Ah, now THAT'S a new one. Fascinating...and kind of funny.

No worries, Roadhogg, we all make our share of blunders. And we DID all learn something here. So the compression in that cylinder would try to pop out the plug, and the plug would knock against the head with every compression stroke. Wow.

I'm pleased you're up and running again, good news to have it be something so minor. And I guarantee you will NEVER make that particular mistake again!

Cheers




.

 

Roadhogg,
Thats a classic, and the best bit of luck you have had for a long time. what a confession. hope your trip goes well. keep us all up to speed with progress.

Best wishes

Steveeasy

 

A great relief compared to a valve or camshaft problem.

I still have no idea why i tightened down the plugs in the right bank, but not the left.

I've checked the right bank again as well, but they were done.

Sometimes my stupidity astounds me.

 

You could have just said you double checked everything squirted sme oil around and all was good!
All's well that ends well!

 

As i turned the socket on the plug of that rear left bank cylinder, the socket turned so easily i thought it wasn't gripping the plug.
So i turned it the other way to check, and as i felt the resistance tighten against the thread, i did ponder, for a brief second, how the hell i was going to explain this to the forums.

But i wouldn't have got my timing chain job done if not for the people on this forum, and on this thread i saw that steveasy in particular racked his brains to come up with a solution, so there was no choice.

I owed it to everyone, and at least now we all know what a loose plug can sound like.

I'm slowly learning that the more convinced i am i've done something correctly first time, the more i need to check it again.

A big thank you to everyone, especially steve.

 

Well, she made it to Tony's, but not without incident.

Gearbox fault came up on the text display as i was leaving London in the morning, and although i'd known since shortly after buying the car a year ago, that the gearbox had a slow leak, this was the first appearance of that message, and the resulting limp mode for the gearbox.

It just meant several stops on the way to let her cool down.

Tony was the perfect gentleman, and i spent a couple of hours chatting to him.
She's in safe hands now

 

Oh thats a really bad pic lmao!!! very windy too!!

Just to not make your day...... I put a code reader on your car and got the following

P0102, P0112, P0117, P0122, P0222, P0327, P0332, P0340, P0560, P1122, P1222, P1240, P1638, P1642, P0706

Now thats a lot of codes!!!!

But to make your day I cleared them all and the only relevant ones that remained are the last 3, the P0706 explains your gearbox issue, you need a new rotary switch, P1638 and 42 are CAN issues, now this could be the fact you have the plug missing on your temp sensor and it does not like the connectors you have used.... doubtful IMO but basically something isn't talking, this could also explain your lack of an engine light, maybe even possible if the LED is blown might cause this code.... maybe.... I need to do some investigating on that....

I did take your car for a little drive...... engine is sweet as a nut no worries there!!

 

Well you didn't say 'cheese' did you.

(Truth is i caught him unawares )

Yes it sure is a lot of codes, but i've never put a code reader on it or cleared any, so i'm not surprised.

Are rotary switches expensive/problematic to fit?

The connectors to the temp sensor are the originals, it's just that the plastic multiplug housing that surrounds those connectors got smashed to bits.
So more likely the check engine malfunction or blown LED's i'd guess.

I put a bit of rubbr hose between the connector blades to stop them touching if the wires were moved, but i forgot to tape it in place, so it may be best to disconnect the battery before you play with those wires, or it could short out the new sensor in the outlet pipe.

Is the ABS system on the CAN network?


Good news on the engine, good to know that there's at least one thing that hasn't got a problem

Just a shame about everything else lol.

 

Ah, so there's a snap of our beloved Tony Murton, The King of the XK. What an asset he has been to this forum, and to me personally with my own car. Nice to see the man in person.

I will say, however, that if my car were in his shop, I would be compelled to go for every trick in his book. Which would of course require that I sell my house and live in a box. But my coupe would be something to behold.



.

 

Yes, that man has XK's hiding all over the place on his premises, in various stages of strip and rebuild.
Very tempting to throw him a blank cheque and say " just do everything".

Unfortunately i've struggled just to find the money and time to do what i've done and pay for what's necessary to get it an MOT, and stop it self destructing.
It means that for the moment i have to be careful, but Tony's already on my list for future business, and i want one of those aluminium breather hoses at some point, because my existing plastic one is looking pretty ropey.

I just need some more time and money before i can splash out.

 

First V8 car?

 

Yes it is , but i wouldn't try to call that my excuse.

I was probably distracted, or just distracted myself with something else, and having done the right bank, simply forgot to finish the left bank.

In truth i can't remember what else i did that took me off it, and unless i can it will remain an unknown.

Ah well, at least it wasn't an omission that wrecked anything, thankfully

 

Hi Roadhogg,
thats a nice car you have. now you have sorted the engine, well worth all the hard work.

Steveeasy

 

Quite simple just need to get underneath, secondhand they are cheap enough new there is one on ebay for £250

 

Thanks steve, but she's still got a lot wrong with her, and Tony's finding new stuff i didn't know about lol.
The next couple of weeks are going to be interesting, as he gets to work on her.
I think i better start playing the lottery, just in case