The Dark Sapphire or is it Loire Blue? Jaguar XJ.

[martynr]

Hello there! I hope you are all well. Here is mine XJ. The vehicle was purchased in a bit of a state.




I did some inspection and was thinking where to start. So I decided to get the XJ moving. The passenger wheel was absolutely fked and I did not have the locking key nut. I tried searching for them and almost traced the pattern, but no cigar.
I looked at some videos on them internets for ideas. Got some tools out closer to the action and started attacking the wheel as hard as I could.


I managed very little due to awkward place of the action. Not used to be on the knees for that long...


I remembered that I bought a hammer drill not so long ago. So I put a chisel on with a little tapping hammer and tried to undo the locking nut. I undone it or so I thought! Due to amazing anti thievery design by Jaguar the locking key has split and started turning in the middle... So, I kept hacking the wheel until a sizeable piece broke away with a crow bar.



Here with a replacement wheel and dealer from Solihull was very helpful to identify the locking key. One of many things sorted.



I went onto another job to replace the link and lower arm. I tried to put it on only to notice that it was completely different. So sent it back and got the full corner instead. It seems that Napa had a different part in mind...





While replacing the lower arm I noticed that the area where it is attached to subframe has been damaged. So, old subframe out.


A good one in.


The power steering wheel seemed to be sticky at certain points. It was removed. On closer inspection I noticed that due it being attached off the center the left inner rod is longer than the right. I believe it was bent in the accident as well. Also, the PS fluid was really dirty as the right side boot had a nick in it and it was letting dirt onto the inner rod. I think the nick was from the factory due to its location.


I left the links to have the edge on the steering over the other road users with single links. It seems to change direction much quicker now.





After putting everything together I got a rear abs sensor fault that would throw a lot of messages on the dash. I tried swapping the abs sensor from the other side, but it did't help. So, started looking on them internets and someone mentioned that they had to replace the wheel bearing on an Ftype and it only had 12k miles on. So, off I went removing the knuckle and giving it to a friendly garage and was told to pop in next day. The new bearing looked to be closer to abs sensor than previously on my newbie eye. I believe that the old bearing has moved in its place further away making it harder for the sensor to pick up impulses.
Also, I found a bodge on the brake disc shield. I would love to slap that person who did this. While talking to the dealer I was told that it should have rivets and I could not believe him as it had m7 threads in the knuckle...


Finally done... I have driven it for a bit to check that all was good. It seemed to be okay, but there is noise from rear diff. On inspection it was to leaking from the front seal. So, I parked for now. I hope that I won't need another diff. Ordered a new seal and it should be here next week...

[waynedear]

They are lovely looking cars, great job saving it.

[LanceRS]

Amazing cars, good to see one being saved.

[martynr]

Cheers, folks

[martynr]

A little update on XJ. The Jag is like an ongoing investment I was not looking for. The rear left abs sensor was throwing an error. So I swapped the sensor from the other side to eliminate other posibilities, but to no awail. It was a faulty bearing, but it looked just fine. The chap from garage was surprised when I asked to swap it with a new one. After a bit of driving I noticed a whine from the rear coming at around 30mph. I removed the driveshaft to check if it was a bearing and it was very stiff. So off another bearing to the garage. The chap at garage joked that if the next will be the front bearings. I hope not. I also replaced the diff pinion seal and that was a pita to say the least. Now I am trying to trace why the main battery would discharge.
The experience of the XJ is rather interesting. I think my expectations were much higher. After having a test drive in s-class W222 they felt very similar in comparison. Also, the heated steering wheel I installed is rather lovely. Now I need a cooled one as well when it stops raining and summer comes also, the luxury seats are fking st.

[martynr]

So, got the low windscreen fluid after filling it on the second day the same message came on again. A quick search on the interwebs suggested the tank is in "two pieces". Upon opening it was in one piece, but I could not trace the leak. What I was surpsised is that it had so much crud in the tank that it was almost blocking the rubber grommets that are used as filters for the spray motors from the tank. Also, I was miffed that on removing the pipes from the motors they were leaking fluid. Since, it is parked on incline it could be leaking through headlight washers. Will see next time...

Crud, st, turd. Not the high days of the design if this happens imo.