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Change of face.
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 7:39 pm
by Mackie
So, I picked up the XJ-S from The Jag Workshop today after getting some cosmetic work completed. I've taken the old lady back in time and given her a facelift. She now looks like she did when she left Coventry...
From this:
To this:
She even brightens up for the evening...

Re: Change of face.
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 8:03 pm
by davidr
I always quite liked the look of the round dials and the wooden dash but I'd had to take that instrument panel out several times due to iffy connections so I was looking for an original instrument pack but couldn't find the right one.
I see you have managed to get one for an ABS car so well done!
Are those LED's ?
Re: Change of face.
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 11:32 pm
by davidr
Also interesting to see that the voltage reading is consistent on both instruments.
I always suspected that it was reading a bit low and checked the voltage using a meter which was good with the engine running but it didn't appear to be reading as much on the instrument pack voltmeter. I even changed the voltmeter in the pack but to no effect.
My conclusion was that there must be some resistance in the wiring to the voltmeter that was dropping the voltage.
I also wondered about the alternator but, as I say, readings across the battery with the engine running were satisfactory.
So the voltmeter suggests that the voltage is marginal and may not be enough to charge the battery but that hasn't been an issue to me in the 14 years I owned the car.
Re: Change of face.
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 11:43 pm
by Mackie
David,
They are indeed LEDs both dash and console. There was an issue with the rev counter, but they managed to sort it. I wanted to switch back to the original dash, because of originality and I love the aircraft style gauges.
Re: Change of face.
Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 3:23 pm
by Mackie
Re: Change of face.
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 10:13 am
by BigCatXJS
Car cover looks good - is that from Classic Additions?
Re: Change of face.
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 10:31 am
by Mackie
Place called Cover Systems.
Re: Change of face.
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 9:13 pm
by davidr
Good to see her tucked up warm and safe under her blanket. She's used to being tucked up at night and a bedtime story - I trust she still gets that!

Re: Change of face.
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 10:41 pm
by J44EAG
I expect that was The Archers!
Mike
Re: Change of face.
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 10:45 pm
by davidr
It's true that she's no stranger to The Archers or Test Match Special. She has also been known to deliberately play me the kind of music that just makes her go faster!

Re: Change of face.
Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 6:36 pm
by Mackie
Fuel gauge was not working properly, needle not moving beyond half-way even when full, so I took it back to the guys who installed the binnacle, believing it was at fault.
Turns out it is the fuel sender. I think even I might have managed to replace that, but I had them do it just in case. Unexpected shell-out (pun unapologetically intended).
Re: Change of face.
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 3:24 pm
by franrca
The car cover is interesting - when I bought mine from Hamilton Classics I was going to buy one of the skin-tight covers as they look really cool, but the guy there warned me off as he advised me that they don't breathe as well as the looser covers and said that unless I was parking up the car in near showroom and air-tight conditions (i..e not a garage) it would not do my car any favours with rust...hence I bought the double bed duvet cover...the skin tight one looks much nicer

Re: Change of face.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 4:43 pm
by Mackie
£83 for a fuel sender unit. Thought that was a bit steep seeing as I’ve seen new ones on eBay for £26.
I think this was a job I should have plucked up the courage to try myself. Especially at £85 + VAT an hour.
Re: Change of face.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 4:44 pm
by Mackie
The car cover is interesting - when I bought mine from Hamilton Classics I was going to buy one of the skin-tight covers as they look really cool, but the guy there warned me off as he advised me that they don't breathe as well as the looser covers and said that unless I was parking up the car in near showroom and air-tight conditions (i..e not a garage) it would not do my car any favours with rust...hence I bought the double bed duvet cover...the skin tight one looks much nicer
Mine is a soft material and really functions as a glorified dust cover after a wash and wax.
Re: Change of face.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:49 pm
by BigCatXJS
The car cover is interesting - when I bought mine from Hamilton Classics I was going to buy one of the skin-tight covers as they look really cool, but the guy there warned me off as he advised me that they don't breathe as well as the looser covers and said that unless I was parking up the car in near showroom and air-tight conditions (i..e not a garage) it would not do my car any favours with rust...hence I bought the double bed duvet cover...the skin tight one looks much nicer
Are you going camping in the New Forest with that cover Rich? How many lost pets have been trapped in there?
