Hi gang.

Just wrapping up a project on a 1989 XJS V12.

The car had major oil leaks. If parked for 30 minutes it would leave a 10 inch puddle. It was obvious that it was a combination of ATF and engine oil. The ower reported having to add ATF to the power steering quite often.

Cutting to the chase....

There are numerous leaks but the left cam cover and power steering pressure hose were flagrantly pouring. As it turns out, it was the left "half moon seal" that was a big culprit. A PO had replaced it but it must've come adrift on reassembly because it was badly distorted and there was evidence that engine oil was virtually *flowing* out.

So, replacing both cam cover gaskets (might as well do both at once) was straightforward (as v12s go) and all went well. After so much disassembly/reassembly I was chuffed that the engine started so easily and ran well. (Even after all these years I still get a little excited about that sort of thing)

The problem with the p/steering was a (seriously) leaking pressure hose. This is where the fun begins.

The original hose has been replaced with a different design under part number MHE3985BA. This new design is quite a bit different than the original. The most striking difference is where it attaches to the rack. The original hose had a nearly straight metal section, about 3 inches long. The same part of the new hose is much longer and has several peculiar bends. This section caused me no end of grief. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how it was supposed to be oriented, and the bends fouled the subframe or engine block no matter how I tried to position it. I simply could not make it fit. Not sure if I was blind to something obvious or if it's just a truly bollixed-up configuration

Replacing the power steering hoses on a V12 is a very unpleasant task at best but this new design hose greatly compounded the difficulty...as well as my frustration level. In the end I resorted to un-bending the pipe in a couple places.

I'd rather pull an engine or replace inboard rear brake rotors than repeat this battle. Seriously ! :-)

If I'm EVER confronted with this job again (not likely, as I'd run from the room screaming) I would take the original hose to my hose-n-tubing guy and have him duplicate it.

My garage looks like a bomb went off inside and every muscle in my upper body is sore ! :-)

Cheers
DD

 

Polite applause is in order.

(The Zen of Foreign Car Repair)

 

Doug,

That deserves some SERIOUS drink ing.

I will have 1 or 2 or 3 for you right now.

Well done also.

The RHD pressure hose is also a mongrel on any good day, and part number changes are just plain scary.

 

Doug,

Don't you love how manufacturers supersede parts? Sometimes you wonder if they ever actually tried to use the part. I appreciate the post. I may just have mine repaired instead of replacing.

 

I understand the whole idea behind "parts rationalization" and all that but, yeah, in this case I have to shake my head.

If there's a trick to installing it (other than swearing and modifying) it woulda been if they included an advisory.

Cheers
DD

 

ill live with no power steering for now.

 

Doug
Were you able to lower the rack enough to change the hose. I tried to drop the rack last night, the passenger side dropped a few inches but the driver's side wouldn't drop very much. I've been reading some threads where the rack would drop 4+ inches, there must be a bolt I've missed (I only saw 2). I have an 89 XJS with the V12.
Any secret tips.
Regards
Mark

 

You'll probably have to release the steering column shaft from the sterig rack. There's a clamp and pinch bolt holding the together....tricky to get to but possible if you sneak in via the wheel well area. Look carefully near the cat converter.....there's a spot where you an slide a long extension to reach the pinch bolt.

Cheers
DD

 

There are three bolts to undo to drop the rack, one one side and two the other. Damn nearly impossible to see the third one which is a couple of inches above one of the ones you can see!