Jaguar XK8 2005 4.2 Unobtainable Cats.

[Dave1941]

I need to replace one of the Cats. on my 2005 Jaguar 4.2 Coupe but they are now not available from all the usual sources. There is a firm in England which makes Cats. to order but do not have type approval for my car and are unlikely to get it in the foreseeable future, Another firm advertises Cats. on the internet for my car but they do not fit! I am reduced to looking for a second hand one but, so far, have had no luck.
I need to sell the vehicle because I'm no longer fit to drive it, but I can't sell it in this condition. Any suggestions would be welcome. The chassis number is A45642, if that is of any interest.

[JimMann]

Hi Dave, you don't indicate what the problem with your existing Cat is. We ran a piece in the Modern XK column recently about a firm capable of welding minor defects in Cats for the X-100. Is the issue terminal, or something that could actually be repaired.

Jim Mann

[Dave1941]

Thanks for replying to my XK8 'Cat' problem. I read your piece in the magazine every month but I have to confess that I must have missed the bit about 'cats', or, I can't remember it.
I'm sure what's wrong with mine is terminal as it appears to be ok when looking at it. I'm not absolutely certain that it is 'cat' trouble but I've just replaced the four sensors and the engine management light remains on and the car runs perfectly. My garage tells me that the exhaust emissions test shows that the left bank of cylinders are running slightly rich which, they say, is an indication of a faulty 'cat' - that is all I know.
Regards
Dave

[JimMann]

Hi Dave, in most cases the cats are quite robust, but there have been occasions when a small hole has been allowed to develop in the outer casing and this leads to incorrect emissions reports. In the past, this type of issue may have resulted in a new cat being sourced and fitted, but as we know these items are becoming increasingly scarce, so we need to be more creative.

In the instance I am thinking of, the cat issue was diagnosed to a small hole and after much searching for a replacement, the owner approached a local welding company who specialise in automotive welding and they successfully welded up the cat for the princely sum of £50.

You don't say where you reside, but it is more than likely that a suitable welding company exists near you, but first you need to firm up the diagnosis as to why your garage is pointing the finger at the cat and if it is firm, then what is its issue.

Sorry I am unable to be more precise, but you do have a lot of unknowns in your diagnosis.

Jim Mann

[Dave1941]

Jim, Thanks, for your comments. I'm bound to ask what you mean by a small hole.
I have arranged for the cat to be removed for inspection next week, so we should know its precise condition by then.
David Marks has suggested that the code that the diagnostic gizmo throws up should give a more precise indication of the fault if there is one. I don't think that has been done so far. I'll let you know the outcome.
Regards
Dave

[JimMann]

Hi Dave, any hole in a cat is an issue that will hurt the emission readings come MoT time. In this particular case, we are talking about something visible to the eye, but not much bigger than a pin head.
Jim Mann

[Astromorg]

Dave, I feel quite uneasy that you have a Check Engine Light (CEL) and after changing the four exhaust sensors (Why?) the CEL is still lit and without anyone checking what codes have caused the light, your garage is advising a new cat because one bank is reading a bit rich - there are possible causes other than a faulty cat! Finding which codes have caused the CEL is an essential step to take before committing to a 'solution'.

If you're anywhere near my neck of the woods, I'd be happy to check your codes. I have a computer based diagnostic scanner that's fully Jaguar enabled.

[ptjs1]

Dave,

Sorry to hear of your problem. It's really disappointing didn't spend the 30sec it would take to read the fault code causing your EML to illuminate.

Yes, it could be a cat, but it could easily be something else and you certainly don't want to go to the expense of changing anything without knowing the code. A £4 OBD plugin and an App on a phone can do that. If you were in Kent, I'd say pop round and I'll do it!

Whatever, you do, get the code read first before you go any further.

Good luck

Paul

[Dave1941]

Thank you for all your kind replies. As you can tell I am a complete ignoramus when it comes to 'modern' vehicles. Up till now I've spent several hundreds of pounds on my XK8 on a trial and error basis and all on the advice of my garage. The light has been on now for several months and I was unaware until this correspondence that there was a code to be checked. I've been in the hands of my garage all this time and I know that no-one has ever checked or even mentioned codes.
I think things will have to change!
By the way the garage does not use Jaguar or Autologic diagnostic systems. It's some other version, but I expect it has codes anyway. Am I to understand that investigating the code thrown up by the diagnostic gizmo will give a precise description of the fault?

[Thixendale]

Hi Dave,
May I suggest couple of things.

First of all, I have an XJ X350 4.2 and the first thing I bought was an iCarsoft OBDII reader..
One of the best things I have ever bought.
It allows me to read codes and cancel them. This will set the system so you can monitor which codes are thrown. Sometimes a code is thrown and you get a domino effect of others being raised which may not be related to the fault and resetting and looking at what turns up afterwards. Also allows a better discussion with the garage.

Second - you may want to find a new garage which has experience of Jaguars.

Cheers

Tony

[ptjs1]

Dave,

The EML is on because one or more fault codes are being stored in the ecu. ANY garage should have done a simple read of the codes to determine what fault code has been thrown.

It's very easy and cheap to read basic engine codes. A Bluetooth OBD dongle costs about £5. Some of the phone apps are free, some cost a few pounds.

It's staggering to think that any decent garage would not scan the car when you've got a fault. Either ask them why, or just walk away and find a more reputable place.

Good luck

Paul