Parked my 86 XJS V12 coupe the other day. My wife noticed fluid on the ground. I touched it and smelled it...gasoline! Not knowing if it was from me or another vehicle ( public parking space) I restarted my car and opened the hood. A stream of gasoline was observed spewing from a split injection hose. It immediately ignited to my horror. As I dialed 911, a person exited a nearby store with a fire extinguisher. I put it out within 25 seconds. I'm waiting to hear from my Insurance company if it's a total loss. It needs a wiring harness, wire set, distributor cap, fuel rail hoses and maybe injectors? This combined with labor at 100 an hour, may be the kiss of death? NADA and Haggerty value car at 10, 000 minimum. Car is mint in/out, 80,000 miles and Dayton Wire Wheels, knockoff type.
I'm at mercy now of the insurance adjuster and estimate. A word to the wise...CHECK your fuel rail injection hoses and couplings. They dry out and crack. It was going to be my next project. Fingers crossed!

 

Gah ! Sad news, sorry to hear it.

Over the years, here and elsewhere, many many experienced V12 owners have strongly recommended that fuel hoses be summarily replaced whenever a person buys a used XJS. There's a reason for that

The damage in your case looks relatively minor and very fixable....although the cost at retail parts and labor rates would likely result in a total loss, yes.

Looks like a nice car, hope it doesn't end up at the crusher over this !

Cheers
DD

 

Sorry to hear this story my friend, I read many of the advisories by the awesome guys on this site and started replacing mine two weeks back, on order are fuel injector ferrules and o rings so I can complete the job over winter. I'm so grateful as I've dodged a bullet, I really hope you can get yours repaired as its a beautiful looking car you have there. Good Luck!

 

Aaaah man . . . let me add my condolences also.
Fine looking car and I have all my fingers & toes crossed for you.

Reminding ourselves and others why this is a "must do" doesn't ease the pain of any such loss. Maybe Jaguar's apparently last minute decision NOT to proceed with louvered bonnet fins on the XJ-S a la E-Type (gee, thanks BLMC) was smart economics, but it sure didn't help dissipate those soaring top of engine temperatures that cooked anything not made of metal.

Please keep us posted on the outcome.
Cheers and best wishes,

Ken

 

In terms of damage it doesn't look that bad. If you were handy it wouldn't take that much to get it running again I think.

PS: the heat shield for the cruise bellows is upside down - it's supposed to protect the rubber, not trap the heat and cook them!

 

They’re going to total out that car if you let them, guaranteed. I don’t know what state you’re in but in NH I would immediately demand the car be returned to your house if you don’t have It there already. Keep it in your possession. In NH, they can’t brand the title salvage if they don’t own the car. So don’t let them have your car. If you don’t let them take it, they’ll never get to ruin your title.

From there, the only economical course of action is to rebuild it yourself or find a local hobbyist. Professional repair would be astronomical.

-John

 

That's bad luck, I hope it works out for you.

 

Ditto, looks like a relatively easy repair.

 

Anglicomarine0326,

Sorry to hear about the problem, that's really bad luck.

However, you do seem to have got away really lightly. Looking at that engine pic, I just assumed it was a bit dusty, I couldn't see any damage at all. So, if you can get some payout off the insurance company without then writing off the car, then I think it could be fixed really easily.

Good luck

Paul

 

A good catch if a bit late I'd say. No one hurt and it looks eminently fixable.

One tip I'd add is that there are fire extinguishers available that are Liquid Nitrogen filled. Inert, Inflamable, and it doesn't leave residue.

I carry one as well as a dry chemical extinguisher. If a blanket of dust is required that's fine it will clean up.

 

Ouch. These hoses sure do need regular changing. I think every 5-7 years would be cleveres OR get some really high temperature kevlar reinforced ones.

I hope your XJ-S can be saved. Looks kind of easy to do, going by what I can see. So probably an insurance write off but not really a financial one. Cable are easily replaced and the injectors as well are hoses are easy to source.

Good luck!

 

mine did the same thing before I bought it. Now I'm finding it very hard to get help with parts wiring diagrams, etc. If you know of a place to get diagrams and parts please please send it to me. Thanks and sorry your beautiful ride is not feeling well.

 

Diagrams for your '89 ?

Go to post #4 here

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...e-fire-191794/


Lots of parts available for an '89 from various Jag vendors, Ebay, etc. Where have you looked?

Cheers
DD

 

State Farm agreed to pay my mechanic his initial estimate of $5300.00 to fix it! Wiring harness ( From SNG Barratt) distributor, wire set, alternator, and various other things plus labor. I had a good appraiser who agreed my car with 80,000 miles, fresh paint and Dayton Wire knock offs was worth fixing. Thank you Haggerty Insurance Valuation Tool and NADA Classic price guide. XJS prices are increasing every year. Both guides value an 86 XJS in average condition at over 10 Thousand bucks. My car is well above average in very good rust free condition. Parts ordered....Driving a KIA from Hertz...nice but no Big Cat!

 

Re: Cruise Bellows? Can you show me with a picture what's upside down ?

 

Fabulous and unexpected good news.

 

Great news!

 

In your pic of the engine bay, just rear of the aircon compressor is a round object attached at the rearward end to a throttle cable. This is the cruise control bellows, which powers the cruise control throttle adjustment by vacuum. As in your pic the bellows have a metal cover that goes round about half of the outside diameter of the rubber bellows themselves. NOT as in your pic, this metal cover should have the solid metal half UNDERNEATH the rubber bellows, not on top of them. The metal is to protect the rubber from the radiant heat from the V.

 

Great that one of my fellow former Colleagues was of assistance.


And, the car will be as good as ever, or even better.


New hoses !!!!!!


Carl

 

I've drawn a red line around the heat shield.




Here is what it should look like: