Hi,

I have recently purchased a 1998 XJR which had been standing for 2 years, it had failed its MOT on welding, no brake lights and rusted brake pipes ( all now fixed) on my now driving the car on the road for the first time I have noticed a quite loud noise from the rear of the car ... its hard to describe, but a bit like I was dragging a cardboard box around ! it increases with road speed, It seems to reduce after a while but is still there and it seems to reduce when I am accelerating . Any ideas ?
I have also noticed a slight smell of hot 'burning ' oil probably off the silencers ,next to the car after a run ( might be brake fluid after the brakes where bled ?)

Any ideas would be appreciated

It might pay you to jack the rear end up and have the car running in gear while you try and isolate any noise underneath (turn off traction control first though) - it could be any number of things from drive train, brakes etc.

AndyP

check the exhaust is not rubbing on the halfshaft(s). if the car has been standing a while the exhaust mountings maybe tiered or nonexistant. or the obvious, check there is no cardboard box caught under the car?

Well, I finally found out what the noise was....

You wont believe it...

I had a local garage replace some brake pipes for the MOT...

Yes .. they left one hanging on the prop shaft and rubbing. Found it just before it wore through ( when it failed this tears MOT)