First time XJS owner says hello!

[Merlcole1]

Hello,
I've just bought a 1989 v12 XJS convertible and joined JEC !
I'm hoping to learn lots from other members about how to take care of her, she has a few (hopefully!) issues that need sorting and a bit of cosmetic work. I'm looking forward to many hours spent getting to know her!
Paul

[XjRestorations]

Welcome Paul,

A nice model to introduce yourself with
Hopefully you will find us a friendly, sociable, helpful bunch!

Kind regards,
Keith

[Merlcole1]

Thank you, I'll be here asking all sorts of questions, I'm thinking this will be a steep learning curve for me but I want to do right by the car and look after her properly.
First problem I've encountered is temperamental hood operation, it opens OK but then won't close. The switch panel is loose so previous owner(s) also had issues. Checked the manual and followed the instructions. I've swapped the front console window relay with roof relay to check and windows work fine on both. I've looked at back relays, swapped around but still no joy. Switched off and on, handbrake on, tried in neutral/park etc. As a last resort I turned valve to manual and raised hood manually, then tried again and the hood went down and up again just fine, including the quarter lights. But the next time I tried, it stuck down again. Hoping someone here can give me a pointer on this issue!

[ptjs1]

Paul,

Welcome to the club and congratulations on your purchase! When you get a moment, do please remember to update your membership details online with your vehicle details. You can do this by selecting "MemberZone" from the Home Page, go to "My Account", scroll to the bottom of the page, then select "Update my car details".

As regards your hood issue, it's an annoying problem to diagnose if it's a random issue! However, in my limited experience, the motors rarely fail and the relays tend to either work or not work. Apart from checking all the switch wiring and relay connections, I would start by looking at the following areas:

- the hood console switch. They tend to gum up and the contacts get a bit iffy
- the handbrake contact switch. Try pulling the handbrake on one more notch and see if it that makes a difference
- the transmission interlock switch. These can also get a bit variable. Try using the Neutral rather than Park position and see if that makes a difference

Good luck and do post back if you still have a problem.

Paul

[Merlcole1]

OK, I've checked the console switches and they're clean, also tried neutral so handbrake next, thanks for the input and I'll let you know how I get on!

Paul

[BRIANH]

Merlcole 1,
Welcome to our Club.
A further thing you should try in order to isolate the hood working problem. Leave the hood in the closed and locked position. Open the rear side windows via their own switches on both sides. The windows will operate after 7 seconds or so. These can also be operated together or singly. Then repeat with the hood in the down position. These checks should give a good idea if everything works singly or only together.
Anyway best of luck with car and do bombard us with questions.
Regards, Brian Harris

[ptjs1]

Brian,

Just to clarify, how are you suggesting to operate the rear windows "via their own switches on both sides"? As standard, the rear windows don't have separate switches and can't be operated singly unless you pull one of the relays or apply current direct to one window motor. They are only operated via the roof switch. I have seen one car where an owner has retrospectively fitted independent rear window switches but I've never really seen the value in doing that.

Also the delay is not when the windows go down, it's an 8-second delay when they come up. This is to avoid the roof fouling the windows. When the roof switch is pressed to move the roof down, the rear windows should lower immediately again to avoid the roof fouling as it folds.

One way to identify the problem if it's proving really elusive is to backprobe the roof ecu on it's various input and output ports to see if it's receiving the right signals from switch, inhibitor and handbrake and applying output to windows and roof. Although I've not heard of such a situation, I guess a dry joint on the ecu could be the problem.

Hope that helps

Paul

[Merlcole1]

Thanks for the input on this, it does now appear to be the handbrake sensor that's causing the problem, I've managed to get the roof working. Many thanks for the assistance!

[PaulE]

Hello Mericole, and welcome to the XJS fraternity. Sure you will find plenty to enjoy along with (perhaps) a little pain.
Where are you based in case you are near enough to join us on local events?

[Brakebuster]

welcome , i just have a sunroof rather than the full affair , lol




enjoy the site, and the ownership of your car

BB

[Mcgoonagall]

Hi Paul,

I've recently taken the plunge too and now own my first XJS (currently having life breathed back in to it after a few years of scandalously low use). Good luck with getting to know yours, no doubt celebrate and occasionally commiserate on the forum (but only occasionally I hope!).

Catch you at an event at some point!

Martin

[carl2704]

Good Evening,
I have just (three weeks) purchased my first XJS, a life long dream. A 1995 4.0 coupe in Regency Red.

[davidr]

Carl - welcome to the club. I'm sure you'll find us a friendly bunch! There's an enormous amount of information on this forum and, perhaps more importantly, there are people on this forum with huge knowledge and experience who are willing to help. It's certainly been useful to me when I've been stumped in the past!
We do arrange the odd get-together via this site so, depending where you are or how far you're prepared to travel, there are opportunities to meet other members.
There is a breakfast meeting at Kemble Airfield in Gloucestershire this coming Saturday for example.
Regards
David

[Mcgoonagall]

Hi Carl,

I'm nearly three months into my XJS 'journey' now. I hope you enjoy yours!

Martin

[ptjs1]

Carl,

Welcome to the club and to the XJS section of the Bulletin Board!

I was interested to see the details of your car which must have been built on the same day as mine! Drop me a PM and I'll tell you exactly which day in 1994 it was built!

I was intrigued by your colour scheme. I have updated your membership record details to show that the colour is Flamenco Red (CFH) and Doeskin (AEE). The bit I find fascinating is that, according to the brochures, Doeskin had been discontinued and was not offered as a trim colour by the time your car was made. We have never seen an XJS as late as yours in Doeskin. If you get a chance, could you please send a pic to me of the colour codes label from your car for my records. You can email me at paul.sinnott@jec.org.uk Thanks.

Enjoy the car (and the club)!

Paul