Yeahh, something like the below did not raise my enthusiasm immediately as well ... took a lot of efforts, certainly from your side, but a super result at the end!

 

Nothing exciting to report but I did do an oil and filter change. It is such an easy task on these cars, the oil filter and drain pan plug are so easy to get to. I find that it takes just over 7 1/2 qts for a full change.

I changed the oil when I purchased the car in January, changed it again 2,000 miles later when I did the timing chain tensioners, then changed it 1,000 miles after the timing chain job, and now 3,000 miles later another oil change. So it should be fully "flushed" and I can get into a routine of every 5,000 miles or so now.

Oil is cheap (Castrol GTX 10/40 dino) and so are quality filters when bought online. As I say, it is so easy to change the oil on these cars, I love the rubber gasketed drain plug, and my local quick-lube bay gladly takes my old oil for recycling.

.

 

It seems I can't help myself ... new project already on the floor ... front seat heater pads and new display with the heater buttons.

As I will have to take the seats partially apart to install the pads, I will take the opportunity to test the proximity switches as well.
The only thing which never worked in my car is the memory settings, and the test procedure puts the blame on (one of) them.

Luckily I have a full set of replacement from the old interior, so replacing or fixing should be relative easy.

 

 

Finally got the dash back in the car after fitting the double din radio/satnav system, what a job it's been! My system wouldn't fit without it pointing upwards too high, it wouldn't go back far enough either and looked all wrong, so I needed to modify the heater ducting, then relocate the Airbag Module, I figured it would be much easier to remove the dash to access the heater ducting to do the mod, then found the ducting just clipped on and came off very easy, no need to remove the dash I decided to put the Airbag Module further back (towards the rear) under the central storage box, and extend the cables to the steering wheel airbag and passenger airbag, The whole job cost me a lot of time but it looks and works fab, so worth it in the end.

While I had the dash out I obviously removed the standard radio system and the heater control panel above it, I managed to get a replacement one that has the switches for heated front seats. I noticed above that ericjansen is fitting heated seats and I would really appreciate it if you could give me some further info on how to fit them, and what bits I will need? To save this thread from getting too congested I will PM you if that's OK?

My car has now got so many extras on it from Daimler's, Sovereign's, XJR's, etc, I should have shares in the local Jag breakers yard! Few bits to finish off and will post some pics of the job.
Paul

 

My last effort to remedy my rear end riddle takes place Wed. morning. I'm having an additive placed in the rear differential, if the oil doesn't look as it should we will just start from scratch w/ fresh fluid. If this doesn't work, I have found a low mileage diff. but I am really getting tired of shop/down time.

 

Good news Paul, now don't forget to just drive her before winter attacks.

On the heaters, there are several threads if you dig deeper, but (almost as usual), Jaguar was not really consistent in fitting bits and pieces, so there are some conflicting stories.
Maybe I just open a new thread on this one, collecting all previous info, and showing how I am going along the way the next weeks.

 

Sounds good Eric, I will look forward to seeing your progress and pictures. In between these 'odd' jobs I'm doing I am enjoying the old girl, she's running well (touch wood) it's all quite inspiring to add more to it. Have sent you a PM re the heated seats.
Paul

 

.

Drove a 650 mile round trip to attend a family funeral.

Car ran like it was brand new, didn't miss a beat.

Got nothing but compliments on the Jag from family members we hadn't seen for a while, even though most of the vehicles there were valued at 5-10 times the price..

Averaged 23.8 mpg, mostly freeway, but plenty of short rides and running around.

 

[7:50 am EST]

On my way to the shop for my final attempt @ solving my rear end mystery, I have complete faith that today's fluid service will render me the silent rear end I long for so I can move on to upgrading wheels lol.


There is a damaged brake back plate back there, that was twisted & crowding the brakes so they initially straightened best they could, now they are removing that whilest under there. Not sure why I'm just hearing about that mangled plate now, that makes perfect sense to be relative to noise while under load.

Being it's Halloween & all let's hope this episode of the haunted Jag w/ the spooky rear end is now finished lol !

 

Finally got around to getting the replacement parts. The fender color don't exactly match the rest of the body, and there is a small misalignment between the curve of the fender and the curve of the hood above the headlight. I'll leave it as is for now. Maybe one day I'll get around to painting the whole car and get the fender-hood alignment fixed.

​​​​​​​

Looks pretty good from afar.

Slight misalignment

Slight color difference

 

Timing chain and lower tensioner replacement on 92K XJ8 (I already took care of the upper tensioners long ago but replaced those as well as new ones came with the kit). Running smoother than ever. Next up fluid, filter and electrical connector change on 5G Tronic in the XJR. Thanks to this forum and a wealth of online info the repairs have been more straight forward than anything short of my old 4.0 Jeep.

 

Front wheels - new brake pads and new bearings
Oil change
Throttle body cleaned and readjusted
Left low beam headlight replaced (it had gone out)
New V8 emblems on the b-pillars (the chrome had dulled out)

 

Changed the old button display for one with the heated seats in it.
Actually hate this work, cause you know in advance that however careful you are, something is going to break anyway .
Also sprayed the radio volume button, seems to have cured the erratic behavior (at least for now).

 

I was in that mode of tidying up every little detail like lights,odd trim pieces etc. Truthfully if this last trip to the shop doesn't remedy my rear end. It's going on the auction/selling block, it's a shame due to all the work I've done to it. But enough is enough lol. Hopefully I get good news tomm.& the bent brake plate was the culprit & it's ready to roll.

But 5 total shops, let's call it 4 because 1 was incompetent have all come up w/ nothing. The differential has been chassis ear monitored by 2 of the shops one being a rear end & transmission specialist in a vintage Euro restoration shop & deemed fine. The wheel bearing job negated about 40% of the noise, it's made it more sporadic & as opposed to consistent. I will be relieved but also a bit perturbed if the damaged brake plate was responsible this whole time & I only learned of it a few days ago from the shop.


Meanwhile I've got nearly $2K in Pentas & tires laying in wait which I may never even get to enjoy on this car.

Rant done, lol.

Update :

Car's back, they drained the Redline 75w90 & went w/ Redline 75w140,lubed up everything back there(springs,U-joints) & drove it extensively w/ no noise surfacing. He did say the oil they removed did appear to be compromised & not the right consistency or smell, so there's that.

Let's hope this chapter is indeed closed lol.

 

 

Totally inspired by the double din mod by '2001 White XJ8' (https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...01-xj8-207159/) I attempted the job of installing my INE-W987D unit I had on the shelf out of a previous Mitsubishi car, I posted recently that I would include some pictures.



It took some work, but I'm happy now that I decided to take the whole dash out! It allowed me so much more room to tidy everything up behind the system for all the wires and connections. and I had to do some pretty serious mods to the heater blower ducts inside the tunnel. My particular unit is slightly bigger than the actual 7" screen, and even with the mods 2001 White XJ8 did... no way was it gonna go in without any modifications (another reason for taking the dash out). Dash out also allowed me much more room to work extending the cables for both the driver and passenger Airbags to the controller (which, I moved back to underneath the storage/armrest box). I also managed to install a USB Power/Video/Audio input at the rear of the centre console replacing the cigar lighter, and connected it up to the secondary Video/Audio that my system has, now anyone in the back can connect their devices up too. It's been a long job, but rewarding, and after some detailing and cleaning up of my filthy finger prints, I'm sure you'll agree it looks OK?



Probably notice I installed the heater controls that include the buttons for the heated front seats as well, that's the next job, many thanks to ericjansen for all the info on how to do that.

Now it's winter weather in the UK, too cold for my old fingers, so after doing the heated seats mod it's enjoy the car until Spring when I hope to finally attack the bodywork.
Paul

 

I'm new to the forum but the above reference to the switch panel and heated seats made me wonder if for economic reasons the heating elements are installed but just not connected. Same with the steering wheel heater. My car is a 2005 XJ8

 

Well if they're installed mine don't work, but I don't think they are installed. Have a look earlier at post #3243 where the parts have been sourced to do the job. This is my next project.
Paul

 

Toyman, you better ask in the correct forum, as this one covers the 1997-2003 model range.
For those, there was no real logic; some were fitted with the heated slabs, but just not connected, others only had a small part of the wiring.