After the second Thanksgiving meal this week, I decided I would do the serpentine belt. Figured I'd get it done pretty quick. Planned job went really easy (ordered an OEM exact size fit). Did it without removing anything. Then as I was pulling out the breaker bar I was using to put torque on the belt tensioner, it slipped and hit the connector on the coolant overflow tube. That was enough to spring a coolant leak. It must have been ready to go! Damn, on a Sunday night! After struggling to figure out how to remove the Jag plastic clamps, I realized they connected to the radiator and overflow tank with a 1/2" fitting. Well a quick install of a standard 2 foot 1/2" hose and I was back on the road. Don't see any problem runnning like this except that it looks different. Does anyone see any potential problem with this?

 

Wanted to thank those that posted the DIY front shock replacement method with using 2 jacks. After being quoted from a local shop that the front shocks would cost me almost $700 with parts and labor I searched this forum for help. Using 2 shocks, 1 to hold up car, and the other to adjust the height of suspension arms, the shocks came off smoothly. Did the job easily last month and now can't find who gave the advice. Pair of Bilstiens ran a little over $200 and that was my only cost. Thank you Forum!

 

Never mind Daniel...winter is etting in over there and the Poms are getting a bit titchy ;o]P

 

That's a horn bag of a note....what did you do to achieve that?
It's not too loud or raucious....just sweet ;o))

 

Cheers mate!

 

Well, the entire exhaust has been replaced... Not with stuff from Borla or Magnaflow nor Mina Gallery or J Complete...

1st: H pipe muffler replaced by an X pipe
2nd: two resonators/silencers before the rear axle fully removed and replaced with 2" pipe
3rd: replaced both rear silencers with X300 3.2l/4.0l silencers

Coat me a total of €140 (if you buy an X pipe you're looking at a few bob more). It is a sound that suits the old car. Not a nasty bang... But a nice pleasant rumble

 

Got a Royal Automobile Club grill badge from Amazon.com and installed it. It looks awesome and was not as outlandish as the Union Jack.

You can order one from here:


If you really want the Union Jack, here it is:

 

Upload a pic with it installed if you could sir.

 

Here you go!

 

This didn't happen today but on Saturday; I waxed the Jag to add a second coat of carnauba wax. Turned out well.




Have a good week everyone!

- Pilotman

 

Got my new license plate. I reckoned the Michigan green and blue Spectacular Peninsulas plate would match the emerald metallic color a bit better than the old white and blue plate. While I was at it I couldn't resist the personal plate....

 

What's that supposed to be? The Union Jack is the flag of the UK, but it says England on it. Shouldn't it have the English flag then? Also the Union Jack isn't right. I guess they couldn't figure out which way up it should be, so they just drew it with no up or down. Disgraceful.

 

Had an front side marker lamp that refused to stay on.
I had bought new bulbs and that didn't work. There was power to the connector as I checked that too.

I felt down the harness and the light would pop on. It looked like the prior owner did something as there was electrical tape wrapped around the wiring.

I decided to pick up a new harness on EBay. ($15.00) and went to my mechanic to have him put it in. I also wanted him to look at the fog lights as they never worked, despite me checking fuses, relays, etc.

Mechanic pulled down the plastic under tray and pulled old harness out. Found out the prior owner had the fog light wires cut off and taped. I'm glad I picked up the new harness as everything hooked back up together real easy.

Side marker lamp now stays lit and the fog light now work!

Went to pay the mechanic and he said "Merry Christmas-Don't worry about it"

 

Man....you want to treat that mechanis with kid gloves and buy him a present ;o))

 

Bruce - Please ask your mechanic to relocate to Southern California!

 

I have an appointment this morning to get my seats revived(cracks filled & dye touch up) by a local mobile guy. Will snap before & after pics. Was going to tackle this project myself but alas as I peer into my garage I can count 3 automotive projects laying unfinished lol. This guy was actually enthusiastic & excited to working with this era of Jaguar & comes highly recommended.

 

Well, I didn't do anything. Rusty (my XJ) decided to turn himself into an XJ8 Plug In Hybrid. He now needs electricity regularly... (Alternator has died and whines really badly).

 

Re Alternator: cost me $272.50US for an alternator/starter rebuilder to remove, switch alternator with a rebuilt and install. About an hour. Was the way to go.

 

Cleaned up the whole interior today; even tried out Lexol on my seat which seemed to work well. Rest of the seats will be done tomorrow. Also checked the rear defrost relay in the trunk and fixed it.

 

Seat revival postponed until Tuesday.