Discussion
JT944 said:
hi all Ive just been to see a xk8 with 87500 miles on can anybody tell me what to look for it had the timing chains replaced with the new type is this common and had a fault on o/s window dropping when the door is closed
That's a good upgradeThe windows dropping is a sign that the battery neads changing soon unless it's just not bean used for some time and the battery was just a bit flat
Easy to re-set the windows, lower fully and hold for some 5 secs until you hear a click, then to the top doing the same, should then be re-set
When you say a window fault do you mean it was open about 1" when the door was closed ( probably needs resetting after battery disconnected- easy) or do you mean that when you opened it from inside the window kept dropping in "increments"? (could be a low battery- this can cause all sorts of weird things)
Join the xkec is the best advise I can offer!
Join the xkec is the best advise I can offer!
Make sure the chain tensioners were changed, not just the chains.
Look for rust patch under the front footwells where the square lumps are.
Check the rear arches behind the back wheels, where stones flick up.
Check the front tyre wear is even & for clicks in the suspension, bushes can seize up if its been under-used.
Then drive it hard & fast everywhere and laugh at the people in puny city cars
Look for rust patch under the front footwells where the square lumps are.
Check the rear arches behind the back wheels, where stones flick up.
Check the front tyre wear is even & for clicks in the suspension, bushes can seize up if its been under-used.
Then drive it hard & fast everywhere and laugh at the people in puny city cars
XK mechanically identical to XJ V8 of same era.
Pre 2000 engines had Nicasil lined bores, weak waterpumps and throttle bodies.
Highly unlikley Nicasil linings will fail now as high Sulphur fuel which caused Nicasil coating errosion has not been availabe since January 2000.
Impelor vanes fall off waterpumps leading to overheating. Throttle body actuating motor becomes too weak to overcome engine vacuum under some circumstances.
Engines revised for 2000 model year - Steel liners, improved waterpump and throttle body which solved earlier problems.
All 4.0 V8s left factory with plastic bodied secondary timing chain tensioners. These suffer premature failure and cause loss of chain tension/engine damage. Essential to have mk3 metal bodied type from the later 4.2 V8 retrofitted.
Two gearboxes: ZF 5 speed in n/a cars and Mercedes 5 speed in supercharged cars. Both "sealed for life" meaning oil is never changed in routine servicing. Oil+filter must be changed every 50k to avoid premature failure.
Specalist oil in ZF 'box - MB box uses ordinary dexron 3. Both need special technique to fill with new oil.
Same goes for rear 'diff - sealed for life and no drain plug. Oil sucked out of filler hole.
Check front tyres for uneven wear indicating excess negative camber due to wishbone bush failure. Check brakes for smooth progressive stop. Check gearbox for seemless changes, whining in intermediate gears and no hesitation in taking up drive. Check for suspension and diff noise on road test. Engine should be almost silent and completely free of vibration. Car should track straight hands off. Any of the above - walk away.
Essential to find good example. Try carsandclassic, PH classifieds and Jaguar World magazine for enthusiast owned one rather than the worn out, stone rashed, ex main dealer p/x crap you'll find on most forecourts
Pre 2000 engines had Nicasil lined bores, weak waterpumps and throttle bodies.
Highly unlikley Nicasil linings will fail now as high Sulphur fuel which caused Nicasil coating errosion has not been availabe since January 2000.
Impelor vanes fall off waterpumps leading to overheating. Throttle body actuating motor becomes too weak to overcome engine vacuum under some circumstances.
Engines revised for 2000 model year - Steel liners, improved waterpump and throttle body which solved earlier problems.
All 4.0 V8s left factory with plastic bodied secondary timing chain tensioners. These suffer premature failure and cause loss of chain tension/engine damage. Essential to have mk3 metal bodied type from the later 4.2 V8 retrofitted.
Two gearboxes: ZF 5 speed in n/a cars and Mercedes 5 speed in supercharged cars. Both "sealed for life" meaning oil is never changed in routine servicing. Oil+filter must be changed every 50k to avoid premature failure.
Specalist oil in ZF 'box - MB box uses ordinary dexron 3. Both need special technique to fill with new oil.
Same goes for rear 'diff - sealed for life and no drain plug. Oil sucked out of filler hole.
Check front tyres for uneven wear indicating excess negative camber due to wishbone bush failure. Check brakes for smooth progressive stop. Check gearbox for seemless changes, whining in intermediate gears and no hesitation in taking up drive. Check for suspension and diff noise on road test. Engine should be almost silent and completely free of vibration. Car should track straight hands off. Any of the above - walk away.
Essential to find good example. Try carsandclassic, PH classifieds and Jaguar World magazine for enthusiast owned one rather than the worn out, stone rashed, ex main dealer p/x crap you'll find on most forecourts
The window drops when the door is opened and fails to rise again when it is shut, this occurs when the battery is low on charge. Solution what NormanD said. Not a big issue at all. The floor pans are almost guaranteed corroded and replacement is maybe £200 a side.
Could be a nice car but go in with your eyes open and get it checked by an expert - mechanically and bodily. You will almost certainly have some money to spend. But then it is a delight.
PS I hope you have had the car up on a ramp.
Could be a nice car but go in with your eyes open and get it checked by an expert - mechanically and bodily. You will almost certainly have some money to spend. But then it is a delight.
PS I hope you have had the car up on a ramp.
Check for rust... Rear quarters above the bumper and bumper hangers. Mud trap!! floor pans...
If the door has dropped then it has probably split by the bottom hinge!!
Uneven tyre wear as this indicates worn bushes/components.
Look under the caps on the front turret tops and make sure the studded thread is central, if not then it is more than likely worn and needs replacing...
I know this as I am trying to sell my mothers convertible on ebay only as a project as the rust needs sorting along with a respray. Mechanically they are brilliant when looked after....
Don't be put off as they are great cars just have it thoroughly checked and waxoiled if you buy it....
If the door has dropped then it has probably split by the bottom hinge!!
Uneven tyre wear as this indicates worn bushes/components.
Look under the caps on the front turret tops and make sure the studded thread is central, if not then it is more than likely worn and needs replacing...
I know this as I am trying to sell my mothers convertible on ebay only as a project as the rust needs sorting along with a respray. Mechanically they are brilliant when looked after....
Don't be put off as they are great cars just have it thoroughly checked and waxoiled if you buy it....
Try and have a look underneath. The company that were restoring my truck a year or so back also did anti-rust treatments, spraying the undersides of cars etc with black waxy stuff. An XK8 they had in was surprisingly rusty on a good number of seams underneath, more than I'd expected to see (especially when compared to my much older W124, and the E38 I was running at the time).
R
R
hi all put the car on the ramp all is well it has all the common faults as far as i can see door has dropped and it will need some seals in the cam system but all in all very nice in amaranth purple very little marks very good history very good black seats heated screens cat suspension good tyres 18 inch alloys so i bought it done 100 miles in it so far seems OK
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