Jaguar X100 XK8 Advice needed

[cardigankid]

I keep my 2005 XK8 Convertible garaged over the winter with a C-Tek trickle charger attached to the battery in the boot. I went to give it a start up today and encountered the following:-
1. Convertible hood would unlatch and drop, but would not rise back up. Before I had the car it was at CMC having the hood sorted at no small expense. I know that jamming hood hydraulics is a weak point in these cars.
2. Driver’s window stuck in the up position, won’t drop when the door is opened, won’t move when the switch is operated. In June I had it Dinitrol treated. I’m wondering if they have clagged up the motor. Clearly, it’s cold now. Do I heat it, or do I take the door card off and have a look?

Any views and helpful comments most welcome.

[jdw100]

cardigankid said:

I keep my 2005 XK8 Convertible garaged over the winter with a C-Tek trickle charger attached to the battery in the boot. I went to give it a start up today and encountered the following:-
1. Convertible hood would unlatch and drop, but would not rise back up. Before I had the car it was at CMC having the hood sorted at no small expense. I know that jamming hood hydraulics is a weak point in these cars.
2. Driver’s window stuck in the up position, won’t drop when the door is opened, won’t move when the switch is operated. In June I had it Dinitrol treated. I’m wondering if they have clagged up the motor. Clearly, it’s cold now. Do I heat it, or do I take the door card off and have a look?

Any views and helpful comments most welcome.

If the battery is not good these cars throw up all sorts of issues.

I see you have been trickle-charging but the battery might still be on its way out.

Have you had the hydraulic fluid looked at - that's a key reason for hood failure as it gets really thick and gums up the works- so maybe you can look at that?

I would get it flushed out and new fluid added every few years anyway. I had an issue with mine and it caused a leak.

I'm assuming you do know you can manually raise the hood? There's a release valve in the boot.

The window, is it attempting to do the auto raise adjustment if you try that? If not could be lots of different things.

I had a 'dry solder' whatever that is on one of my S-Types. Jag wanted £150 to replace the switch pack. My local guy solved it with a drop of solder, cost £10.

Edited by jdw100 on Tuesday 31st December 08:40

[Simpo Two]

jdw100 said:

I had a 'dry solder' whatever that is on one of my S-Types. Jag wanted £150 to replace the switch pack. My local guy solved it with a drop of solder, cost £10

A 'dry joint' is where the solder/flux hasn't flowed properly so the electrical connection is poor or non-existent.

[P700DEE]

cardigankid said:

I keep my 2005 XK8 Convertible garaged over the winter with a C-Tek trickle charger attached to the battery in the boot. I went to give it a start up today and encountered the following:-
1. Convertible hood would unlatch and drop, but would not rise back up. Before I had the car it was at CMC having the hood sorted at no small expense. I know that jamming hood hydraulics is a weak point in these cars.
2. Driver’s window stuck in the up position, won’t drop when the door is opened, won’t move when the switch is operated. In June I had it Dinitrol treated. I’m wondering if they have clagged up the motor. Clearly, it’s cold now. Do I heat it, or do I take the door card off and have a look?

Any views and helpful comments most welcome.

1. Never heard of "jamming hood hydraulics" and I've had mine 15 years and been a member of the xkec for similar. Pipe failure, yes, fluid coagulating yes, ram leaks yes .... Check that the key on the reservoir has not come loose and you have no pressure.

2 Poor job by your Dinitrol agent if it has. More likely there is an issue with the loom at the door join or another reason for lack of power to the motor. Could be a failed motor too but why relate to Dinitrol? Loom first then door card off.

[cardigankid]

All really useful stuff, many thanks - I will let you know how I get on.

[cardigankid]

Since posting I have also found Gus Glikas’ website JagRepairs, which is enormously useful in providing detailed manuals for the XK8 & R ( there is no Haynes manual for this model) and John Dee’s excellent hands-on series of videos on YouTube ‘Secrets of the XK8’, with tips on all sorts of related subjects.