Hi all newbie here so please ignore my ignorance.
I have just acquired a 1988 Xjrs v12 Le Mans number 16 of 100. This car hasn’t run for the best part of 15 years as far as I’m aware.
Vehicle has one key a cheap one for the ignition and nothing for the doors. Is there a way of getting original keys cut for the car without pulling any locks out as my local jag dealer laughed at me and also would it have a early type of immobiliser system fitted at all. Thank you in advance for any help on this matter. Dave

 

Instead of your local Jag dealer laughing at you, he should have explained how their Jaguar Classic division can identify all the key numbers for your car and provide the keys. All you will need to do is show ownership details for the car. I suggest you find a different Jaguar dealer!

Good luck

Paul

 

that’s great thank you for your advice I’ll get on to them first thing in the morning. Dave

 

This is Jaguar Classic Division?

https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.com/

Finding a different dealer might not be all that easy depending where a fellow lives. Might be easier to go back and try again...with info on the classics division.

In the USA, at least, Jag dealers have pretty much abandoned active support of older models so I'm not entirely surprised that staff isn't aware of what's available, especially if they don't have a lot of Jaguar experience/background.

Cheers
DD

 

It might. But my '88 XJS had no security system, FWIW

I think it was a bit later that Jaguar began fitting security systems as standard equipment but dealer-installed systems were common and popular. And of course prior owners might have fitted their own systems.

Others will chime in.

Cheers
DD

 

thank you for that information. The reason I asked was because I had a locksmith come and pick the boot lock for me. This enabled me to remove the tank and send away for dipping and treatment as you can imagine it was full of stale fuel water and rust.
Needless to say the fuel pump and filter along with the sender unit are well and truly dead.
So I sourced a pump and fresh fuel and connected the jump pack to the pump to flush the lines which was very successful. But when I connected the battery terminals the horns sounded twice as to indicate some sort of alarm or immobiliser system.
I have read that some were connected at factory or pdi at the dealer and then some weren’t. Regards Dave

 

Good for you ( doing your own work wherever possible) with the age and complicity of these cars attempting to have a dealership work on your car means anything they do is almost sure to be that mechanics first time.
32 years is a very long time to keep a mechanic. At a minimum he would have been hired in his 20’s and now be in his 50’s. Look into the shop and if not staffed by grizzled old men. Not much chance of prior knowledge.
I’m in my mid 70’s and the only reason I have knowledge of these is I am a lifelong racer. So knowing the ins and outs of security systems or anything dealing with luxury or originality was never paid attention to. Yanked off and tossed in the trash and the holes welded up.
But this is where you’ll find fellow grizzly old geezers with that knowledge. The neat thing is they are willing, heck, eager to share. Welcome

 

Mine is a 90, a convertible and not a LeMans...

That said. I found my car in much the same state. When I hooked power to the car, PITA OE alarm, some lights stuff if I remember and either very short horn blasts or a little bull horn or something. I dug and dug and in the convertible, finally found the alarm ECU behind and under the cabinet in the LH side behind the driver's seat. Kinda tucked in there - not in the accessable area of the cabinet, but hidden on the side where the rams live.. I simply unplugged it and prayed it would not have any ill effects. It didn't.

Still no alarm, I never looked at the factory alarm or considered it again. I would like something though, soon.

 

Lol, I retired at 72 due to medical issues. Started with Jaguars in 88 at 37 years old. My parts department knew to send customers back to my corner of the shop when people started asking about XJ 6 and XJ S models.
I had a full set of manuals and electrical diagrams for each model, and a Binder full of Recall notices.
I loved my job, and might be old but don't ever feel like a grizzly geezer.

 

Jaguar used to have a special tool, diagnosis and Parts kit that they would send to dealers who had a customer with one of the RS Models, I only worked on one of them many years ago.
I doubt that there is any access to that now

 

l think that may have been for the later 6.0 litre models fitted with the zytek engine management system. The 88 le mans would be 5.3 litre stock engine l think.

 

You are correct, I failed to notice the 88 MY in the thread, it was t 6.0 litre that came later I was thinking of.

I don't remember an 88 Le Mans XJ S
model.

 

The first 100 XjR-S models were discretely called Celebration Le Mans and numbered 1 to 100 to celebrate the 1988 race.

Confusingly Jaguar then decided to launch a standard XJS model to celebrate the 1990 Le Mans win and made 280 numbered ones of those.

Then Lister decided to create a "Le Mans"version of their enhanced XJS offering.

Then Jaguar decided to name all XJSs "Celebration" ( but no badges) in 1995 to celebrate 60 years of the Jaguar name.

Confused?!

Paul

 

Thanks for the History Lesson, 88 is the year I started with Jaguar.

 

wow thank you all so much for all the information it is most appreciated The wealth of knowledge from members is fantastic and I hope I might be able to help in some way too.
I shall load some pics for you all to peruse by the end of the week. And once again thank you all

 

what about the gold-plated and real enamel green/black bonnet mounted 'growler ' badge Paul ?

BB

 

 

Ah True, Vince!

Although the word "Celebration" doesn't appear anywhere but in a Sales brochure!

Paul

 

update on the jag. Tank clean and a coat of etching primer will retro fit with new pump and filter next to sort the starting

 

Here she is