I booked my 2006 XJR in with a new mechanic shop in Cincinnati to repair the leaking valley hose. My normal guy was unable to do the job, as I wanted the SC rebuild and he doesn't work on SCs. Yeah and the Jaguar Dealership was booked out until Feb 2022.

New guys said they could do the job straight away and would only take a few days to complete after they received the parts. I gave them a list of all the parts I wanted replaced, basically all the hard to reach hoses and gaskets under the SC area, SC rebuild kit, there were a few other tasks too like - oil pan dripping, oil consumption test for bad valve stem seals, clean induction parts (TB, elbow, ICs, intake manifold). I confirmed with Jaguar Dealership and my normal parts supplier on the availability of all the parts, they were all in-stock and only 3 days delivery. Cincinnati dealership is always double everyone else, so I asked the new guys to avoid using them where possible. The new shop would not allow me to supply my own parts.

New guys quoted about 6 hours to do the SC removal and replace the hoses and zip her all up. So, after performing a dry/wet compression test, they confirmed the VS seals were leaking and gave me a rough repair bill of $5k+, which I decided not to pursue.

They proceeded to remove the SC to determine which hoses were leaking, so they could order them. A week later I stop in to check on progress and they tell me all the parts are in and they are just waiting on the SC rebuild kit. They get the SC rebuild kit in approx a week later and perform the rebuild, I stop in to check on progress and nothing else has been done and I notice a broken hose on their desk, looks like my valley hose. I'm having to stop in, as they don't return calls and don't provide any updates on the job. Halfway through week 3 they tell me they can't find the part number for the leaking valley hose they removed, I find it in 10 minutes of searching the web (it was also on the list of parts I supplied them with at the start), we're now at 5pm the day before Thanksgiving and they decide to place the order for the parts with the company I originally supplied on my parts list. What happened to having all the parts in already?

So, now I've been renting a car for a few weeks and had to miss TG with the family, as no rentals were available and they still haven't started the other work. I told them I'm going on holiday to Florida Dec 3rd and need the car done before then and not to leave the other work until the day before, as parts may not be correct or they break something (hint,, hint). I also asked them if they found the oil leak and they look at me like what oil leak. I had to have them lift the car and virtually rub their noses in the oil dripping from the oil pan, the same leak on the original list I supplied them with. Parts finally arrive on week 4, just 3 days before I leave for Florida, still nothing else has been done. The day before they start working on it and they realize the EGR gaskets they ordered don't fit and the supplier keeps sending the incorrect part. I turn up at their shop and see a large hose with Jaguar on it skewered on their counter, yep one of their guys destroyed one of the coolant hoses while putting it back together. So, we're now at 10pm the night before, I'm refusing to leave and not allowing them to leave until the car is completed. They started the car up and the SC pulley is screaming and the original EGR gasket they put back on the car was leaking. I had to get food and I tell them I'll be back in 1hr to check on progress. I get back to their shop in an uber and they have bailed without telling me. Yep, left freezing in the middle on nowhere, no ride and no call from them. They failed!!!
I had to hire a car for 2 weeks for the Florida trip. During the 2 weeks when I was away they managed to source the correct EGR gasket and I had a new SC pulley shipped to them in 2 days.
So, the car should be ready when I arrive back to Cincinnati right?? They tell me it's all good and ready to go. That would be 6 weeks after dropping my Jag off with them.
I arranged for them to leave the key out and the Jag where I can pick it up, as I was getting back from Florida at 11pm Sat night. I pick the car up and drive it home, about 15 mins away on the hwy, when I pull into my driveway I notice smoke pouring out of the engine bay. I take a look and notice SC oil is pouring out of the join between the snout and the SC body. I also notice the air intake pipe was missing, washer hose was snapped, other parts missing.

At this point I have zero confidence in these clowns and I don't want them touching my car again.
What's everyone's opinions on this? Should I just take the car somewhere else to resolve the SC oil leak and take it off the bill or not pay them for the SC removal/rebuild work altogether? Great time, the week before Xmas, right? Due to their incompetence and not ordering parts for almost 4 weeks and lying about the parts, I'm at $1k rental car expense too, as this was suppose to be a 1-1.5 week job. The car is in worse condition now then when I gave it to them.

 

PS: I just checked my Jag again today after letting her sit overnight, I looked under the car and saw coolant draining out of the engine and pooling on the garage floor.

 

I would first ask them how they think this can be resolved. Otherwise I would potentially just offer to pay for parts as it sounds like they didn't fix anything? Does this place have stellar reviews otherwise? Seems strange that a decent shop could botch up so bad.

No matter what they say, I would not bring it back there at all. Unless it is for them to inspect only so they can assess that they did indeed not fix anything. But it sounds like the vehicle is not mobile anyway.

 

Yeah, they had good reviews 4.7 out of 5 on Google, I spoke to them first and they said they have worked on lots of the XJRs & XKRs, they have a SType in their yard they are working on.

 

Even the cabin air filter with arrows on it with the direction to install it was installed the wrong way.

 

Sadly it seems rather typical to me, & why i do my own work.

 

I second Wingrider. Everytime I take something apart in my XJ8, I find issues from the mechanic used by the previous owner. Interior panels with broken fasteners, improperly reassembled interior and trunk panels, headlight housing bolted out of alignment (made obvious by exposed unpainted areas that were covered by washers when painted at the factory), pretty much everything 'repaired' by the mechanic was reassembled hastily and incorrectly during the previous ownership. Much of the work that I have seen on my car is unacceptable, by most standards, yet the work was done by a highly regarded local independent Jaguar mechanic.

I should say that not all professional mechanics are bad, but many are not great when it comes to attention to detail and patience, and almost none would meet my standards, since it is my own car. I am sure the independent Jaguar mechanic that serviced my car for years, is a very knowledgeable expert mechanic of Jaguars in general, probably able to perfectly tune a triple zenith-stromberg by ear, but just not competent with the modern Ford and Tata varieties.

The bottom line is that it is difficult to find a mechanic with an honest and objective appraisal of their competence limits. This trait is what can lead them to take on repairs that are beyond the scope of their abilities.

 

That's why I'm afraid of anyone else other than me working on the car. I have been able to learn how to do a lot of things thanks to this forum.

But even if I want an oil change, they got scared about bit just because it's a Jaguar and sometimes I'm feel that I know more about the car than themselves.

It is hard theses days find a reliable mechanic who's put attention to the details. At the beginning when I had zero experience I've had bad experiences with mechanic not taking care at all about the car when they are fixing something, touching the seats or the panels with their greasy hands and not even clean it at the end. ☹️🤔

 

Rebuilding the blower and changing he valley hose is a big job. Never trust anyone who you have no experience with to tackle this.
Keep looking for a solid shop. Ask around. There must be several quality independents who specialize on imports.
When I purchased my A8 it had been 15 years since I had changed oil in one of our cars. First place refused the job. A doctor I was seeing had an Audi and I told him my story. He recommended a shop he and his father used for high end European cars. Took it there and they could not find the oil filter. They refused to service it also.
In a month I had Rhino ramps and a MiteyVac and have serviced all our cars since.
But have two shops I use for either very dirty or complex jobs. They both do great work.

 

Should you not be inclined to do your own work and can afford to have it done, I would suggest you try to locate and join a Jaguar club in your area. If there is no Jaguar club near you perhaps there is a European car club? In the Sacramento area the Jaguar club is full of guys (and ladies) who do work together on members cars if needed. They also know who to go to for help on Jaguars. The club is capable of obtaining specialty tools as well. I joined the local club here when I first obtained my E type. The people were very nice and great to hang out with. Unfortunately, I had to delay working on my E for a while and since at the time had no other Jaguar to participate in club events I dropped out. I will most likely renew my membership when y life once again allows me to get back on schedule with it's restoration. I do believe a club in your area may be what you need. If nothing else they will certainly encourage and assist you in working on your car as I am sure a club near you will have members very much like the ones here. Good luck.

