Running an XJ8 - the first couple of years
Discussion
timolloyd said:
The reversing sensors seem to have failed - when I select reverse, all I got is a constant tone for a few seconds, then nothing. Any recommendations as to where to start and try to to diagnose?
It will be one of the sensors. Working ones click faintly. Put it in reverse, ignition on, handbrake on. Listen to each one closely and you will find the dead one. Swapping is a bumper off job, but its very easy. E bay should provide the bits ( buy a set, its cheap) 
All is not well in XJ8 land. Booked it into Kwik Fit for a cheap and cheerful MOT, on the basis that I was pretty sure it would pass.
It didn't.
Failed on emissions. And, being Kwik Fit, they can't actually deal with it, so I've now got to get it sorted within ten days for a re-test.
I'm wondering if this is connected with the fact that the revs are higher than I recall, from a cold start?
Any experience/advice gratefully received.
It didn't.
Failed on emissions. And, being Kwik Fit, they can't actually deal with it, so I've now got to get it sorted within ten days for a re-test.
I'm wondering if this is connected with the fact that the revs are higher than I recall, from a cold start?
Any experience/advice gratefully received.
timolloyd said:
All is not well in XJ8 land. Booked it into Kwik Fit for a cheap and cheerful MOT, on the basis that I was pretty sure it would pass.
It didn't.
Failed on emissions. And, being Kwik Fit, they can't actually deal with it, so I've now got to get it sorted within ten days for a re-test.
I'm wondering if this is connected with the fact that the revs are higher than I recall, from a cold start?
Any experience/advice gratefully received.
Which bit of the emissions test did it fail? It didn't.
Failed on emissions. And, being Kwik Fit, they can't actually deal with it, so I've now got to get it sorted within ten days for a re-test.
I'm wondering if this is connected with the fact that the revs are higher than I recall, from a cold start?
Any experience/advice gratefully received.
Was the engine properly hot for the test? Have you only been doing lots of small journeys? Is the oil new?
As above - was engine properly hot and oil clean and breathers free? There is a calibrated 2.5mm part throttle breather in the LH bank breather pipe which can get blocked.
Might be worth a OBD11 scan to see if any fault codes have come up. Possible O2 sensor out of spec. If not suggest you get some advice before throwing lots of beer tokens at it.
Might be worth a OBD11 scan to see if any fault codes have come up. Possible O2 sensor out of spec. If not suggest you get some advice before throwing lots of beer tokens at it.
I used to have a 3.2 XJ8 Sport, it too failed on emissions. A decent blat down to the next motorway junction after warming it up sorted it, especially as I had only used it for short runs.
No other problems during ownership other than it failing to start after I had moved it about 8 feet, a common problem I believe.
No other problems during ownership other than it failing to start after I had moved it about 8 feet, a common problem I believe.
That'll likley be one of the O2 sensors. Best way forwards is probably a OBD scan and see which one is failing - there's 4, two upstream and two downstream of the cats - or if not find out what else is going wrong.
If it's marginal you could try a balls out hoon to get it really hot then take it straight in for a retest if you can get that done for free - that might just get you another year's ticket. If the readings improve but you still get a fail when retested then at least that'll help confirm the sensor/s are failing.
If it's marginal you could try a balls out hoon to get it really hot then take it straight in for a retest if you can get that done for free - that might just get you another year's ticket. If the readings improve but you still get a fail when retested then at least that'll help confirm the sensor/s are failing.
Suggest you check the part throttle breather too - unlikely to be your problem but every bit helps. Pop off the black flexible hose on the top of the LH bank and carefully clean out the hole inside the hose stub with a 2.5mm drill bit. Might be worth a clean inside the bore of the throttle body too.
Prolonged fast cold idle can be a symptom of O2 sensor weakness. The engine is programmed to run fast from a cold start to heat the cats up and get them up to max efficiency as soon as it can - I'll leave discussing the wisdom of burning more fuel to save the planet to somebody clever than me - if a lazy or failing sensor is telling the engine management system the downstream emissions are too high it'll hang on to the 1200 rpm or so cold idle for longer in an attempt to get the cats showing they are working properly via the failing O2 sensors
Prolonged fast cold idle can be a symptom of O2 sensor weakness. The engine is programmed to run fast from a cold start to heat the cats up and get them up to max efficiency as soon as it can - I'll leave discussing the wisdom of burning more fuel to save the planet to somebody clever than me - if a lazy or failing sensor is telling the engine management system the downstream emissions are too high it'll hang on to the 1200 rpm or so cold idle for longer in an attempt to get the cats showing they are working properly via the failing O2 sensors
Thanks again for all the advice. After some fiddling about and re-checking to see if a blast might give a better reading, to no avail, I ended up taking it in to my preferred Indy, who replaced the 'bank 2 upstream Lambda' - which I think is the same ultimate diagnosis as given above.
They fitted this and put it through another full MOT test, which it passed. Just as well really.
I've just collected the car and the engine was already warm, so difficult to tell if this will improve the fast idle from cold starts, but that's less of an issue anyway.
Have to say that the Surrey Jag Centre did me proud again. And they always have some interesting classics up on the ramps to have a nose around, whenever I visit.
They fitted this and put it through another full MOT test, which it passed. Just as well really.
I've just collected the car and the engine was already warm, so difficult to tell if this will improve the fast idle from cold starts, but that's less of an issue anyway.
Have to say that the Surrey Jag Centre did me proud again. And they always have some interesting classics up on the ramps to have a nose around, whenever I visit.
After getting the hassle of the MOT out the way, I decided to treat the car to a wash and clay bar. The whole car was filthy after a trip to the Brecons and, well, probably 600 miles of motoring without seeing any soap...
This was the first time I used a clay bar, and have to say I must have done something wrong. It didn't seem to lift much dirt at all, left clay streaks all over the car, and the clay itself turned to a damp-but-still-crumbly texture.
Although the car looks better overall, and the bodywork feels better, I suspect that's more to do with the wax than the clay.
Any tips or advice?
This was the first time I used a clay bar, and have to say I must have done something wrong. It didn't seem to lift much dirt at all, left clay streaks all over the car, and the clay itself turned to a damp-but-still-crumbly texture.
Although the car looks better overall, and the bodywork feels better, I suspect that's more to do with the wax than the clay.
Any tips or advice?
I had a full correction detail done:
http://cambridgeautogleam.com/Services.aspx#
More pics of the job here:
http://cambridgeautogleam.com/gallery.aspx?pos=151
http://cambridgeautogleam.com/Services.aspx#
More pics of the job here:
http://cambridgeautogleam.com/gallery.aspx?pos=151
So, we're taking the XJ on a tour of Scotland this week, starting from Surrey, up to Edinburgh, then Aviemore (staying in a converted 1953 Bedford truck: http://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/scotland/h... then on to Glasgow via Fort William and home via the Yorkshire Dales. 1200 miles in total, which is about a third of the car's annual mileage, in a week!
The first leg to Edinburgh yesterday, was brilliant. Given I expect some hoonage on other legs, I took it very steady yesterday and the dashboard is telling me the car averaged 34.7mpg. Not bad for a 3.2 V8.
Looking forward to those highland roads!
The first leg to Edinburgh yesterday, was brilliant. Given I expect some hoonage on other legs, I took it very steady yesterday and the dashboard is telling me the car averaged 34.7mpg. Not bad for a 3.2 V8.
Looking forward to those highland roads!
Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff