JimmyL
Crossover Outlet Pipe for X308 (XJ) part# AJ85885

Motorcar ltd wants $52.35 + $11.62 shipping (total $63.95)

I bought it at Jaguar of Greenville for $53.34 (15% discount price for Jaguar Forum members and free shipping on $25 or more purchases).

I would recommend buy a new thermostat while you have everything removed. Part number is AJ8 6484. I usually would get it at Welsh Enterprises website for $24.95 plus $7.95 shipping - but it will not be in stock for another week or so.

Christophers foreign car parts website has it $29.95 but the shipping to florida is $14.67.

Ebay $39.95 free shipping - item# 390550607234.

Welsh Jaguar Parts usually has the AJ82217.KIT (Thermostat Housing Kit that includes the Aluminum Housing parts and the AJ8 6484 Thermostat) for $65.95 plus $7.95 shipping - but it is not available until next week or so.

Jim Lombardi

 

Ok, the short pipe, thermostat, and crossover pipe.

Do I really need to replace the water pump, too?

 

I found the crossover pipe on ebay for $58 with free shipping -- should be here by Mon or Tues next week.

Is the short pipe just a piece of hose that I can pick up at the local parts shop and cut to size?

Also, do I really need to get a thermostat since the one I have seems to be working just fine?

Thanks for all the help -- maybe a little nudge in the direction of how to install the crossover pipe would help me! Thanks!

EDIT: I forgot that Jim already posted the how to install the crossover pipe on the previous page of this thread -- thanks Jim!
Mike

 

The crossover pipe came in the mail today.

Now I'm waiting for the thermostat tower.

Question -- do I need gaskets for the crossover?

 

Thermostat question -- is this one ok? It's the one that comes up as an exact fit for my 2003 XJ8 on the Advance Auto Parts site.

Buy Stant Thermostat, 183 Degrees Fahrenheit 14748 at Advance Auto Parts

 

Stant #14748 183 Deg F - One of the forum pros - Paul Pavlik - says it is the same as Jaguar AJ86484 Thermostat.

See post# 3
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-number-74523/

Use promo code TRT30 for 30% off at advance auto parts online (30% Off Any Order). Your $12.99 thermostat will be $9.09.

Jim Lombardi

 

$9.09 is a great price! Thanks, I know have a stupid question....how much coolant will I have to replace?

 

Order a gallon of Dexcool when you order your thermostat - 50% 50% is $13.99 less the 30% = $9.79 - Advance Auto Parts online.
Cheap price and you will have some left over to put on the shelf for emergencies.

Also did you notice the rubber O rings on the new crossover pipe, probably used to seal the connection (instead of gaskets).

I do not remember if we drained the radiator, I think we clamped the 2 hoses that go from the crossover pipe to both sides of the radiator.

Jim Lombardi

 

Thanks again.

I now have the thermostat and coolant. Just waiting for the thermostat tower.

I have to be extra careful and make sure I have everything I need before I start because this is my only car.

Will I need any special tools?

 

Go to post# 53 in the following thread, it has an important step in removing/installing the thermostat tower housing:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...eak-help-3569/

Saves you from having to remove the intake manifold that took extra repair time when my indy mechanic did the job. 2 hours in total to R&R the housing including the time to R&R intake manifold.

Jim Lombardi

 

That's a good thread! I printed the step by step photo instructions for reference. I'm going to get the 8mm flexhead wrench, too.

 

I have now received the aluminum thermostat tower, so I should be good to go when I get the flex head 8mm wrench.

BOLTS: I was wondering if I should buy some bolts? Neither the crossover pipe nor the tower comes with any hardware. Does anyone have the specs? Once I pull the parts out of my car, I'll be dead in the water until I can replace them - i.e. no way to run to the parts store during the project! That's the downside of having only one car.

HOSE: I also need a piece of hose to replace the short piece between the tower and the crossover. I asked the parts guy at the Advance Auto Parts store the other day, even showed him the crossover pipe (I brought the new one with me), and he said he didn't have anything like that. I wonder if he just didn't realize that it's a piece of radiator hose since he said the biggest they had was only about 3/4" -- I'm going to try again. I assume that it's nothing special and I can get a six in or so piece and cut it to fit -- any suggestions would be welcome.

