Now what... no start and then a bang.

[bmc123]

Right, Brand new battery fitted - car would not start so I assumed maybe the engine had done its famous trick of flooding so I followed the old turn over for 20 seconds wait a minute trick.

or at least I tried to. In only the 2nd attempt there was an almighty BANG and a few whisps of smoke started coming up from under the bonnet.

To say I am somewhat annoyed is an understatement, but before I put the car in the autotrader has anybody any ideas what may have went bang and what sort of bill I could be looking at when my mechanic calls up in the morning?

[ptjs1]

bmc123,

Hope it isn't expensive. Obviously difficult to diagnose without more info from you. Hopefully, it might be just something relatively simple (and cheapish) such as a backfire through the airflow meter.

Let us know how you get on.

Good luck

Paul

[joejag308]

BMC how long did you have the old battery off the car before you put the new one on........the symptoms seem like a timing glitch, it used to be if the engine was too far advanced when it blew back........or maybe its just reprogrammed itself with the battery removal........then resorted to the old flooding problem........it could be lots of things but without the car being here who knows..............have you access to some diagnostic equipment where you can connect it up.......it might be less a problem than you think...........Joe

[bmc123]

I have no diagnostic equipment unfortunately, but the battery was out for about 3 or 4 minutes at the most. There was quite a bit of smoke and almost an "electrical" smell - the smoke seemed to be coming from underneath the drivers side but did come up all around the engine. It cleared after a few minutes but I have not ventured back near the car since. I will assume my mechanic will attempt to start her again I'm just afraid he would do more damage but from what has been described so far maybe I will be lucky and it was only a backfire.... fingers crossed.

[bmc123]

Had a quick look and the airbox has been blown up anybody got one cheap

[ptjs1]

bmc123,

Blown airbox is a typical consequence of a backfire. However, you really need to check the integrity of the airflow meter and the throttle body, particularly the airflow meter.

Good luck

Paul

[bmc123]

Mechanic came up this morning to take a look and tried to start it, and she backfired again - he stopped at this point and thinks the cars computer might need reset (or something like that) and suggested I take it to a Jag dealer/technician - problem is the nearest one to me is over an hour away and I would have to get her transported there (not cheap around here either) I think I may have to do that but any last minute ideas before I go and get a bank loan?

[joejag308]

BMC Ask the specialist if he makes house calls with his diagnostic gear.......it can go in the back of a van or pick up...........be cheaper than hiring a trailer ect ect..........

[bmc123]

Ouch....

Unfortunately the dreaded Nikasil strikes again and my engine is essentially no more.

So, now begins the search for another engine, my mechanic suggests that as the car is "a good one" that we put in a newer (steel lined) engine so he is looking around for one that will fit (he has done it before so knows what to look for)

Hopefully this will not disturb my bank balance too much. I'm sort of taking this kick in the wallet gracefully as I did buy the car cheap and suspected something has not been right for a while so borrowed some money to cover me should the unthinkable happen.

Looks like I will be keeping this one now, as once the engine swap is done I won't be selling it

[ptjs1]

bmc123,

Really sorry to hear that you've got a terminal engine problem. The decision of whether to re-engine the car or buy another one and sell the old one must be a difficult one. With the depressed prices of 308s, it may well be cheaper and lesss hassle to just buy another one. Good luck with whatever you decide.

As a matter of interets, how did your specialist diagnose that it was a Nikasil problem that caused the complete failure? Without wishing to question his expertise, is he absolutely sure that is the problem? I must admit my limited knowledge of the Nikasil issue was that you didn't experience sudden failure like that.

Also, I naively believed that because the Nikasil erosion was caused by high sulphur petrol which disapperared 10 years ago, that one couldn't suffer a Nikasil failure any more. If the car has been ok for the last 5 years plus, then Nikasil isn't an issue. As I said, I'm writing from a poistion of relative ignorance. But as the owner of a 1997 car, I'm obviously interested in the issue.

If you can enlighten us further as to the diagnosis, that would be very helpful. As I said, good luck with your dilemma.

Paul

[bmc123]

It had been showing the signs for a while - (rough idle - smoky exhaust) although I only bought the car last November and thought the rough idle was normal for a V8 (coming as I did from a long line of SD1 V8's) I also assumed (as it turned out wrongly) that the smoke was due to the LPG conversion and the very cold winter we had

I suppose the final straw came when it overheated one day due to the top hose falling off, it never quite ran properly after that and I had taken it to a couple of mechanics locally to get an opinion and to be fair to them they had very little experience of the V8 so could not give me a definitive answer.

the current chap who has it is a long standing independent and he himself told me that yes I could get the car to go but the problem would inevitably reoccur in the near future so I am waiting for him to source an engine and we will go from there.

as you say, its a 50-50 choice right now - sell as is and take the hit or keep it and install a new engine. I did not pay a lot of money for the car so I suppose I can't really complain (I took a chance and it did not pan out) However the car is what I wanted and it took me a while to find it so I am still hovering on the side of keeping it

[daveji]

Hi BMC
I would suggest you contact Chris Forbes CFS Motors in Coventry to sort out your engine.
He is our V8 engine rebuild expert and has been for some years,for the trade as well as owners.
His number is 01676 541917.
You will get a top class job at a reasonable price from CFS and I know he has looked after members from Ireland before.

David

[bmc123]

We have managed to source an engine (a same type low mileage steel lined jaguar replacement one) now all I have to do is arrange to get it picked up and delivered over here - this is where my contacts in the shipping trade should come in useful (I hope)

Next comes fitting (after we check chain tensioners etc) no point in putting an engine in without at the very least doing that bit)

anything else anybody can think about that is worth looking into (so to speak) while the engine is out?

[BrianG]

Not so much "while the engine's out" but as soon as it's back together change the gearbox oil. I don't know your original mileage but "sealed for life" can mean a very short life. 50,000 miles tops for original oil seems to be current thinking. It's not cheap, but cheaper than a new gearbox!

[bmc123]

well, as an update I can now report that the engine is in, and running great I had the gearbox fluid replaced and the car readied for MOT (this Saturday) so I have not really been able to drive it save for a couple of trips to the mechanic, so I am really looking forward to getting back on the road soon. total outlay so far has been £2k made up of £1100 for the engine and £900 for fitting, removal and replacement of the LPG system, replacing gearbox fluid and MOT preparation.

I also had the LPG system reinstalled however I am running the car on petrol until I get it serviced, even then I am going to switch it to "manual" and only use it on long journeys once the engine has warmed up.

Total outlay then including the original purchase price of the car has been around £4000 and I don't feel that is too bad really for a car that I want and have no intention of selling now - as with only 16,000 miles on the new engine and with me on a 5000 mile a year classic policy I don't think I am going to have to worry too much about engine problems for a while (touch wood)

I have also bought a wing as the drivers side got really rough when it was away, and intend to touch up any little spots around the car before the dreaded tin worm catches hold!

and, I am also broke Literally cleaned out and penniless but I don't care one jot - Jags do that to you I think......