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.
Recap on the past week:
Took the XJR to the local brit auto shop again, for the balance issue. Warranty replaced tire measured OK on road force (15lb); passenger tire, previously measured/balanced down to 14lb, measured 25lb this time but they were able to get it down to 3(!). Vibration is now much improved, but not quite gone. Argh.
Replaced the oil, noting a slow oil seep than I'm going to have to address sooner or later before it gets worse...
Replaced front sway bar bushings and end links. Old bushings were better than I thought they were, only a tiny bit of dry rot cracking. Pass end link had sheared the rubber between the center and outside of the eyelet piece. Only a tiny bit of play in hand when it was out. WOW what a difference doing those sway bar parts made though, the front end feels so much more taut, but also more composed... Much more quiet and controlled feeling over single side bumps and potholes now, and a bit more stable on the highway. Knocking sound that worried me it was a front LBJ going bad again, gone. Kinda motivates me to knock out the other "kinda okay but not great" rubber bits like rear sway bushings, trans mount, etc.
Also, disassembled the lighting/turn signal stalk to bits, to repair a broken wire for the trip button. Had to take it nearly all the way apart, but resoldered that pesky wire, and now have a working trip button again.
I bought a dash cam a while back, and the electrical cable was only long enough to plug into the cigarette light in front of the center console/armrest, this was a bit of a pain because it obviously mean the lid of the lighter outlet and coin bin had to be open all the time, plus the 12v plug stuck up and would get in the way a little, so I have been meaning to extend the cable so that it would reach to the less intrusion rear cigarette lighter outlet.............today I finally got around to lengthening the cable and plugging it into the rear outlet! So much better!
If you don't have a dash cam I highly recommend them, they all give 1080 resolution and a myriad of features and options for less than $50.00, well worth the investment.
Been living too close to the edge w/ 1 key for 5 years now lol. I've got to get a spare key made & the nearest dealer is 2 hours one way away. Trying a local locksmith which claims he does all makes & models(cut & programming) awaiting his rebuttal.
Last edited by King Charles; 02-27-2020 at 03:50 AM.
Been living too close to the edge w/ 1 key for 6 years now lol. I've got to get a spare key made & the nearest dealer is 2 hours one way away. Trying a local locksmith which claims he does all makes & models(cut & programming) awaiting his rebuttal.
KC, the only caution I can offer is when I inquired at local locksmiths for the same purpose, those that were equipped and experienced with the marque declined to attempt it due to the fact that past experiences had shown them that sometimes the car will "lock up" electrically during the process and subsequently refuse to start, and then the car has to be towed to the dealership to be sorted out, obviously at great towing and dealership expense. Maybe better to bite the bullet and drive to the dealership and pay the piper?
In my case the person I bought my car from discovered by serendipity the missing set of keys to my car that had been "hiding" in his winter jacket, and so I did end up with the original three-key set.
KC, the only caution I can offer is when I inquired at local locksmiths for the same purpose, those that were equipped and experienced with the marque declined to attempt it due to the fact that past experiences had shown them that sometimes the car will "lock up" electrically during the process and subsequently refuse to start, and then the car has to be towed to the dealership to be sorted out, obviously at great towing and dealership expense. Maybe better to bite the bullet and drive to the dealership and pay the piper?
In my case the person I bought my car from discovered by serendipity the missing set of keys to my car that had been "hiding" in his winter jacket, and so I did end up with the original three-key set.
In my replacement for my rolled and stuffed 2001 XJ8 I located a 69k mile 2005 XJ8L X350. The sale was solidified when the seller had all three keys, both fobs, all original manuals in the original binder with all security codes and dvd's, with a complete set of dealer service reports from mile #1 to mile 68k and no piles of flood sand under the carpets. Still has all the regular Jaguar niggles though to keep my on my toes.
KC, the only caution I can offer is when I inquired at local locksmiths for the same purpose, those that were equipped and experienced with the marque declined to attempt it due to the fact that past experiences had shown them that sometimes the car will "lock up" electrically during the process and subsequently refuse to start, and then the car has to be towed to the dealership to be sorted out, obviously at great towing and dealership expense. Maybe better to bite the bullet and drive to the dealership and pay the piper?
