XKR engine problem

[notax]

Ever since I bought my year 2000 XKR a few months ago I've had endless expensive problems I hope someone may be able to cast some light on one of them...

The car always runs badly from cold and when checked on diagnostic machine cylinder 6 or 7 give problems in spite of changing all the coils (and these two in particular several times). Once warm the car runs perfectly. The orange engine warning light is constantly on too - although I guess it would be unless it is manually turned off by a mechanic...

Now the car is having real trouble starting when warm too - often starting and then stalling several times in a row. The mechanics best guess is head gasket on its way out - although no extra smoke from exhaust and no coolant being lost at all. Mechanic has also taken a coil out and not seen any sign of dampness from head gasket. Any ideas...? Thanks.

[jkennyd]

Change your mechanic. Sometimes you need to get a second opinion and I think this is the case here.

[rassi]

[quote=notax] The mechanics best guess /quote]

Change your mechanic and get some proper diagnostics done, before throwing more ££ on the car. Good luck!

[P700DEE]

Take a trip to an independent expert. Both DesignXKR and TL Jaguars are within reasonable striking distance of Hampshire

[a8hex]

or Racing Green Cars they're in Hampshire (just)

[notax]

Thanks - it is Tom at TL Jaguar who is the mechanic

Car finally died yesterday - usual problem but this time it wouldn't start at all. I eventually had it towed to Tom so we'll see what happens next...

[CraigW]

nikasil issue?

[cardigankid]

Sounds awfully like it I'm afraid. It's a new engine if it is. You would have expected a marque expert to have spotted that by now.

Edited by cardigankid on Friday 27th March 18:28

[NormanD]

notax said:

Thanks - it is Tom at TL Jaguar who is the mechanic

Car finally died yesterday - usual problem but this time it wouldn't start at all. I eventually had it towed to Tom so we'll see what happens next...

I'm surprised that ever the problem is Tom has not found it, top man in my books

If it is engine problem and not managment he does have a good spare engine in his workshop, MINE if it is required

[walkie]

First of all, check the compression in each cylinder, then put some oil into each one and check again. Compare the results, if they're within reasonable margins like 10 psi, then you don't have the nikasil issue. Check the timing, especially the secondary tensioners. If they're the plastic ones, have them changed alongside with the primary ones and the chains. Since it is a supercharged engine, there's no vvt, so life is a bit easier. If you're a good DIYer, you can change the in a day or so, rent a camshaft setting tool.
...or sell that xkr to me

[notax]

Thanks for the messages, I really hope it isn't a Nikasil issue - I deliberately bought a 2000 model car as the general opinion seemed to be that cars this age shouldn't suffer as the high suplhur petrol was phased out at about this time...

Tom is still investigating - I'll let you know what the conclusion is...

[melhook]

Headgasket ????

[notax]

Head gasket was Tom's first thought - although there are no other signs to back it up, ie no coolant being used at all, no smoking exhaust, Tom even pulled the coils off to check out cylinders...

[NormanD]

notax said:

Head gasket was Tom's first thought -
although there are no other signs to back it up, ie no coolant being used at all, no smoking exhaust

I hear Toms diagnosis was correct then

[13th]

notax said:

Ever since I bought my year 2000 XKR a few months ago I've had endless expensive problems I hope someone may be able to cast some light on one of them...

The car always runs badly from cold and when checked on diagnostic machine cylinder 6 or 7 give problems in spite of changing all the coils (and these two in particular several times). Once warm the car runs perfectly. The orange engine warning light is constantly on too - although I guess it would be unless it is manually turned off by a mechanic...

Now the car is having real trouble starting when warm too - often starting and then stalling several times in a row. The mechanics best guess is head gasket on its way out - although no extra smoke from exhaust and no coolant being lost at all. Mechanic has also taken a coil out and not seen any sign of dampness from head gasket. Any ideas...? Thanks.

ooops I think you may have bought my old XKR! ;-)

Just the same problems, my dashboard was like a disco with lights flashing on and off and never resolved, in the end the dealer gave a great deal on a new one just to get my car out of the workshop; pleased to say that the new one hasn't had any problems.

[notax]

13th said:

ooops I think you may have bought my old XKR! ;-)

Just the same problems, my dashboard was like a disco with lights flashing on and off and never resolved, in the end the dealer gave a great deal on a new one just to get my car out of the workshop; pleased to say that the new one hasn't had any problems.

Sadly I think there is someone else 'enjoying' your previous car! Mine came from Peterborough...

Seems Tom at TL has managed to get to the bottom of it - head gasket, heads need skimming (albeit only a tiny amount) and valves reseating...and while he's at it we are also having timing tensioners replaced. On the positive side the car has a steel lined block so no Nikasil issues and a new style waterpump! Owned car for about 3 months and the repairs have cost over £1500 a month so far

Repairs so far...

Replacing all coils
Replacing wishbone bushes
New Brembo pads/discs
Repair to collapsed drivers seat and reconnolising
New tyre
Head gaskets
Skimmed heads
Valve reseat

...and probably a few more I've tried hard to forget about.

This is what can happen when you buy a 'bargain!'

[NormanD]

13th said:

ooops I think you may have bought my old XKR! ;-)

Just the same problems, my dashboard was like a disco with lights flashing on and off and never resolved, in the end the dealer gave a great deal on a new one just to get my car out of the workshop; pleased to say that the new one hasn't had any problems.

I wonder if NoTax woould had redress over that garage for selling on a car with known problems that were not declared to the buyer.

[notax]

NormanD said:

I wonder if NoTax woould had redress over that garage for selling on a car with known problems that were not declared to the buyer.

I might have done if I'd bought it from a dealer - sadly it was an Ebay purchase and the engine issues weren't noticable until a few days after purchase...

[NormanD]

notax said:

NormanD said:

I wonder if NoTax woould had redress over that garage for selling on a car with known problems that were not declared to the buyer.

I might have done if I'd bought it from a dealer - sadly it was an Ebay purchase and the engine issues weren't noticable until a few days after purchase...

Sorry to read that, have to put that down to a 'Steep learning curve' then

[notax]

Yes, you win some, you lose some and occasionally you get stitched up like a kipper...