Boot leaks

[RonChurch]

Hi, everybody.
I'm a newbie here, having only just acquired my first Jaguar - an XJ40 with high mileage and full service history. I bought it at auction, drove it 50 miles home and fell in love with it. I'm hoping to do a running restoration as the inside - with woollen seating, is quite worn. However, the first job is to empty the on-board swimming pool from the boot, and replace the floor. Does anybody know how the water gets in - the seal around the boot opening seems to be in good condition. The car has a sunroof - do the drains go into the boot area? I'm waiting for my manuals to arrive, so should be able to figure it out in time....

regards to all,

Ron

[thejpster]

I hope the battery's up front and not taking a bath! Is it an early or late XJ40?

I've found the Jaguar Classic Parts website (http://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/uk) a very useful source of diagrams. Many of them are better quality than the ones on the DVD from Jaguar Heritage. Might be useful while you wait for the manuals.

If the boot seals are OK, my first guess would be the fuel filler.

[RonChurch]

Thanks for that - luckily it's an early one with the battery up front... Since I chucked the boot mat away things seem to be improving. I'll check around the filler cap on the week-end.

Ron

[andypryce]

Agree with that, check the drainage hole in the fuel filler recess, gets blocked and water overflows, bad design...

andy

[RonChurch]

thejpster -

Thanks for the link - I've got a whole boot floor assembly on its way - I couldn't believe it was only £40 - although carriage nearly doubled that !

I'm now looking for a similar section boot seal, as it appears the original is no longer available..

Ron

[alec2824]

I have an x300 and it too had a boot leak. Water can get into the boot via the radio antenna grommet. Remove the side panel and spray a sealant liberally onto the inside arround the antenna.Also, check the seals at the roof/drip rail area. I had to apply sealant to close gaps that had developed in the drip rail finishers!!

[RonChurch]

It turns out that the leakage was via the back panel - the water had travelled along inside the "U" section that runs along below the boot catch, rotted that out, and then run down into the boot floor, whereupon the carpet wicked it effortlessly to all areas!
I am now amassing replacement panels for a marathon "weld-in!"