In my case the person I bought my car from discovered by serendipity the missing set of keys to my car that had been "hiding" in his winter jacket, and so I did end up with the original three-key set.
Hmm I wonder if one left the trunk open during this & if a lockout occurred could a battery removal or hard reset remedy that ?!
Locksmith called back & said he could not program but could clone my existing key, hmm I may give it a whirl (famous last words before disasters & triumphs) lol.
Last edited by King Charles; 02-26-2020 at 03:31 PM.
And, I had never noticed before, but looking at these pics of the fobs, the raised growler head is different on each one, and looking on the back of the fobs one is part # LJE2610-AB (Key/fob on extreme right), and the other is #LJE2610-AC (center key/fob). Both I believe are original to my car, and both keys and fobs work perfectly fine.
I wonder if this to discern between "main" and "secondary" key regarding automatic seat/mirror/steeringwheel positions?
Last edited by Carnival Kid; 02-26-2020 at 05:06 PM.
Short question here for the most direct answer ...
My UK dye supplier went out, and I will need to buy some sable and ivory dye for a friend's car.
I remember some of you happily used a specific brand, spot on color match, but can't seem to find the post(s).
Suggestions?
Short question here for the most direct answer ...
My UK dye supplier went out, and I will need to buy some sable and ivory dye for a friend's car.
I remember some of you happily used a specific brand, spot on color match, but can't seem to find the post(s).
Suggestions?
Thank you for the info, I will see if I can get them to ship it here for a reasonable price.
Just received a picture of the driver seat.
This car was sold by my friend to an other friend less than 2 yrs ago.
The interior looked immaculate after a full interior / leather clean and some limited dye repair.
Now its back in his hands, and look how sad ... how the f... can people do this?
This car was sold by my friend to an other friend less than 2 yrs ago. The interior looked immaculate after a full interior / leather clean and some limited dye repair. Now its back in his hands, and look how sad ... how the f... can people do this?
I check out X308s for sale on various sites and am amazed at how many are advertised with low mileage (under 80,000) and yet look like they have been used as a crew truck for transporting construction workers. Dirty, cracked, and sometimes ripped, seats, steering wheel leather worn through, absolutely filthy engine bay, stains in the trunk, etc., etc. Now don't get me wrong, it's their car and they can do what they wish with it, but I don't think they see the "damage", because they then ask a top dollar price for the car and describe it as well cared for!
As an example to the above post, here are a couple of pics of a 2001 VDP which is described as "beautiful" and "interior needs a detail".
To be absolutely fair the owner is upfront with pics and is not asking a lot of money, and there may well be someone who is quite willing to do all that needs doing to bring the car up to shape at the right price, but I wonder how a car gets in this condition with "only" 118k miles.
Maintenance wash & replaced the missing center engine trim fastener which now resides in my overhead console. Supossed to be clear skies for days to come, I foresee ample cruising in my future lol.
Last edited by King Charles; 02-28-2020 at 03:02 PM.
After 21 years, two months, and 119,800 miles -- finally said so long to my 1999 XJ8 today.
It's been fund keeping it going over all these years. This forum was particularly helpful in making it last so long. Thanks to everyone for their insights into the myriad issues I've dealt with over the years.
Kansas99XJ8
Editing comment - LOL! -- "fun" not "fund" - must have bee a Freudian slip.
Last edited by Kansas99XJ8; 02-29-2020 at 07:37 AM.
On my wife's 98 xj8 she told me that a couple of times when she is stopping slowly that the brake pedal will go all the way to the floor. She would pump the brakes and the pedal would come back.
I did a little research and figured the likely culprit was the master cylinder. I took a matching master cylinder off a 99xj8 donor car in my yard. Did the exchange and wife says the brakes have not been better.
History on this car
I bought it with 63,000 miles with a failing A drum. I rebuilt the front end of the transmission and it now has 105,000 miles and still going strong.
Not long after getting the car back on the road we started having problems with the brakes. Come to find out the previous owner had put something other than Dot 4 into the system. I replaced all the calipers and master cylinder with the similar parts from a 98xj8l donor car. I flushed the system with dot 4 before installing the replacement parts. Has work perfectly until this recent issue with the master cylinder.
02-24-2020, 09:18 PM
but they were able to get it down to 3(!). Vibration is now much improved, but not quite gone. Argh.
