Does it work ?

[milly2]

Hello

Has anyone used the headlight repair kit featured in Frosts catalogue ?
If so, does it really work and how easy is it to get an effective repair
Thanks

[milly2]

I guess from lack of response
No one has tried it
Milly
(now with a replacement headlight and Covers on both . Joy)

Just have to sort out the other 2.5k worth of work needed

Has anyone in Northants used Perry and Sons in Earls Barton for work on their jag. We took a ride out their today and tho the place was closed there were a couple of xjs' in the yard. One in good nick, the other wrecked.

They were advertising on our regional site.

Looking to reduce the quotes given by Guy Salmon for replacement of
radiator, radius arm bushes,top wishbone bushes,front brakepads,pins and chips.heater valve and thermostat, oil pressure switch. Not mentioning the aircon which we vowed we would make sure worked before we bought (lol)

Has anyone heard their fan come on when the engine temp is between normal and the red ? Guy at GS says its normal for them to run a bit warm and he has never heard a fan come on.
Would appreciate the experience of club members on that one.
Thanks
Milly
(actually,pathetically, like most females owners I've named the car Milly 2 I am Christine. Milly 1 is a real cat with an attitude problem )

[nigel1]

To cut down on labour costs, try and find a service garage who are a member of the Jaguar Specialists Association, their labour charges will be about half of what GS charges.
Radius arm bushes: Unless your going to change them yourself, I would purchase new radius arms complete with bushes. I changed the bushes on mine a few years back, and its a bear of a job, and removing and fitting the bushes, especially the large one is not easy. I think David Manners had them at about £70 each (make sure they are suitable for your late model car)
Top wishbone bushes: A fairly straight forward job, probably a couple hours work for both sides.
Thermostat: 20 minute job
Oil Pressure Sender, same about 20 minute job. Look for the older type sender, the last ones jaguar made are only the same as the idiot light, it either indicates half pressure or nil. The older ones cost about £25
Heater Valve: Dont know, never done that one
Brake Pads, about 30 minute job.
The prices that GS quoted you are probably for Jagaur packaged parts. Check with the likes of David Manners or SNG Barratts. They'll stock OEM or after market parts. OEM will be about half the price of the Jaguar parts
The Radiator: Whats the problem, blocked or leaking. You may be able to find a local shop that can repair the rad, or recore it, that will save you a fair bit.
Air con: As you have the late model car, it will have the R134A system. Whats the problem with the air con. It may just need a regass (and get a new reciever/dryer fitted). Receiver/dryer can be got for about £30 to £40, a decent air con service will cost about £100.
So, to sum up, shop around for the parts and look for a JSA mechanic in your area

[Telsmoneypit]

Christine, which model XJS do you have?
It would help if you included this as your signature - diagnosis and advice is much easier to give when we know which engine you have.

Great advice from Nigelsly, the only thing I can add is that you get the heater valve (very easy job once the car is drained of coolant) done at the same time as the Rad. A recore from Northampton Auto Rads, which is not too far from you, should do the trick.

Terry

[nigel1]

Chris, regarding the aux fan.
My car, the temp gauge sits dead centre, rises just a tad if the engine is worked hard.
The fan on mine has never come on either, but it would be good thing to test the fan, they have been known to sieze up due to lack of use.
Turn it by hand first. To test the fan, disconnect the termo switch on the rad and then jumper the connection, the fan should run (but that does not test the thermo switch)
I've also wired in an extra relay which causes the aux fan to run whenever the air con compressor clutch is engaged

[poprivet]

I've also wired in an extra relay which causes the aux fan to run whenever the air con compressor clutch is engaged
Hi Nigel, I've heard of others also doing this mod. Is it to help the engine cooling due to the increased heat from the a/c condensor being in front of the main radiator or to help the a/c in some way? I only ask as my standard set-up suffers no problem whatsoever, even in the extremely high temperatures we have had the last few days. Plenty of icy cold air conditioning, the only change has been the temp gauge needle has been sitting right on N instead of just under.
Pop

[milly2]

Terry
Have now discovered the bit I should have ticked to make the signature live
So this is a bit of a test.
Chris

[nigel1]

Hi Pop,
it was both reasons really. I dont normally use the AC that much, (convertible), but I do make sure it gets run at least monthly to keep the shaft seals lubricated.
On one occasion, with the roof up, and it was a real hot day, I was in standing traffic, and I noticed that the temp gauge was on the rise. Turning off the AC caused the temp to return to normal.
I had also read that as the aux fan is right in front of the condensor, it was a sensible thing to have the fan running, as it would cause the condensor to operate more effeciently when car at low speed or stopped.
(On the V12's, the fan comes on with the AC)
It was a fairly simple fix, and I tested it yesterday, in standing traffic with AC on, the gauge stayed at normal