Hello Everyone! I'm new and posted in the new members area.


That said I am a recent Jaguar owner and at certain moments wondering if I made a poor decision and got in over my head as I am not mechanically well versed.


****Backstory (not as important)

I purchased the vehicle in North Carolina from what seemed to be a reputable dealer after a PPI where the engine was smoked and the cats probed (they are fine and no apparent vacuum leaks found). The codes were found to be P0171 and P0174 and Heat control unit.

So the mechanic at the time (an electric guy) naturally thought it was ECU. I didn't agree so I took the vehicle for a 2 hour trip in the mountains and burned high octane through the system. Error codes and lights disappear.

I drive it back to Ohio (500) miles no problem and thoroughly enjoying the car on the highway.


It is when I get back to Ohio I start noticing problems (naturally). The pulley and belts needed replacing (even though the dealer said they had been replaced)



***** More important Part

There has been an engine gurgle (see attachment) that has caused the check engine light to come on. Codes are P0171 PO174 and a suggestion of the PCV valve.

The gurgle is most noticeable when at 1.5k- 1.8k or going roughly 25-30 MPH

When I would pressure the brake system (pushing on the brake) and push on the gas to about 1.5k RPM there would no the a gurgle. So after reading the forums I thought maybe it was the brake booster vacuum leak.

I took it to the mechanic and he smoked the booster, there was a small leak and he fixed the O-Ring (which was put in backwards).



The saga continues



Took the car for a test drive and the gurgle is still there.

Now the mechanic smokes the whole engine and his thoughts are the following:


Where the air intake tube (the aluminum one) meets the intake plenum is a coupler that had been shaved down to size; however, was not the correct size. It had a vacuum leak and would cause the air intake tube to rub against the bar sitting on top by the back of the engine thus causing my gurgle noise.

Supposedly a new intake tube that meets with the plenum is available from the factory for $600 and does not have a rubber coupler as it is all one piece?



Can anyone help me here? I feel like I am about to be screwed over and that what they are pointing to is not it. They were even saying at one point it was the bushing (they are torn but the car doesn't have an sway to it yet so I'm waiting)


To me it doesn't make sense... how can I drive it for well over 500 miles with no gurgle and all of a sudden it just be that rubber coupler and the air intake tube rubbing against a bar.

 

Use those 2 codes and do some searches. There are a number of things that can cause that. I would not put the gurgle and the codes together until you do more troubleshooting.
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Hello!

Thank you for the reply.



Yes I agree. I have noticed there is a slight coolant leak and the engine temp needle is typically slightly passed the middle hash mark.


I have done general searches on google with engine gurgles (with other vehicles) and have noticed a trend of vacuum leaks, coolant and heat control unit issues, etc.

Is it fair for me to request from the dealer that if I pay for the part and labor, but it does not fix the issue I do not pay for it?

 

You can try but the dealer is in it to make money.

With the STR or really any used luxury car you need to be able to do the work yourself or the cost just gets too much. We have got almost all problems figured out at this late date.

The gurgling on the S Type is usually related to blend doors trying to get calibrated. Usually continues after the car is shut off too.

But focus on the codes as those are where your problem lies. Have you get any results on your searches yet?

Those codes can come from a large number of area's and you need to do more troubleshooting. It will be expensive if you try to get the dealer to do it.

Also remember even to a Jaguar dealer an STR is still a rare cat!
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Yes... unfortunately I am not that mechanically savvy nor do I have shop where I can spend the time to figure out all of the mechanics.

Meaning, I don't have a way to take the engine out of the car and poke around to see what could be causing the problem.

This is why I am reliant upon a mechanic. Additionally I have classes starting again and was attempting to use the vehicle for uber.


I've checked through the forums for a few weeks now trying to ascertain what could be causing those codes and it seems like everyone has a different situation.


The only thing I can think of continuing to do is to try and find vacuum leaks with the mechanic and fix those items here and there. Then just have all the coolant hoses replaced to fix the coolant leak.





As far as the gurgle I am fairly confident they are connected; however, I still leave open the option they are not since I did not have the gurgle until I returned to Ohio. The codes have appeared before the gurgle existed.

 

Maybe swap STR for a cheaper S-Type (or other car) that's easier and cheaper to maintain / fix.

STR is not a cheap car to own if you can't DIY.

Lean codes need urgent attention (and there are a zillion details how), gurgles normally can be ignored.

 

Update:


So the mechanic was on the money and I have to say I am ashamed for doubting him.

The Engine Gurgle was because of if the intake tube rubbing against the horizontal (black in my STR) bar. The lean codes separate. That said, they were wrong on the intake meeting manifold... I still can't find one that is just one piece.


I ended up having the infamous coolant leak below the supercharger (this was costly for me as I was unable to do it myself); however, I have a specialty car shop in Columbus (see post for Midwesterners) that has very knowledgeable individuals who have worked on a lot of jaguars (primarily older editions) and treat mechanics like an art form.


They were able to fix the coolant leak and replace a number of hoses and rings for me. Sadly though those lean codes keep popping up.


Anyone have any ideas I could throw at these guys? Do we have a definitive list of vacuum leak sources with the STR?

 

Every vacuum hose/joint and also the exhaust.

You don't for sure know it's an air (vacuum) leak.

Start by watching (cheap OBD tool e.g. elm327) fuel trims at idle then rev to about 2500 and watch some more. What do the LTFTs do...

 

Advance and Autozone stores have good scanners to check codes and fuel trim.

 

Do they really do fuel trims?

TBH even if they do, just get your own elm327 - very cheap at $10 or so.

 

Something does not make sense? That has NEVER been reported before on any super charged 4.2L engine and they are all the same.

The intake tube is under the engine cover which goes under the brace on the STR.

So for the intake tube to even touch the brace means you could not fit the engine cove in place. How could this happen?
Does your engine have the cover in place?

Take a look;

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/a...1&d=1474123245

Junk forum software again! No way to insert picture. It just stuck in a loop as usual! Sorry for the small picture.
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Your picture is fine. Nice and big.

 

Thank you Mikey!

Have you done any searches on these codes?
Are you aware of the P/B fitting that will cause a vacuum leak?

Please listen to JagV8 and get the EML327 and any of a number of software packages. You won't be able to log fuel trims at a parts house. What they will do is scan for codes. Pease have them clear your codes when they are done scanning.
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Update:

Managed to get all the mechanical issues fixed and have been slowly repairing items here and there.

I definitely got hustled on this purchase, but doing my best to have items fixed so she can be enjoyed by the next person. Even the mechanics had to call Jaguar for one item so they could update their parts and services books because it was not listed.

RE the rubbing and photo: yes there is a way and I will take a picture for you. It may just be me but then someone had to have made a major modification to the engine that is not supposed to be like that at all.

Which is why I asked how everyone else's was set up.