Also, while I'm at it should I replace the radiator hoses? Mine look fine, but I'm sure they're original.

Thanks!

Mike

 

You shouldn't need any bolts, but it's not a bad idea to have a few spares in case you mess the head up. 6mmX 1.0 is, I believe correct for the tower. Get a couple each of 15 to 25 mm length at Lowe's or some hardware stores.
The guy at Advance should not be working there. Someone should be able to find you a piece of hose. I always replace the radiator hoses, these engines are too delicate to risk a failed hose. If you are going to replace the hoses, why not buy the connecting one at the same time?

 

I'll take the tower and crossover pipe with me to help find bolts.

When you say "the connecting one" what do you mean?

 

Jaguar parts catalog says M6 x 25mm (part# JFS10625B) - 4 for thermostat tower and 4 for the outlet pipe.

The short hose from the thermostat tower is part# AJ85313 (probably part# NCA2213AC will also fit) bypass hose for 2003 XJ8 - Gaugin Jaguar parts list price is $4.33.

Call your local Jaguar dealership parts department and give them the part numbers to get pricing for both these parts.

Here are the part numbers for the Radiator Hoses - MNC4515AD radiator lower hose & MNC4505AD radiator upper hose. You might call some of your local auto parts stores to see if there prices are any better than the online places. I paid a total of almost $56 for the bypass hose, upper & lower radiator hoses and 3 day shipping ($21) from Rock Auto Parts.

Jim Lombardi

 

I really need to finish this project before driving from FL to WI which I plan to do on Fri and Sat this week -- so, shipping is not an option at this point. Maybe what I can do is find the short hose locally and replace the radiator hoses later, unless I can find them for a reasonable price at the local Jaguar dealer -- yeah, right! LOL

Jim, thanks for the specs on the bolts and the part nos. for the hoses.

 

Oh the Humanity!!! i just read jim lombardi's tips on part numbers and
parts supplier(s). jim got 3 pieces of cooling hose and fast shipping for
$56.

i have all the service records for my X308. PO had the LOWER RADIATOR
HOSE replaced at the only Jag Dealer in central OK.... guess what they
charged the PO for the HOSE? $120. for a lower radiator hose. period.

karma's gonna get 'em, i tell ya.

 

BUMMER!!!! I just broke my car!!!!

I was so careful making sure I had everything I needed before I started, took it slow, and was disconnecting the hoses and other connections and broke one of the electrical connectors! It's the one that plugs into the crossover pipe. I figured that I could still use it and continued working.

Next problem -- the flex head wrench that I bought won't fit over the back two bolts! I tried several angles and nothing worked. It's too "fat" and won't fit behind the bolt, so it won't work.

Final problem -- while trying to get to one of the back bolts, I broke the connector that goes to the top of the radiator. What is it, a vacuum line or what? See photo below.

At this point I figured that I should just have it towed to my mechanic who is only about three blocks from here (I have AAA so it's a free tow). He'll look at it tomorrow and tell me if he can fix it on Friday -- bummer because I was planning to drive to Wisconsin starting on Friday!

Oh well, that's the way it goes sometimes!

I can't wait to find out how much he'll want to charge me to finish the job -- hopefully not too much but at this point it just doesn't really matter, I just need to get it fixed.

I've done a lot of work on cars, so it's not like I'm a total idiot, but I'm not willing to mess with it any more.

I'll post again tomorrow after talking to the mechanic.

 

That is the plastic bleed tube that goes from the radiator to the coolant expansion tank - part# MNC4583AC - around $22.

The electrical connector on the crossover pipe is for the coolant sensor that came installed on the crossover pipe.

Jim Lombardi

 

It'll be interesting to see what I end up paying my mechanic to fix what I've messed up! I'm sitting here waiting for the tow truck right now. Hope to have an estimate later today, but the mechanic said he might not get to it until tomorrow, and that's if he can find the parts.