I guess my next step would be to get the car to an independent Jag repair shop. Anyone out there know of a reputable shop in the Long Beach, CA area?

 

Thanks BB. You've been a big help to this newbie.

 

Here's a closer photo of the hose. The white arrow points to where the split is.

 

there is no way any water/coolant should be coming from this pipe with the shown split

i would , take the hose from the crossover pipe , take the pipe off the ecu in the trunk and blow through with compressed air if you can , probably easier to blow it from the trunk end, if water comes out then you will have to try and figure out how it got in there ??

then, with the hose still removed, block off the pipe on the crossover pipe and turn the engine over to see if she runs , if you wish , you can even take off the crossover pipe all together ( remembering that unfiltered air will enter the engine ) and turn the car over, and look for coolant, though i seriously doubt you will see anything

other than that, i have no idea

BB

 

Once you remove the cover you will see the fuel pump relays. To the right of the relays you will see the ECU. Look to the right of the unit and you will find a rubber hose plugged into the side. That is the vacuum hose up to the engine.

You can remove the hose and use compressed air to blow into it to clean it out.

Mark

 

Thanks Mark!
I've gotta say the members of this forum are the most helpful I've ever experienced.

 

I have just re-read this thread. Question: What is that open pipe in the above photo, above and just right of the arrow, with the hose clip on it? It looks to me like an un-connected coolant pipe from the heater core spigot. If so, that's your coolant source.


Greg

 

thats the hose the crossover pipe goes into , this is on the back of the left hand intake manifold ,

it looks like it has been removed to gain better access/view of the suspected pipe

BB

 

Exactly right BB.
I disconnected the hose at the ECU as well as at the crossover and blew air through it. No water was evident. Today I will disconnect the crossover and turn the engine over to look for coolant.

 

i would suggest that your source of water/coolant is coming from the cabin heater matrix supply pipes, this is the domed valve with the small vac pipe on top as seen in your pictures , this is bolted to the bulkhead right behind the balance pipe spout for the ECU vac pipe,

there is no other source of coolant in that area , and can only be this , i don't even think there is a core plug for the block in this area , but not 100% sure about that one...

if it were me, i would replace everything you have taken apart for the balance pipe, repair replace the ecu feed pipe on the balance pipe, as the split will cause issues by sucking in air ,

then using a strong light inspect the coolant hoses on the bulkhead for leaks, either with or without the engine running , these coolant pipes are very hard to get to , and are usually neglected when the rest are changed, and as such are much older than the rest, and then swell and fail spraying coolant all over the back of the engine making you think the world is about to end....... as it happened to me four years ago

good luck,

BB

 

Thanks BB. What I cannot understand, though, is why, with the cross pipe disconnected the engine is not ticking over at 4000 rpm.


Greg

 

Thanks guys.
As the ecu feed hose is apparently a major pain to remove / replace, do you think there would be an issue if I simply ran a new line from the crossover to the ecu, leaving the old line disconnected and in place?

 

the only issue i can see is that you would need to put a copper tube for most of the run, as a 'rubber ' tube would collapse due to the vacuum if you didn't

i would attempt replacing the last bit to the crossover pipe myself

BB

 

Didn't think about that aspect. Good advice BB.

 

np

i see you have a white xis

the best colour in my opinion.....

IMG_1099 by MyPix on Talk Photography

BB

 

Yeah, it's actually a very nice 38,000 mile original car. I wonder what kind of wheels are on the car in the photo. Really nice!

 

my car ( in the pic ) runs Jaguar XK8 18" Flute alloys

BB

 

That's your car? Beautiful!
I'd love to get a set of those for mine. Need to get it running first though!
Are they a direct bolt-on?

 

Update.
Looks like a heater hose after all. Moved the crossover connection out of the way and introduced water into the radiator. Heater hose is split.

 

glad to hear you have now found the source of the leak

put some automotive heat resistant tape over the vac hose split for now, that will improve the vac to the ECU

it is tight in there to replace these hoses, if you are confident the heater valve works then you can leave it , if there is any doubt what so ever that it is corroded or not moving then it needs replacing or you will only have to do all the work all over again , the valve is normally open and hot and a vac to the top pulls the valve closed if the aircon is turned on ,the hoses for this area are included in the multi hose packs you can buy for the V12 XJS , i would also take the opportunity to inspect every other hose , again , while its drained down , change any dodgy ones , and then fill with ready mixed OAT coolant , it will take 21 ltrs

don't forget to remove and clean out the atmospheric recovery bottle mounted in the front left fender behind the front wheel , once clean , add 2 ltrs and replace the pick up pipe and put back in the fender ,

download ' Kirbys book ' on the XJS , its full of useful info and free

yes, my car , lol
it took me eight years to fully restore from a derelict car , finally finished in a paintshop to add the white paint, and is an original white car with red leather interior

1820 by MyPix on Talk Photography

got any pics of yours ?

the wheels are bolt on , the rears go straight on with no clearance issues, the fronts needed a 25mm ( 1 inch ) hub centric spacer to clear the callipers etc , extreme low profile tyres look fantastic , but do actually make the ride a little hard, form over function , lol, but i think they look fantastic, and were very cheap with the tyres

BB