didn't want to lose the grass; we have had heavy rain since with no signs of any movement or sinking.
Sorry the links are for British sites but I'm sure that similar products are available on your side of the Atlantic. :-)
Sent in the old stock shocks, from my 04 XJ8 that i replaced with Arnotts little over a year ago, to R M T. For the cost, the lifetime warranty, as well as keeping all the features of the C A T S system, no real choice in the matter. The Arnotts work well, & did not know about rebuilding the old ones at the time. The ones on the 07, still hold air, but they feel pretty well worn, with an irritating squeak. at 98,000+ miles, rebuilds sound like my best option.
To prevent further random alarm soundings waking me, and the rest of the neighbourhood, bypassed the bonnet open sensor by bridging its connector plug terminals with copper wire.
Sentenced her to prison for continuous misbehavior ...
Recently a major scratching sound started during braking. So when I checked arund I found the right read brake disc was scraped away by the brake pad, or by the looks probably by the sorry remains of the pad carrier.
These continuous issues are causing a certain disenchantment between me and my green toy ...
So besides ordering new discs and pads I parked her in isolation
and then locked her up
I'm already looking forward to changing the discs and potentially brake piston or even one caliper under the spacious conditions besides the car ...
With around 40cm room to either side I can only hope the disc comes off without too much of a fight
Maybe the old saying about needing two Jaguars is still valid to a certain amount ...
And never mind my signature, no amount of cost advantage from driving LPG can even remotely compensate for the spare part requirements this car seems to develop all of a sudden
04-23-2018, 03:22 PM
Did the water pump, (auxiliary pump looked new, no heat when i looked at the car, at the dealer), serpentine belt, tensioner, idler pulley, fuel filter, with new coolant, while there.
Hope to be finished working on it for a while, and get a chance to drive it, less than a thousand miles on it, since last fall.
For the cost, the lifetime warranty, as well as keeping all the features of the C A T S system, no real choice in the matter.
The Arnotts work well, & did not know about rebuilding the old ones at the time. 
The ones on the 07, still hold air, but they feel pretty well worn, with an irritating squeak.
