Hello,
today on our drive home (2001 XK8 conv) green hydraulic fluid started dripping out of the top of the window frame (the mesh thing between the two interior lights behind the rear view mirror.
The top was down at the time and had been for ~2 hours.
When we got home I used the hand crank instructions from the manual to get the top up and locked but how do I get the rear quarter windows up?
I don't want to engage the pump as I'm afraid of being sprayed.
So the pump is shut off can I just use the top up button to close the rear windows? Hold a rag over the mesh thingy (what is that for anyway?)

Then I would like to see whether I can fix this myself as I can imagine it being expensive at the dealer...
Can I unhook the roof with the hex key and let the roof down again until I get this fixed (the manual says "do not open the roof with the hex key")?


TIA,
Frank

 

Sorry, happens to the best of us.

The windows are not going to come up until the latch and ram micro switches say everything is good which is a little difficult to do manually. You can operate the window relays with the relay cover off or jump the connectors in the panel below them. During my trials I drilled a small hole in the top of the relay cover so I could operate them with a toothpick.

Lots of info in the 'stickies' above and at jagrepair.com.

Yes, repair at your friendly, neighborhood Jaguar Dealer is going to be a lot. Take a copy of the deed to your home with you. Nothing difficult, just lots of it. The entire interior has to be removed to replace the hoses.

 

Thanks. Perused the "stickies" and looked for fix. This is way beyond my skill, space, and time limits.
Will have it fixed at the shop and then sell the car. We just can't afford to drive a Jag I guess :-( It'll be a sad day but it is what it is.
Put a classified ad in for those who might be interested. Will probably take a couple of weeks for the fix but then will be ready to go.

 

I may be having to do some hose repairs myself. Gratefully I didn't experience the green shower, but I heard my pump fighting the other day to raise the top. I went to top it off (one of my rams has had a really slow leak for years) and it was MUCH lower than expected. I looked and saw something at the rear of the pump dripping down behind the CD changer. I'm thinking it is the end of convertible season for me and I will have to look into it more in the spring. I may even take the opportunity to fix the ram that has been slowly leaking

 

Hey Captain--the car looks great in the photos you included in your for sale post. But maybe you should keep the car a bit longer. You have already done (or will have done) all of the major stuff and from this point on it should only be routine maintenance. Just sayin'

Doug

 

Frank,

An alternative: if you're willing to operate the latch manually (at least temporarily) you can have a functioning convertible top. Involves capping the latch hose ports on the hydraulic pump. Costs about $6.00.

See "manual latch" link below. Good luck whichever way you go ...

 

Appreciate the encouragement but that's what we thought each time. And then there was another problem...

 

No, those were opportunities.

 

Did you get the top closed and the widows up?

 

Yes I did thanks for asking, and for the helpful instructions.

The car is in the shop for the job of replacing the hoses. I will sell it after that. It's in the classifieds. I have a trade in offer for 6.5k, that's 7k with the tax savings on the new car. If I can get that I would rather sell privately, but no one has sown any interest in the classifieds.

 

Have you considered Craig's List and / or EBay?

Both of my XK8s came from EBay (the PO of my current one turned out to be a forum member). I've sold two cars, one an XK8, using Craig's List.

 

I have considered Craigslist and I really don't want to deal with it. Sold a motorcycle once through it and while it ultimately sold, there were a lot of spammers, lowballers, people wanting joyrides, etc.

If it doesn't sell here, I'll trade it in.

 

Sorry to hear that I am sure you had a love for it.

Gus
www.jagrepair.com

 

We had a great time with it and we will miss it. We just have to be realistic...