I've noticed a rough idle on the ol 4.0 (more of a slight shaking)at idle in park with the brake applied. This seems intermittant in that it never quite goes away, but varies in degree slightly. It isless noticable when the A/C is on, likely due to the stepped up idle. As it seems to be a slight miss, I'm going to start by changing out the plugs, but any ideas on what else we should be concerned about?

 

Well, I think it your idle speed also gets some fluctations up and down , there is a stuff related to idle speed ,air meter , might be dirty .

 

Open the hood at night and see if you get a light show from the spark plug wires arching all over the place. Very pretty, but not so conducive to a smooth engine.

 

Yeah, I'm going to get the wires tested or changed as well, might as well start with the easy stuff. When I purchased the vehicle it had been "recently serviced" which I gather means they did a basic oil change and ignored the rest. I switched to a K&N air element and the old paper filter was really bad. When I asked the Jaguar shop where I bought my Jag from about they said it looked fine to them. The car was the daily driver of the owner who was self professed meticulous about maintenence, and was rather indignant when I showed him the bad filter. I guess there are differing levels of meticulous??? In any case I need to be very doubtful that the cat was given good care, and am certainly not ever taking my Jag to that shop!!!I'm going over everything maintenence related just to cover my bases, but the idle is something I need to look at.I'm sure the sensors and such are all in need of checking.

 

Also, visually inspect the cap and rotor.

 

It has a cap and rotor??? How friggin retro. I'd have assumed it would have an electronic ignition? Well at least it doesn't have Magnetos...or does it?

 

Just for you XJ...especially for your baby, and filled with loads n loads of info. Probably keep you busy for quite a while....lol
Not sure if it can help with your current problem but I'd seriously recommend looking at it

Jim

http://www.jag-lovers.org/ebooks/boo...php?Vbook=xj40

 

Lovely, I'll pass it on to my Mechanic. I'm just going to do a full tune up on the ol cat. This will be a good starting point and will hopefully remedy the problem. If not it will be process of elimnination. The problem is very slight, and doesn't really affect drivability, and the cat is going into winter storage after September, so any lingering issues can be addressed during the long cold winter months. Nothing better than tinkering with the ol Kitty when it's minus 30 outside.

 

I'll give you a HELL YEAH on that one XJ......

Jim

 

It's all about prioritizing... My goal is to preserve the XJ in it's present state and keep up on her mechanical needs. The paintisorignnal with the usual clear coat issues. The leather hasn't been well looked after and is faded in parts. It is what it is and although a good solid car, I don't see justifying the expense of a full restoration on a 93, $4500.00 Jag. Looking at the cost of a resto, it would simply not make sense. I love her, but really plan on upgrading to a Jag in better condition, maybe look at anX300 or XK8 Coupe in the next few years. The XJ was really just my first venture into everything Jag... to see how we'd get along so to speak. Onceyou've owned a Jag, I doubt another car will ever do.... Although if I were to be given an Aston Vantage or such....

 

Minus 30????? And you wonder why your only neighbors are wolves? I don't think I could handle that kind of cold.

 

IT HAS A CAP AND ROTOR????? Man I can't get over that.

 

Yep, 94 was the last year. Also, when you pull the plugs, look for oil on them. The seals from the valve cover will allow oil to seep into the spark plugs holes and can cause arching as well.

 

Yeah must be from the long storage in the Igloo. The Polar bears are really big and fat this year so it might go below minus 30 next month when winter starts.

Everything checked out perfect, all they could find to do was a little welding around the mufflers and some fuel additive. Plugs, wires, rotor, cap, fuel system, etc. was perfect. Goona try to run it on Premium and see if that helps.

 

The fuel additive is a great idea. BG makes a good one.

 

IT HAS A CAP AND ROTOR????? Whoda thought that. Did I happen to mention I can't get over that?

 

You probably didn't know that is also has heated front door handles and heated windshield washer jets. (Just in case it comes up at a party.)