Greetings Everyone,

I am looking to do a DIY tune on my cat. I need help from experts on whether or not I should and if so, I need help on what to get and what to do.

My Jag is a 2005 XJ8L and has 176k on the dash. What other info do I need to provide?

 

What kind of symptoms are showing and what problems are you looking to alleviate? How frequently has it been serviced and when/what was done on the last service?

 

Well after replacing the battery, no symptoms. Last service was abt 40k miles. Replaced plugs, wires & air filter.

 

Hi mrkaine,

If my math is correct, it has been about 136K miles since the last service, so you're long overdue.

Off the top of my head, I would recommend:

Oil & filter
Air filter
Clean the MAFS wire & electrical connector with zero-residue cleaner spray
Cabin microfilter
Fuel filter
Spark plugs
There are no spark plug wires because the system is coil-on-plug
Inspect the air intake pipes, breather hoses and vacuum lines for deterioration or leaks
Inspect coolant hoses and replace as necessary
Inspect the drive belt(s) and replace as necessary
Consider replacing the coolant thermostat & flushing the cooling system
Flush transmission fluid & install new pan/filter and electrical connector sleeve
Flush brake fluid
Check condition of brake pads and rotors
Clean all ground studs and the ground strap in the engine bay
Clean all ground studs and battery terminals in the trunk
Clean the ground studs in the passenger compartment as you can
Check front wheel bearings/hubs with brake calipers & discs removed
Inspect suspension for deteriorated bushings, ball joints & tie rod ends
Inspect engine mounts
Inspect for fluid leaks
Rotate the tires
Clean the drain under the microcabin filter/ECM
Clean the sunroof drains
Windshield wiper inserts
Check all exterior lighting for proper operation - including side marker lamps & license plate lamps
Check the Air Suspension Relay, R1 in the Front Power Distribution Fusebox, for signs of overheating and replace if necessary
Consider replacing the piston ring seal in the air suspension compressor
Consider replacing the CR2032 battery in the key/remote

I'm sure I've forgotten something but others will chime in.

Cheers,

Don

 

Don, im sorry i meant 40k miles AGO.

 

No oil changes in 40K miles?

 

I think my list is still what I would recommend.

Cheers,

Don

 

Just to back-up what Don B said. The Jaguar X350 cars should be serviced at 10k mile intervals or every year whichever comes first, so your car is 4 services behind, and really asking for trouble.

I presume you haven't had the car all that long and it was the previous owner who thought servicing was a waste of time and money.

 

Don, i appreciate it

 

Yup...8

 

Actually, she was well kept...ive had her for 4yrs now...lost my job earlier in the year & money got funny.

 

I'd suggest you stop by WalMart and pick up a gallon of Marvel Mystery Oil, and use 1 quart in the crankcase for the next couple of changes.

 

Meaning that you're changing it at 5K mile intervals? That's shorter than Jag's standard interval, but carry on if it pleases you.

Spark plugs are good for at least 100K miles, so you're a ways off there.

 

NGK rates the anticipated longevity of the IFR5N10 (7866) plug as 80-100K miles, depending on driving conditions, engine modifications, etc. When I pulled the original plugs from our non-modified XJR at 96K miles, the electrodes had good color, but they had obviously eroded slightly and the gaps had opened up a few thousandths. I would personally consider the maximum life expectancy of the Laser Iridiums to be 80K or less. If you use one of the alternate plugs with a nickel ground electrode, such as the BKR5EIX-11 IX (5464), I would recommend observing the lower end of NGK's stated longevity rating, 40K miles. Given how long they last, new plugs are inexpensive, and IMHO trying to milk every last mile out of a set is a false economy.


Another good product is CD2 Oil Detergent. Use two bottles in place of about 1 quart of engine oil. Don't replace more than 1 quart of engine oil with either MMO or CD2 because their viscosities are significantly lower than the engine oil itself: at 100C, the kinematic viscosity of Castrol Edge 5w30 is 10.7 cST, but that of MMO is only 2.0 - 3.0 cST, and of CD2 is 5.0 - 6.0 cST (all taken from the respective MSDS for each product).


Cheers,

Don

 

Read all codes including a smog check output reading of the gases. Elevated emissions output is helpful in evaluating the condition of the internals.
Don't forget:
Spark plug injectors
Differntial oil change