Cherry Blossom - Restoration 1990 XJS V12
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From: Pensacola Florida USA
when on the way home from work the alternator belt broke... I knew because the warning light came on and voltage dropped on the meter...
still she drove fine all the way home...
and started and drove on to the ramps so I could change all the belts and have the fan shroud powder coated.... and still started again to roll her off the ramp... must be a good battery...
I have sun cover for the top down parking.. and some blankets to place over for cat protection... and a car cover... fire ext. and fluids and a few wrenches also
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Hi Warrjon
Now that I've got that 1/4 - 3/8 Socket Set, that in itself has helped to reduce the need that I was feeling to carry so many Spanners.
The Problem in the UK right now is the Weather and I haven't had a Trip out ever since I fitted my 'New' Shock Absorber Bushes.
So I can't even tell what difference they may or may not have made until I do.
Now that I've got that 1/4 - 3/8 Socket Set, that in itself has helped to reduce the need that I was feeling to carry so many Spanners.
The Problem in the UK right now is the Weather and I haven't had a Trip out ever since I fitted my 'New' Shock Absorber Bushes.
So I can't even tell what difference they may or may not have made until I do.
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Hi Jonathan
Weather in the UK seems to consist of Sunshine and Showers at the moment, which is not very confidence building.
As most of what passes for Summer, was spent working on 'Cherry' and getting her back on the road after such a long time.
Weather in the UK seems to consist of Sunshine and Showers at the moment, which is not very confidence building.
As most of what passes for Summer, was spent working on 'Cherry' and getting her back on the road after such a long time.
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Hi Bro
Paranoia really set in when I thought that I'd got a dropped valve
So I basically filled the Car up with Tools every time that I went out (probably not something you can fix at the side of the road Lol)
Pics are on the way Bro but I need to get out and find some Scenic locations.
Paranoia really set in when I thought that I'd got a dropped valve
So I basically filled the Car up with Tools every time that I went out (probably not something you can fix at the side of the road Lol)
Pics are on the way Bro but I need to get out and find some Scenic locations.
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Hi Warrjon
In the UK its 'meant to be Summer' although you wouldn't know it at the moment, so not much point in driving a Convertible with the Top up. 'I'd rather wait for the day'
The MOT had some Amusing Moments, when the Tester also noticed that her Wiper Blades could be in need of replacement
(The rubber had gone hard through lack of use)
Then just for a moment everything stopped as he looked at the look of Horror that he could see on my face.
Him: 'You don't take her out in the rain'
Me: (Stony Silence) moving my head from side to side as if to say 'I think you must be joking'
Him: 'Just Sayin' anyway She's Passed!
Me: No Words but crying tears of Joy, as I ended up hugging the Tester, like a long lost friend.
(I love those guys!)
In the UK its 'meant to be Summer' although you wouldn't know it at the moment, so not much point in driving a Convertible with the Top up. 'I'd rather wait for the day'
The MOT had some Amusing Moments, when the Tester also noticed that her Wiper Blades could be in need of replacement
(The rubber had gone hard through lack of use)
Then just for a moment everything stopped as he looked at the look of Horror that he could see on my face.
Him: 'You don't take her out in the rain'
Me: (Stony Silence) moving my head from side to side as if to say 'I think you must be joking'
Him: 'Just Sayin' anyway She's Passed!
Me: No Words but crying tears of Joy, as I ended up hugging the Tester, like a long lost friend.
(I love those guys!)
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Great idea and its already there in the pic.
And what's more its not raining! (at the moment) so who knows we may even do a trip to test out those Shock Absorber Bushes I put on.
But the Weather is so unpredictable that it can change in a blink.
A Roll of 'Gaffer Tape' always comes in handy
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Major Problems on the Test Drive after 17 Years of Restoration
First of all the Speedometer decided to Stop Working, causing the Speedometer Needle to fall back to Zero, just as I was driving over a Railway Crossing
at no more than 20/25mph on this very tight dangerous bend.
Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, I then retraced my steps and did it again although the Speedo worked perfectly when I drove over it a Second Time.
This was followed by what could be a Major Mechanical Problem, so I'm going to have a Word with Greg and the Wizard and then report back.
To be continued..............
at no more than 20/25mph on this very tight dangerous bend.
Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, I then retraced my steps and did it again although the Speedo worked perfectly when I drove over it a Second Time.
This was followed by what could be a Major Mechanical Problem, so I'm going to have a Word with Greg and the Wizard and then report back.
To be continued..............
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It looks like I'll be needing my New Socket Set!
Its All Gone Horribly Wrong!
Looks Like I will Have To Pull Her Apart All Over Again
Fan Clutch Seized!
Please Remind Me why I bought one of these Cars
It Started off as such a Perfect Day, with the Sky covered in White Fluffy Clouds and even the Sun was Shining.
Even my New Shock Absorber Bushes had improved the Handling just a 'little bit' but more about those later. (It makes interesting reading!)
So after having a leisurely drive to our favorite Picnic spot, we headed for home, where on the way I could easily tell that something wasn't quite right.
She Started to run Colder and the Marker on the barrel gauge was falling, which was then accompanied by a Roaring Sound from under the Bonnet/Hood.
I'd recently heard the very same sound coming from my Merc, which was a faulty Thermostat on the Fan Clutch.
So knowing what the Problem was, I knew I'd get her home although I had a feeling that putting her right was not about to be an easy fix.
Removing the Fan on a Merc is a Ten Minute job and if you can't replace the Radiator in about 30 Minutes, then you are not really trying.
Whereas fixing an XJS can often be measured in days.
Having got back to Base in one piece, I had a look under the Bonnet/Hood where further inspection confirmed that the Fan Clutch was Seized.
Seized to the extent I couldn't turn it, even with the ignition off and after giving the Engine plenty of time to Cool down.
At which point I am totally lost and haven't a Clue how to fix it, as I have never ever heard of a Fan Clutch Seizing before.
I'm hoping that Greg and the Wizard together with the rest of you guys, will be able to help, even if its only in the form of some moral support.
But in any event it looks as though I will have to pull her to bits and then start over.
Even my New Shock Absorber Bushes had improved the Handling just a 'little bit' but more about those later. (It makes interesting reading!)
So after having a leisurely drive to our favorite Picnic spot, we headed for home, where on the way I could easily tell that something wasn't quite right.
She Started to run Colder and the Marker on the barrel gauge was falling, which was then accompanied by a Roaring Sound from under the Bonnet/Hood.
I'd recently heard the very same sound coming from my Merc, which was a faulty Thermostat on the Fan Clutch.
So knowing what the Problem was, I knew I'd get her home although I had a feeling that putting her right was not about to be an easy fix.
Removing the Fan on a Merc is a Ten Minute job and if you can't replace the Radiator in about 30 Minutes, then you are not really trying.
Whereas fixing an XJS can often be measured in days.
Having got back to Base in one piece, I had a look under the Bonnet/Hood where further inspection confirmed that the Fan Clutch was Seized.
Seized to the extent I couldn't turn it, even with the ignition off and after giving the Engine plenty of time to Cool down.
At which point I am totally lost and haven't a Clue how to fix it, as I have never ever heard of a Fan Clutch Seizing before.
I'm hoping that Greg and the Wizard together with the rest of you guys, will be able to help, even if its only in the form of some moral support.
But in any event it looks as though I will have to pull her to bits and then start over.
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From: Pacific Northwest USA
Fan clutches seizing up is not particularly unusual.
Not a terribly difficult fix; you've been thru worse.
In a nutshell....
Remove four nuts holding the clutch to engine. Fiddly task; loosen one nut a few turns and go to the next; loosen a few turns and go to the next; repeat, repeat until the clutch can be shifted forward enough to actually remove the nuts.
Remove fan and clutch from the car as an assembly and take to the workbench.
Remove old clutch from the fan; install new clutch; reassemble.
Replace fan itself if in any doubt as to age or condition.
As I recall you'll have to remove the fan shroud attachments/fasteners so the shroud can be shifted aside a bit to allow working room and allow the fan and clutch assembly to be wriggled out.
Have extra nuts on hand. I can almost promise you'll drop a few into the abyss of the engine bay, never to be seen again.
It isn't the most pleasant job but you'll get through it!
Cheers
DD
Not a terribly difficult fix; you've been thru worse.
In a nutshell....
Remove four nuts holding the clutch to engine. Fiddly task; loosen one nut a few turns and go to the next; loosen a few turns and go to the next; repeat, repeat until the clutch can be shifted forward enough to actually remove the nuts.
