I just perused the top page of the X200, X308, and X350/358 forums and am surprised to find no reports of "frozen engine" which have also been tagged as "broken rod" threads and such. Seems like every winter, when temps dip to near 0 deg F, somehow the supercharged cars manage to drizzle some moisture into the cylinders after shutdown, rendering the engine locked a the next start attempt after a cold soak.

Just surprised to not find any after this week's record cold temps. Did someone discover a fix? Or has it been so bad in the Midwest, Northeast, and Canada that everyone stayed in the house and left their SC J'aaaag in the garage?

 

Maybe the temps are too cold for moisture to collect? The colder the air, the drier it is.

 

I'm still unconvinced the claims are correct. Multiple owners live where they should get it annually yet never have after over 10 years.

 

Hey folks,

I think you just found your first.

My 06 XJR is having a major hissy fit. I drove it 300 miles 9 days ago to just south of Chicago on the way to St. Louis. It was running great (as always). Stopped at a hotel overnight, came back out in -3F ( temps the next morning and it refused to crank. Completely jammed. Tried jump starts, nothing. Assumed starter had died. It had to take the "tow of shame" to a local shop (Levi's Garage in Bourbonnais - these guys need a huge thank you for all their help). They checked, not the starter. They took all the pulleys off and tried to turn the crank with a wrench. It would turn a quarter turn then seizes, turn a quarter turn back, seizes. Used the starter again, it turned the quarter turn and stops again.
At this point, I put it on a U-Haul trailer and brought it home to work on myself. It's in my garage and the temps here in Michigan are now quite a bit warmer. Just tried to turn the crank again with my big torque wrench and I went a quarter turn clockwise, it jammed up. Then turned it anti-clockwise and it turns freely (or at least the four full rotations I gave it). I then turned it back clockwise and it's going freely that way too.
Big question for you and anyone else who can offer assistance: Do I re-assemble and try to start it, or before I do any serious damage, should I check a few other things, like look for part of a timing chain guide broken off and jamming or anything else??

Thanks for anything you can offer.

 

Sorry but:
1. you're in the wrong forum
2. some engines must not be turned in a particular direction and yours may well be one of those

 

Jag V8,

Thanks for your reply. You've been really helpful to me in the past on this forum with my X350 XJR. Hope I'm in the right place, even though I'm a junior member or I'm in trouble.

It wasn't my idea to rotate the engine both ways, that was the shop it got towed to and I bloody well hope it hasn't done any damage.

Back to the original question, anything I should look out for?

Thanks very much.

 

Sorry,

I know this area is for the S-TYPE, not X350, but it's the same SC AJV8 engine out of Bridgend in both cars.
Thanks

 

Or, would you prefer I start a new thread in the X350 area? Don't want to upset anyone. Thanks

 

Somewhere there will be details about turning the engine. Try engine courses on JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource / the large file area.

 

Same engine possibly the same problem so no harm done.
I think Jaguar does advise against turning backwards, I don't know what the potential damage is, if it rotates smoothly in the correct direction now, I'd be tempted to pull the plugs and do a compression
test before trying to start it.

 

Thanks everyone. I'm extremely happy to report that after pulling plugs, checking compression, replacing serpentine and supercharger belts and changing oil (just for good measure), I turned the key this morning and the car started right up. Driven 40 miles to be sure, but it sounds smooth, strong and sweet as ever. Thank goodness!! Guess it has to have been the cold that caused it.

 

Phew - good news!