Awesome car
Took some misc snaps to try and see anything


Titled and registered finally and went for a nice little drive. One issue arose though. After about 25mins... started to smell a bit of a metallic heat smell. Parked the car and light smoke was coming out of the left rear wheel well and wheel. I tried to pinpoint where it was coming from but nothing. It's the left rear, not the center. Could the axel be burning up? Wheel bearing? The rear diff? If the brakes were outboard I'd be assuming that but I'm confused as to what would be rubbing or burning!

 

The car looks sharp !

A wheel/hub bearing bad enough to get that hot would surely be making noise or give some other sign.....or so one would think. Any disturbing grumbles or whine-type noises from the left rear?

Cheers
DD

 

thank you! Nope, no noises I'm hearing at all. The trans is a little noisy in first(need to figure that out.. ) but no noise in the rear. I've had bearings go and they are definitely loud. I'm confused on this one

 

Then I'd look for a brake problem on the left side, perhaps a dragging caliper.

The trans noise is probably normal. The TH400 transmissions have always had a loud-ish planetary set which gives a sort of metallic sound in first gear.

Cheers
DD

 

My mind goes to brakes first but it's strange that the only smoke is from the left wheel well and through the openings in the wheel itself. Nothing out the very back or right. Maybe the hub has no grease but sure would think it would make some noise!

 

If/when it happens again put on your on the center of the left wheel and then on the right wheel. If the hub is getting hot from a bearing/ or lubrication problem the heat will transfer to the wheel and you'll feel the difference

Cheers
DD

 

I actually did that and it wasn't really that warm. Definitely wasn't hot.

 

Could it be the Rear Exhaust/Muffler, moved out of position and melting underseal or something?

 

possibly? I've never messed with the exhaust so I'm not sure exactly how it should be routed or hanging. I'm going to go take a look in a bit. I can take some better pictures if I don't see the problem.

 

Well I took the wheel off and really the only thing noticeable was the rusty lube/water in the hub? The brake disc isn't grooved and hardly looks like the pad is pressing it. But it does look like it's right up against the disc so maybe it's frozen close but not digging in? My only wacky thought was the rusty water getting heated after a bit and smoking? I have no idea

 

Wow !!!

Choosing my words carefully here as I have no wish to offend but I offer my 2c in good faith . . . for such really nice looking bodywork, the underside really warrants serious tidying up. The amount of surface corrosion and, in particular, the condition of rotor, calipers, hub etc suggest you consider a full rear end removal and rebuild.

Were it me . . . and my bargain basement project XJ-S is exposing plenty of tasks from a much tidier under-body . . . I would welcome the opportunity (but not expense) of putting things right.

Cheers,

Ken

 

+++++ with Ken.

Also, the park brake is probably frozen ON, or partially ON, and that will smoke up the small park brake pads, until one falls out, VERY,VERY common.

The rust/corrosion/whatever at that castellated nut in the hub needs sorting, as the threaded end of the driveshaft can, and will, snap off from rust weakening, also common in cars that are sad mechanically.

 

Yeah it's definitely still a project car. Plenty of stuff to do. At the moment though I do not have a garage so it could sit for extend amount of time... like taking out the rear. I do know the parking brake is not working so maybe that is one of the issues. And the bleeding nut definitely doesn't inspire confidence..

 

At the same time it's just weird that smoke didn't seem to be rolling out of the in side of the undercarriage it was the left outside wheel well

 

Well since I had no idea about the bizzare parking brake system....it's been on the whole time. I just thought it was broken because the lever just flip-flopped up and down. So I read about it and pulled it up and clicked the button and heard something release... then pulled back up and click click click click. What an ingenious/terrible design. Only because if you don't know the release procedure how would you know?! If I didn't have google, this sucker would probably be on fire sooner than later.

 

Err . . . no, not quite . . . that's what Owners Manuals are for . . . and, IMHO, no Google can replace them. It is because so many newcomers arrive with nothing but a shiny Jaguar, that so much trouble has been taken here to provide all of these and many more resources in our Stickies.

Actually, the handbrake design is quite brilliant. It allows you to pull it on; the handle then dropping away so it doesn't snag like most lesser vehicles do.

Just my 2c so don't shoot me, but perhaps rather than a spray about what you dislike, and the offense that causes to those who have tried to help you, you may be better served learning (and quickly) how to drive and look after your "new to you" Jaguar. As said before, the bodywork suggests it will be worth the effort, but the underside mechanicals suggest there is no time to lose. Good luck with your learning curve. Over and out.

Ken

 

well ken we don't all get a shiny owners manual with our 30yr old cars. I said it was ingenious. And also I'm very greatful to all the help I've gotten on this forum! Not sure why anyone would be offended? No one even suggested the handbrake might just be on...

 

Handbrake off...no smoke, no smell, no sparks! I'm starting to love the V12!

 

Nice pic!