Remove fan and clutch from the car as an assembly and take to the workbench.
Remove old clutch from the fan; install new clutch; reassemble.
Replace fan itself if in any doubt as to age or condition.
As I recall you'll have to remove the fan shroud attachments/fasteners so the shroud can be shifted aside a bit to allow working room and allow the fan and clutch assembly to be wriggled out.
Have extra nuts on hand. I can almost promise you'll drop a few into the abyss of the engine bay, never to be seen again.
It isn't the most pleasant job but you'll get through it!
Cheers
DD
Last edited by Doug; Aug 7, 2017 at 08:12 AM.
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From: Pacific Northwest USA
This might help a bit
https://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/u...and-drive-unit
The fan is attached to the clutch using bolts (item #3 in the illustration.)
The clutch is attached to the engine (a pulley, more specifically) via studs, washers, and nuts ( #5,6,7)
Cheers
DD
https://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/u...and-drive-unit
The fan is attached to the clutch using bolts (item #3 in the illustration.)
The clutch is attached to the engine (a pulley, more specifically) via studs, washers, and nuts ( #5,6,7)
Cheers
DD
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From: Nevada
Space around there is extremely tight. After I dove in and managed to loosen and then remove the four nuts, I thought there would be absolutely no way to re-attach it... But after stepping back from the car and drinking some amount of non-H2O fluid and calming down sufficiently, I managed to put it back in place, eventually. I was not able to re-use washers -- they kept falling. So, I just tighten the nuts.
Will require a lot of patience. A lot of patience. Be prepared to swear a lot, too
Will require a lot of patience. A lot of patience. Be prepared to swear a lot, too
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Hi V1roK
Cheers!
One of the worst parts is that I will have to drive over 10 Miles just to pick up some more nuts and washers 5/16 UNF (I believe)
They don't sell anything UNF where I live, no tuning Shops like in the USA
Cheers!
One of the worst parts is that I will have to drive over 10 Miles just to pick up some more nuts and washers 5/16 UNF (I believe)
They don't sell anything UNF where I live, no tuning Shops like in the USA
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From: Nevada
One of the most underrated little tools I got that I absolutely love and use on regular basis is a telescopic stick with a magnet. Surprisingly, I am able t target and recover more than 80% of dropped nuts, bolts, and washers. Well worth $10 I paid for the stick, in my opinion
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From: North Carolina
If I recall correctly, and that's a big IF, I was able to remove and replace my clutch without pulling the shroud. It was fiddly as could be but possible.
The first difficulty youre you're going to run into is not being able to rotate the fan to access each of the four nuts!
The first difficulty youre you're going to run into is not being able to rotate the fan to access each of the four nuts!
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From: Bremen, Germany
Around 2014 I replaced all belt at the front. In order to do that, I removed the fan. It can be taken out from the top. It is fiddly but it can be done. I think I loosend the bolts that hold the radiator pack in place to gain a bit more access.
Btw., the viscous clutch couldn't care at all about if the ignition was on or not
There is no electrical connection to it. The only thing is, ignition off means engine is off and no risk of touching some moving blades...
I'd either get a new one (cost something like £150 or so from SNG) or a good used one. And while you're at it, maybe see if the new black fan fit the new unit better... Just a suggestion.
Thumbs up!
Btw., the viscous clutch couldn't care at all about if the ignition was on or not
There is no electrical connection to it. The only thing is, ignition off means engine is off and no risk of touching some moving blades...I'd either get a new one (cost something like £150 or so from SNG) or a good used one. And while you're at it, maybe see if the new black fan fit the new unit better... Just a suggestion.
Thumbs up!
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If I recall correctly, and that's a big IF, I was able to remove and replace my clutch without pulling the shroud. It was fiddly as could be but possible.
The first difficulty youre you're going to run into is not being able to rotate the fan to access each of the four nuts!
The first difficulty youre you're going to run into is not being able to rotate the fan to access each of the four nuts!
As I've got to pull it all to bits, I was wondering if I ought to invest in one of those Silent Electric Fans, that fit inside the Shroud like you've got on your Car.
Did you finish doing your evaluation?
Please could you give me the make and model again, so I can do the maths and weigh up the options.