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Replaced the backassward wired pigtail from Amazon with a properly terminated one from NAPA. Battery maintainer now working and topped up the battery in a couple of hours. 👍
Flushed PS fluid (use 3 liters Dex III) and replaced filter. Do it exactly like in the factory manual, with tubes into the drain container, and you wont make a mess. Trust me: this can be a very messy job if you don't use the tubing extensions. Use pigmat or a bunch of paper towels to catch the missed fluid. Suck out everything in the reservoir, angling it to one side to get the last. Then remove the reservoir carefully and suck out the ends of the feed tubes. The large one is the feed to the pump, the small the return. Use tube extensions into the drain container (I used an old 5 L oil bottle). Put the tube extension from the larger one to the Dex III container. Start the engine, crank the wheel lock to lock. Old fluid is ejected into the drain, new is sucked into the system, Try not to suck air into the large tube, though a bit doesn't matter -- it'll work its way out. Two liters are enough to replace the old fluid and flush. Replace the reservoir with a new one, fill it with about half the third liter. Run the system lock-to-lock a half dozen times. Happy steering system. My fluid with 80Kmi was medium brown, meaning ordinary wear.
Also sucked out the differential fluid. This works best if you run the diff to operating temp and warm the fluid so its' easier to move. Used a mityvac to get 95+% of it out. Kind of a nasty brown. Magnetic plug was pretty well coated with metal dust. No surprise since the XK came from a desert climate. Refilled with Valvoline syn 80-140. NOTE: If you get all of the old stuff out, you will need about 1 1/3 L to refill. So buy 2 bottles.
Battery: topped up the new one with charger to SoC 100%, from 80% as received from dealer. Corrected a number of odd audio glitches in the process. Note that most new batteries are not charged fully when pulled off the shelf. Note below that SoC (AGM) from 80% to 100% is a full half volt, which matters in the XK.
Last edited by panthera999; 12-15-2020 at 09:04 AM.
... Battery: topped up the new one with charger to SoC 100%, from 80% as received from dealer. Corrected a number of odd audio glitches in the process. Note that most new batteries are not charged fully when pulled off the shelf. Note below that SoC (AGM) from 80% to 100% is a full half volt, which matters in the XK.
My experience has always been that if a battery gets below half VOLTAGE, not capacity (which is higher volts), then that battery is a goner.
I left the LP detector on in my motor home a way-long time and the house battery voltage was 1.6 volts when I discovered my error.
Great, a new battery...... or so I thought. I used my big Schumacher charger set at 2 amps and it took 50+ hours to get to FULL while also "Reconditioning".
That danged battery is now two years older and STILL works better than some new ones I've owned.
Not exactly today but this past week, I pulled the door panels and replaced the speakers (added a crossover which to my useless ears, still sounded better.)
I reattached the leather to the door panels and did a quick video on it as well. It can be done without removing the panels but I had them off anyway.
I installed the new Tesla style head unit today.
Not exactly today but this past week, I pulled the door panels and replaced the speakers (added a crossover which to my useless ears, still sounded better.)
I reattached the leather to the door panels and did a quick video on it as well. It can be done without removing the panels but I had them off anyway.
I installed the new Tesla style head unit today.
I got a bargain on the fluid and paid in total £151/185 USD delivered,when normally would have been over £300/370 USD
I'll do a seperate thread on the change and a review of pros/cons
Bottle on far right is restock of Bilt Hamber Atom-Mac, so when the wheels come off, will be washingand treating my arches and suspension parts and brake discs/rotors
Yeah...I want to flush my systems on all my cars to Evans too.
Wasnt in the best of shape was very very lucky I got away with using g3 abrasive cutting compound , managed to take out 3 large marks then hit with a glaze !
Last edited by steve_k_xk; 12-28-2020 at 11:14 PM.
A local detailer performed paint correction, applied paint protection film to the nose, hood and mirror housings, and ceramic coating to all paint and wheels after a thorough inside-and-out cleaning.
A local detailer performed paint correction, applied paint protection film to the nose, hood and mirror housings, and ceramic coating to all paint and wheels after a thorough inside-and-out cleaning.
Bill, please provide me immediate and unlimited access to your checking account. Seriously though, you need to take much better pics after al that work.
Bill, please provide me immediate and unlimited access to your checking account. Seriously though, you need to take much better pics after al that work.
Hah! After all that work, my checkbook won't get you a venti cappuccino at Starbucks! The picture I posted was taken by the detailer before I arrived to collect the car. I guess that's why he's a detailer (and a very good one) and not a professional photographer. Here are a couple I took along the Delaware River at Easton. Hope you like them better.
Yep, that's the one. I bought it in September and except for needing a new battery it's been running great. Had some baseline maintenance done and am planning some suspension work in the spring. But this is the first big investment I've made in keeping the car looking (in Cee Jay's words) "Sparkly!"