Just picked up an 88 XJ40
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Just picked up an 88 XJ40
So i got this car as a trade for an undependable car I had. All i know is that i'm in a better position as of now. I've got a few Q's though. The dash has message center that tells what's wrong with the car. How can I disable that flashing warning light while I drive? Also, my AC controls are not working properly. he only option that works is the Defroster setting but I still can't control the Temp. What should I replace?
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Planetarium
RE: Just picked up an 88 XJ40
Welcome !
As I recall, you should press and hold the button which is related to VCM reset . As for now working properly AC , you can get the whole unit .
BTW, if your car comes with self levelling you should be very warry about your hydraulic system and just use the green stuff otherwise your suspension system goes lemon which is too expensive to fix . You should see the correct level when opening the hood . If the color of it is red , you just top off the reservoir .
Hope you enjoy it
As I recall, you should press and hold the button which is related to VCM reset . As for now working properly AC , you can get the whole unit .
BTW, if your car comes with self levelling you should be very warry about your hydraulic system and just use the green stuff otherwise your suspension system goes lemon which is too expensive to fix . You should see the correct level when opening the hood . If the color of it is red , you just top off the reservoir .
Hope you enjoy it
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,393
Likes: 649
From: Planetarium
RE: Just picked up an 88 XJ40
Keep in mind, you have a late XJ40 
. In addition post '91 (as I recall ) don't come with the hydraulic system which means less trouble unlike '88 if poor maintained
. In addition post '91 (as I recall ) don't come with the hydraulic system which means less trouble unlike '88 if poor maintained
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 506
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From: Calgary
RE: Just picked up an 88 XJ40
I hope that you will still feel you got a better deal once you start getting into thecare and feeding of a Jaguar.
A bad cat can vacuum out your wallet with alarming speed and regularity. Early versions of the XJ40 (ie 1988 - 1990) were plauged with many electrical/mechanical problems.At the end of the series (1991 -1994) most of these problems had beenengineered out of the design. Just when they got it right, they stopped production. Now that you own one, there is one thing you need to learn...Nothing in a Jaguar is minor!You can only ignore or bypass warning lights for so long. On mine all the lights come on at start and they all work.If one stays on, it is time to get it looked at. An easy reference is if the lamp is yellow, it is a caution and can be left for a short while. A red lamp means something requiring immediate attention or you will hear that familiar sucking sound from your wallet. If all the warning lights do not come on at start, I'd suspect that a previous owner has had some bypassed.
Good luck my friend and hang around in here a bit, you'll need some strong shoulders to cry on.
A bad cat can vacuum out your wallet with alarming speed and regularity. Early versions of the XJ40 (ie 1988 - 1990) were plauged with many electrical/mechanical problems.At the end of the series (1991 -1994) most of these problems had beenengineered out of the design. Just when they got it right, they stopped production. Now that you own one, there is one thing you need to learn...Nothing in a Jaguar is minor!You can only ignore or bypass warning lights for so long. On mine all the lights come on at start and they all work.If one stays on, it is time to get it looked at. An easy reference is if the lamp is yellow, it is a caution and can be left for a short while. A red lamp means something requiring immediate attention or you will hear that familiar sucking sound from your wallet. If all the warning lights do not come on at start, I'd suspect that a previous owner has had some bypassed.
Good luck my friend and hang around in here a bit, you'll need some strong shoulders to cry on.
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RE: Just picked up an 88 XJ40
Thanks guys! I really apreciate the support, since I do feel kinda shaky owning this car, but oh well. I thought I would bypass the BFM's since I figured that the car has been EFFED with by previous owners. I haven't found any fancy wiring yet, but I do know that the car does not go through all of the lights when i start it, but it does tell me when i low brake pressure or low brake fluid or Anti-Lock failure, and Circuit Failures, of course I've gotten rid of almost every warning light except for BULB FAILURE. I've also decided that this is perhaps not one of those well maintained Jags, Although it does look good and it runs good too, so it might just be one of those cars that I custom paint without the worries of changing it's value as an original cars. As for the Catalytic Converters, I recently failed Smog because my NOS levels were at almost 3000 past the maximum amount allowed. My other numbers were very good. A mechanic suggested that I replace the 1st Cat. What do you guys think about this?
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Houston, Texas
RE: Just picked up an 88 XJ40
I think I have a good deal on the 1st cat. Let me check it out and get back to you. The bulb failure modules do go out. Do you have trouble from any of the lights?
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RE: Just picked up an 88 XJ40
Thanks Ken! I'm definitely interested. Lemme know!
Well guys please let me know if I should replace my cat or not. I'd definitely appreciate it. So here's a pic of the car. It is currently hiding from the camera. She's shy, because she's been given an uneeded set of door guards which were screwed into the body, and that's why I'm thinking about painting her Flat Black with a satin Finish at least until I can afford to paint her properly or until I jump into another Jag. I'm gonna treat her well, but I figured why not have some fun, and since I live in Hollywood, it's not uncommon for a car to look like a classic and a work in progress.
Well guys please let me know if I should replace my cat or not. I'd definitely appreciate it. So here's a pic of the car. It is currently hiding from the camera. She's shy, because she's been given an uneeded set of door guards which were screwed into the body, and that's why I'm thinking about painting her Flat Black with a satin Finish at least until I can afford to paint her properly or until I jump into another Jag. I'm gonna treat her well, but I figured why not have some fun, and since I live in Hollywood, it's not uncommon for a car to look like a classic and a work in progress.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 506
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From: Calgary
RE: Just picked up an 88 XJ40
Love the car man it looks nice. I didn't mean to scare you off, but it would in my humble opinion not hurt to have a competent Jaguar shop giver her a good look over so you know what you're up against. I decided to pass on a really pretty XJin favor of a slightly scuffy one that I knew to be mechanically straight as the reliability was more of a factor to me. Starting with a clean slate mechanically speaking, I can have a beter handle on the maintenence end. You can ask Ken, but I understand the early XJ40's to be somewhat problematical and he can likely give you some tips on what you should be looking for.
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