Last night, my Low Coolant light came on as I pulled up to my destination. I noted at the time that the engine temperature was normal. I parked the car, and a couple hours later I returned to a puddle of coolant beneath the car. Opening the hood, it didn't take long to identify the culprit; the vent hose had popped off the coolant reservoir. A closer inspection showed that it hadn't just popped off, but the nipple that it attached to had sheered off! Clearly, I'm going to have to replace the reservoir, but I am at a loss as to how enough pressure was generated to sheer off that nipple when the engine hadn't shown to be overheated. Has anyone else seen something like this? I've left the car where it was, and need to get it to a mechanic... am I ok to drive 4-5 miles without a closed coolant system? (I think not, but I thought I'd ask!)

 

This is a common issue. Plastics will disintegrate with time and the heat of the engine temps. What is the model and age of your car?

 

This happened to me while driving. I was able to make it home after 8 miles by pulling off road, cool down, and restart. Once home, i had car towed to dealer per dealer instructions. By the way, they need to replace the whole reservoir. Buy one and do it yourself. Fairly simple.

 

I've got a 2004 XJR with 50k on it. I'm wondering if I should replace my reservoir as a preventive maintenance item. If this is fairly common, I would rather be safe than sorry on the road somewhere? Any thoughts?

 

Mine's a 2005 XJ8L with 46K miles on it's 4.2 L V8. Thankfully, I broke down in a relative's neighborhood, and their mechanic lives down the street.. he's going to fix it on the spot for me; well worth his $85/hr labor rate.

 

Good to see that was an easy fix and you found smoking gun . Major brands like Jaguar should use metal tanks instead , I would gladly pay for the price of it

 

Had to have mine replaced a couple of years ago on my X350, the car had done in excess of 100000 miles at the time I think.

 

XJRUTAH,
I'd say it depends on your usage. My wife's 05 failed yet my daughter's 03 was fine. I replaced it (the 03) preemptively only because she's away at college. If local, I would've just watched for failure. Just about as likely the rad hose asy will fail in the same manner (already happened on the 03 but not on the 05) so if you are going all-pre-emptive...you need to keep that in mind.

Mine are only rarely (except the aforementioned daughter) outside AAA+'s 100 mi "free" tow range, so I don't normally perform repairs "before their time" as it were. However, if I was frequently far from home in it or if I were going to have it done at a shop anyway....I'd probably be of the opposite opinion...

 

2008 XJ with 47,000 miles.

Reservoir split in half and dumped all the coolant.

Do these cars have a limp mode when something like this happens? Wife said the temp went all the way to red before she shut it off, but concerned there may be some collateral damage. (Dealer replaced reservoir under warranty and sent her on her way).

F

 

When you concider that these plastic coolant bottles are not only a crap design with the failing magnetic slider failures and all the other problems people go on about, its a crying shame to ask 290 bucks for one at the dealership.

Day-light robbery.

 

Replace. You won't regret it. It will fail at the most inopportune moment.

 

Never, ever, take risks when a car with an all-aluminium engine loses its coolant. Overheating to excess can wreck the engine, and these are not cheap items. It's much cheaper to pay for a recovery truck !

 

You can buy these online much cheaper than $290. Mine went bad at 46k, but started with a slow leak.

 

Mine went at 44k, '05 XJ8L. Same failure mode, nipple on tank split at base, and looked like small leak. I got one for less than $140 from Hilton Head Jag Dealer (mail order). Took the opportunity to replace thermostat at the same time. Both installed easily, took less than 2 hours for both.

I did notice that the high-average (heat-soaked) temp dropped from 203F down to 190F after t'stat change, so it was in need of changing.

 

I noticed that the expansion tank on my 2004 XJR was starting to weep. As a precaution I ordered a new one from Gaudin Jag in Las Vegas. I paid $115.98 plus shipping, no tax since out of state. Included the cap and sensor at the bottom of the tank.
I looked around quite a bit and these guys had the best price, plus they were close. I could look up the parts on line, etc. Pretty easy to do. I'm not affliated with them in any way, but was happy with the quick shipping, etc. I also ordered all the parts including belts to upgrade the squeaking supercharger belt. This was pulleys, tensioners, idlers, etc. They had it all in stock.

 

I did mine a couple of months ago - '07 and 60K miles - bit the bullet and got it from the local dealer - should have ordered it online to save some money :-( But I'm guessing it will fail again in a couple of years so now I know better... talk about bad design...

/Mike

 

Wouldn't it be nice if Jaguar could put this issue to bed once and for all and use better parts !!!

 

The whole design is made to fail..the float thingy thats magnetic fails before the bottle does, in most cases, it fails before the sensor does..dont just rush out and buy a new sensor, pull it out from the bottom of the tank and run a magnet up to the top and hold it there, if your coolant low message goes out, you know the sensors good and its the bottle thats failed. And for what its worth, its easyer to just keep an eye on the fluids and temps whilst driving and bridge the switch to put the light out.

What a load of bollcks.

 

Ironically, I just started a new thread about this.

My 04 XJR's coolant recovery tank failed as well last night.

EVERY modern Jaguar I have had has done this. X-type, S-Type, XJ it doesn't matter. All the same crap. It's a consumable. I'd consider it something to replace at purchase of a pre -owned jag.

My XJR is the ONLY one that completely blew the nipple off in motion and sprayed coolant anywhere though.

Take care,

George

 

Had the same issue happen to me yesterday.

I took it to Jiffy Lube to get it fixed.