With all of this long term very cold weather lately (0-15f) I noticed that my heater takes a while to get warm and so I'm wondering if it's related to this issue? I also am having intermittent coolant leaks.

Well I haven't dug into this issue very deeply as yet but I happened upon this website and thought if it's not know about already I should point it out.

DIY: Diagnose It Yourself - JaguarClimateControl.com

 

Don't forget to back flush the heater core. Remove the three hoses going to the heater and then flush the core directly. Do it both ways.

This is what got my heat working after I changed DCCV, Hoses and thermostat.
.
.
.

 

Clubairth1-

What is the best location to access (and disconnect) the three hoses?

Thanks
Mag

 

It's easier where they attach to the pipes on the inner wing.

 

The passenger side inner fender well has all three aluminum tubes clamped to the metal of the engine compartment. Remove the rubber hoses and attach a spare hose so you can get the water hose attached to it.

Then move this hose around the three Aluminum tubes flushing it forwards and backwards. I never did see anything come out and found no blockages but it sure got my heat back!


.
.
.

 

What a useful photo. Also (for me) interesting to see how few things are mirror-imaged for the USA STR. (Basically, the brake fluid reservoir.)

 

You mean they don't move the dipstick for RHD cars!

 

True. PCV in same place. EVAP hoses etc, too. Airbox & trunking on same side.

 

Greetings,

I know the cooling system seems to be the achilles heel or at least one of them. Just started two days ago coolant in the reservoir tank was low, filled it and didn't think much about it. Came home from picking up grandkids at school and I was leaving a trail of coolant behind me. This morning started it up setting in the garage and everything was fine until the thermostat open and so did the flood gates, I heard it could be the thermostat housing or one of the 5 million hoses, any experience on this problem?

 

The reservoir tank is another likely culprit. Don't guess. Beg, borrow or steal a cooling system pressure tester. It connects in place of the cap on the reservoir. With the engine cold (and off), manually pump up the system to the rated pressure value on the cap.

Then let it sit for about 15 minutes. If the pressure decays more than a smidge, you've got a leak somewhere. Keep in mind if the leak is up high on the engine, you may only get air escaping during the test, not coolant. Don't let that throw you.

If you've already looked over the engine at idle and can't find any leaks, that's not conclusive. The system pressure at idle is only a fraction of normal operating pressure while driving. That's why you want to use a pressure tester and manually pump it up.

 

Thanks, I've never seen such a mess of hoses in my life. Like I just posted, I found one of the small upper hoses with a hole in it. replaced and road tested, went about 8 miles, no leaks, until I got home and checked the car about and hour and a half later.