 

I spoke with the shop that carried out the disastrous work today to let them know I'll be having the Jag towed to another mechanic's shop in order to have the work fixed/most likely redone. They were understanding and not happy with their mechanics efforts. I told them once my trusted mechanic can assess the issues I'll let them know what needs to be done and whether we can salvage anything from their efforts. The coolant leak is coming down from the back of the engine and I can't see any leaks from the front coolant hoses, it's most likely going to be under the SC or back of the engine. I can see the SC having to come back off.

Unfortunately, I don't have the time, tools, garage space, or back to perform this type of work on my own. I don't mind paying a mechanic to do the work. However, the work needs to be completed in a satisfactory manner and not defective.

 

That's a sad, and all too common story. I am retired now, and in the wrong country to be able to help you, but recently have been able to help so many people with the most ridiculous "insoluble" (according to main dealers and well known independents) problems, that I am actually considering reopening my repair business part time from home. I don't need the money, but am especially appalled by the experience of one poor chap
https://jec.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=303&t=14441
being given £000s in bills by different specialists, to not fix his XJ, which actually required a £24 coil, a couple of hours remaking connections in the ignition circuit, and setting the carburettors. It seems that almost nobody is competent anymore.

 

Seeing I'm on holidays for the next week and already have a rental car to rush down to the parts store in I'm seriously contemplating doing the job myself now, well at least remove the SC, windshield cowl, coolant tank/hoses/fittings. I can see coolant pooling under the SC, so once the SC is removed I "should" be able to see where the leak is. However, I won't have the luxury of running the pumps to pressurize the system unless I connect all the coolant lines back together.

Can I use the new gaskets for the SC/TB etc that have just been installed by the incompetent mechanics or do I need to order fresh new gaskets?? Obviously, new parts will take a few days to arrive.

 

it maybe worthwhile to tackle this job. Lots for good write ups here. Some have said it is a half day job to pull it off.
The gaskets will depend. It they did not use an adhesive the gaskets should be fine. Or tear or damage one. Could have left one out. Or just not tight.
It is a difficult job. Slot the rear while off to ease reinstall. And soak the intercoolers in solvent to clear insides. Some have commented on how much gunk will be inside. Like a gallon in a quart jar.

 

Ok, started pulling her apart last night. I managed to get the aluminium coolant manifold housing the thermostat off. Two things I noticed, the connection to the coolant reservoir leaked if I wiggled the reservoir when unbolted, the holding pin was inserted and there was sealant/vaseline used. There was a torx screw that secures the coolant manifold to the block that was not tightened up, it was installed by hand and not tight, this could possibly be the cause of the coolant leaking on to the top of the block.

I wasn't able to get the wipers off, the wiper removal tool just arrived, so I can start on the SC removal today.

 

Removed throttle body and discovered no gasket installed, TB mounting bolt stripped, but just managed to get it out with care, now it's stuck in my 8mm socket.
Struggling to remove the plastic firewall and brake booster pipe connecting to the elbow. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Managed to get all the way to removing the 4 bolts from the elbow to the back of the SC and discovered 1 of the torx bolt heads is stripped. Need to get the stripped bolt out before I can remove the elbow and the SC now.

 

A very sad story…and the described sort of unfamiliarity with the Jaguar combined with incompetence is precisely why my cars go to my Jaguar dealer when the work is beyond my competence - the cars are serviced properly, on time, using only correct OEM parts. The OP’s dismissive and demeaning acronym for “dealership” does not apply to the majority of JLR dealers in my experience…unless dealerships in Canada are more competent and honest - and that is not likely.

 

I contacted the closer Jaguar/LR dealerships trying to purchase a key and remote programming. Even went to one in person. Was run back and forth between Parts and Service departments. Ended up buying one online from a dealer and getting a Master Tech to program. Was lucky.
A co worker purchased a Land Rover for his wife. The same dealership I went to quoted him 800, 1200, or 1500 for the first oil change. 800 was just oil change, 1200 included tire rotation, 1500 included brake fluid flush. Service adviser told him it was obvious that this was his first luxury vehicle when he selected the 800.00 oil change.
Same service department I would take my Jag to for a valleyhose replacement. If oil change starts at 800.00 what will a valley hose job run? I suspect 10,000.00.

 

half the dealerships don't even work anything before 2008 lol