Gentlemen (and Ladies),

My car is always throwing codes, so nothing new as life as a Jag owner enters year six - but two issues emerged today.

1. A dreaded catalytic converter code appeared. (Code for a fuel rail sensor also present, apparently a new vacuum hose may solve some, but not all of this.) As I noted to my mechanic, "The car is running like a champ - better than it has in a year." And now a possible cat replacement. Ouch. Not worth it, maybe.
2. Shortly after this event, a whistling sound began from the engine - which is likely unrelated to the cat, but indicating the alternator is on its way out. Not sure how long this alternator will last before it goes, so driving will be limited.

Looking for opinions/suggestions/ideas/scolding:

A.How about: Replacing the plugs (not done in at least 75,000 miles (scolding due, I know),and using a cat cleaner? Dreaming?
B. How difficult is replacing the alternator?
C. Other ideas...? Cut? Run? Buy a Yugo? (Ideas to get wife from breaking my *****?)

This XF has 130,000 miles. Not a scratch on it, the engine is otherwise very good. Running great right now, very disappointing to consider letting it go. The covid world has been crushing the bank account.

Thank you for your ideas and sympathies.

 

Replacing the alternator isn't that hard, takes a bit time to get things out of the way. Hardest part was getting the tension off the accessory belt because there's a load of coolant pipes running around in front of it. There's a special tool that Jaguar use that has a kink in it to reach it easily, I used a regular serpentine kit, welded a 30 degree bend in it and threaded it up from underneath in the end.

If you want to check the state of the cat's you can get a cheap narrow endoscope camera for your smartphone and feed it in through the O2 sensor hole (it needs to fit through a 10mm hole). If you can see that the cat honeycomb has failed/melted/disintegrated you need a new cat. New cat's from Jaguar cost 2 kidneys, you can get specialist reconditioners that will weld in a new (a 200 instead of 600 cell) one, they are only 1 kidney. You can saw them off yourself and get some universal clamp on ones, tho you often have to make the O2 fixing points yourself and they are hard to get to fit neatly because of the shape of the jaguar cat and exhaust.

 

Two kidneys? Ha! Yes, understood - that's why I am asking for second opinions and you have some good ideas.

Very much appreciated. Thank you!