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So, where do you draw the line?
I've spent a fair bit on the X Type since I bought it and it is running really well.
Unfortunately the transfer box is on its last legs and leaking all the over the exhaust.
Managed to drain a bit out; it must have been well overfilled and what came out bore very little similarity to anything that would useful as a lubricant. Grey doesn't cover it.
I'm looking at £875 to have the transfer box replaced with a used unit.
Add on another £440 to change the clutch (saving £450 over a stand alone clutch job) plus £52 to replace the crank seal which is leaking.
Then another £75 to change out the a/c compressor (again).and £45 for a re-gas.
Add in a gear box oil change, say £50 and I am up to just over £1500.
This is on a car which will be worth a max of £2000 I guess.
Still, it should be a good car again.
I have spent hours trolling the classifieds looking at Subaru Outbacks (good cars) and Mitsubishi Outlanders, all available for around that money but generally with higher mileage (mine is nearly on 115,000).
I would really like to change to an auto but if I spend that much on repairs I'll have to hang on to it I guess.
Are you SURE the transfer case needs to be replaced? You just said the car is running great. If it was just overfilled maybe it was the excess that has leaked out. If the transfer case it about to grenade it seems like it makes noises and you can tell it isn't performing well. Plus, by 2004 the early teething problems with teh transfer cases seem to have been sorted out.
The clutch, is a tough call as seeing as you will have everything apart it would make sense to go in there and replace it. I would think you might have a lot of miles left on it. When I sold mine I had 165K miles on it and the clutch still felt like brand new. If it is shifting well, that could be an expense you could maybe put off for the moment.
But, like you mentioned, you take car of those issues you should be good to go for awhile. How is the suspension holding up? If that is still working well, it might be hard to replace the X with something that you like as much. Plus, with the X you at least know where you stand. You could buy a used car that seems really good and then a fe wmonths later start costing you money. Always a calculated roll of the dice when dealing with a used car more than 10 years old. It's a togh call for sure.
The box is definitely leaking; I had the oil changed a few years ago and it was fine up until recently.
I can see it dribbling out of the transverse gear shaft nut.
The whining has now moved further down the speed range, starting at around 50 mph instead of the usual 70mph.
If I get the clutch done it will save £450 over having it done as a stand alone job and then I can forget about it completely.
Plus the clutch has to come out anyway to do the crank seal.
The suspension is fine; I've had loads of bushes replaced and have a new pair of banana arms to fit; can't get the rear tracking less than 1.5 degrees of what it should be so the rear tyres are wearing on the inner edges. The last set went right down to the canvas.
As you say, buying in to something new is always fraught with potential problems.
Luckily I've got another Jag to fall back on!
03-08-2019, 11:30 AM
Biting the bullet
