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After reviewing threads on the topic of the duck and trying a few, IMO the only real solution is to either cut or replace the duck bill.
I was looking for a way to do the first rather than the later. I've attached a pdf with my solution which did the trick for me. Hardest thing is to find the duck bill as it is not visible and I purchased a inspection camera from home depot for $79.00 to do the trick(this is a must have).
I haven't completed it yet as I'm attempting to remove half of the duck bill but was able to open the duck bill.
so far so good and can be done fairly easily (patience is a virtue) and for little cost.
Hi Digband,
As promised, here is the procedure I follow every 12 months to keep my Duckbill slick and clean, with pictures. Works perfectly for me and my 2009 XKR 4.2 Portfolio and my wife has not had a handbag full of water since I've been doing this.
Being right handed it works for me if I go in from the right hand side of the car but I guess it would work just as easily from the left although, I've not tried.
Start by removing the engine cover as this will make it a little easier to remove the R/|H air intake pipe.
R/H air intake pipe that runs from the R/H air filter (bottom right) up to the aluminium "T-piece" above the throttle body (top left)
Slacken off the Jubilee Clips either end of the air intake pipe
Unbolt the air intake pipe from its mounting bracket (10 mm)
Detach each end of the air intake pipe and carefully remove. Whilst you have this removed you may want to clean all those hard to reach places underneath!
Slide your hand down underneath the throttle body (palm facing the bulkhead) until you can feel the end of the Duck Bill. It's quite far down (+- 600 mm (+- 2')) and it's a fairly tight squeeze for your arm. Once you have located the Duck Bill, pour some silicone lubricant into the palm of your hand and just tease the end of the rubber Duck Bill with your middle finger. Keep on repeating with more silicone lubricant until it feels slick and smooth inside and out. Yes, that's a Jaguar tattoo!
This next pic is just to illustrate how far you need to reach. The end of the Jaguars tail is about 50 mm (2") above my elbow.
Refit the air intake pipe ensuring the Jubilee clips are nice and snug and refit the engine cover.
Finally take a couple of gratuitous pic's to post because I never seem too!
First Video was to locate where water dripped on trans. Used tapping method to get a visible drip.
Second is when I removed the camera, you can see it wasn't too far in.
Third I mounted the mirror attachment to the camera to try and look up into the pocket where the duck bill is located. This is also a must when trying to open or cut the duck bill so you can see where the blade is.
Last is after I was able to open the duck bill and you can see the water drains much faster.
1 of 19 (07-18-2016),Andrey (03-28-2019),avi (08-01-2023),d a (03-17-2022),Dan (09-12-2015),Gary87Zx (08-24-2016),Jacsun (05-22-2016),kj07xk (07-18-2016),synrgy (06-24-2018) and 4 others liked this post. (Show less...)
First was to close the vents and put on high which didn't work as bill was probably 80% closed.
Also tried the tap method and this would get the water to start dripping but unfortunately would only last for about 1/2hr of driving before water would start dripping into passenger well.
So this was my solution without removing the dash. After fixing I drove most of the day and it looks like I've got it:ic on_beerchug:
I will go back with a longer blade and try to remove one half of the duck bill so they wont get stuck together again.
Thanks for the pictures and video of the infamous duck bill. This looks like a solution worth trying. Fortunately, I haven't got the water infiltration issue but will probably try this to prevent it.
I'm assuming that the duck bill is fairly stable so the knife blade doesn't just move the drain hose. Are you actually cutting the duck bill or prying it open?
The duck bill is pliable and the opening is probably only 1.5" diameter so there is little room to do a sawing action. You pretty much just push the blade straight up through the slit in the duck bill and pull or rotate the blade to one side, more of a stab and pull action.
Took a few attempts to get the bill to open as it was stuck pretty well and the bill does try to move around a little but I think that helps.
I first used an exacto knife that I taped to a screw driver but the blade was to short to reach the duck bill. Then I fashioned the one with the rod and a modified razor blade. Length out of the rod was 1-5/8" but I think 2" will do it. Just make sure its. very sharp
Went in with the blade horizontal and rotated up into the opening where the duck bill is once it came into camera view.
Was able to cut one bill about 1/2 way up and with the bill open it drains fine as I still have no issues after driving today and leaving puddles everywhere I go.
Removing one of the bills will be best and will try to finish what I started when I can get a little longer blade (check a local hobby shop). Just nice to be able to use AC without looking at the passenger foot well every few minutes. Econ mode over the summer was no fun, wish I had done it in the spring.
No, it's very tight in there. I couldn't reach the opening with my fingers as my hand was to thick. Not much room between trans and tunnel. I could see my fingers come into camera view but that was it.
The e-xacto knife taped to a scew driver would have worked if I had a long enough blade but then again angle would be a little off for cutting. However it could be used to open duck bill.
I had the ability to make my own cutting tool and did so as the situation called for it.
unfortunately on the XKR the supercharging unit blocks this gap and you can't even see the transmission. Any thoughts if this could be done from underneath the car?
Might be possible but expect the tool would have to be different so you could reach.
I did try to find it that way once when I was under the car for an oil change but didn't have the camera so never found it. Now that we have a definite location I'm sure others may come up with something.
Thought there was enough room access while under the car but again I had no clue where it was. I know a member posted that their mechanic dropped the tranny to fix instead of removing dash.
Good Luck with yours and next oil change I can look while I'm down there.
After more searching on this board, it looks as though some people have been able to gain access from underneath although it's definitely more difficult. People state that lowering the transmission can help but I haven't found any info on how to lower the tranny yet...
I bought a camera and put my car on my scissor lift and I was able to find where the duck bill is supposed to drain but I couldn't get the camera up to see the actual duck bill itself due to the cramped access. I tried with a mirror to no avail.
I am able to close the vents to get the system to drain but I have to do this repeatedly and it's getting tiresome.
I may have to bite the bullet and take it in for the official dash removal repair.
I did find online manuals that somewhat described how to remove the dash but I'm not sure I'm up for this task as I don't want to cause more damage.
Very frustrating and I'm tempted to trade the car in and move back to a 911...not sure that will result in less frustration though
yes I bought the exact camera but the mirror attachment doesn't work well when coming at the part from under the car. The XKR's don't have any room in the engine compartment unfortunately.
Just to add some additional info, I was under the impression that only the 07-09 XKs had this issue, but a friend of mine with his 2010 XK had the horrid experience of the passenger side flooding. Fortunately for him, he had an extended warranty.. I guess, Jaguar had not addressed this issue and possibly has not even addressed it to the cease of production..
Wow, I thought it was just the 07's and maybe early 08's that had the duckbill issue
Sorry to hear you can't get at it from underneath Dan.
Only other thing I can think of is I removed the appearance cover but you said the Supercharger components get in the way. Don't have a picture of the XKR engine compartment so not sure.
Maybe you can remove some additional items and get at it from the top side.
Do you think if any buyers of the last produced XKs from 2014/2015 who might have had a clue about this issue would still be owning this classic? Probably, as most don't own the new cars for very long as it's usually a whim and they often move on to something else.. So it's up to us used car buyers to find the solution. Jaguar certainly will not address it as the car is now deceased.....at least we have benefited from the depreciation!
Dan,
Let us know how it goes. I'm in the same boat as you. If it's not possible I'll be dropping the transmission come spring to get to it.
Good luck to you.
Timmah!
09-05-2015, 11:39 PM
A/C drain duck bill fix - my solution
