Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

Hope this is a simple fix, I am not familiar with V12 at all. Here is what the car just started doing. Runs with no power, tach is not registering. I talked to a local Jaguar repair shop, and they think the car is only running on 6 cylinder, but I cannot verify at this time. I am not near the car to check. Mechanic says its an easy fix over the phone, but will not tell me what it is, just bring the car to him. I really don't want to deal with this place with that attitude.

Is there common problem to look for.

Thanks.

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

I don't see where their attitude comes in.
He makes his living fixing cars, and you are asking for him to tell you how for free. If he did that for everyone, how could he survive?
If is easy fix, will be cheap. Take it there and see.

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

I guess it didn;t come out right, but it was his attitude towards me, He could have worded things different, been a little nicer on the phone, etc. To me, if he was more friendly, came off without the "just bring it here and I'll fix it" attitude (which are his exact words), he might have actually gotten my business. But he knows there are very few, I aven;t found anyone, including the dealer that will even work on this year car. I do business with all lot of racers, and if I'm friendly and giving some knowledge out, the seem to come back for more work and parts.

I guess I made a mistake of always wanting a Jaguar. Scraped up every penny to get this one, now I am scraping pennies to get it back running. And I haven;t found anyone freindly in the jaguar world yet. Everyone seems to have an attitude. Even here, my first post I getan attitude response. Anyone knows there is nothing cheap to fix on these cars. If it was cheap, i wouldn't gone looking for help on the net.

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

You should go to Jag-Lovers.org.

Firstly,yours is one of a common series of problems that the ignition system on yourmodel suffers from. You will get deluged with advice from "experts". Alot of it will be recycled details that I gave them years ago, but don't expect to see me accreditedanywhere.

Secondly, that august body consists mainly of home mechanics who want (or need) to fix their cars for nothing, and share your disdain for the value of professional ethics. You'll be a kindred spirit.

Thirdly, do not run your engine beyond the amount necessary to diagnose the fault.Yours is the second leading cause of XJS engine bay fires. Toasted XJS are scattered around the countryside like burnt popcorn.

Lastly, and speaking only for myself, people who use these forums and receive free professional advice have no idea how lucky they are. They also show no appreciation for it, and often expect answers as if it were an entitlement. No doctor, lawyer, real estate agent, mortgage broker or accountant who I have helped has ever offered me free professional advice in return. Come to think of it, no free pizza either.

FactoryJagTech is the most selfless individual I have ever seen in the manner with whichhe conducts himself onany forum. I don't think he is making money in any way from these efforts. IF his recent lack of participation has anything to do with the lack of return from it, I don't blame him for a second. That's why I'm out.

My motives are a little more selfish, just like the guy who answered your phone call. To customers, I comp extra service and parts everyday. On forums, I give free advice in hopes of generating some parts sales and attracting a local owner or two to patronize myspecialized business.That gets me very little in return for the effort. More often I suspect thatthe detailed information I provide is helping to educatesome competitor across town who fancies fixing Jaguars.That is the only way I put food on my table...and the pizza ain't free.

The guy who answered your call wasn't talking to a customer. Had he answered your questions, you wouldn't have brought your car to his facility: you would have fixed it yourself anyway. He knows that, and so do I. He's just betterat focusing his time on helping the owners with cars already in his shop.

I don't know if you learned anything from that, but it reinforced a lesson for me. Thanks for your call.

Andrew Bernstein
British Auto Care

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

i agree. "just bring it here and I'll fix it" not sure what you wanted him to say, but bring the car to him and he'll fix it. sounds pretty reasonable to me.

JTO, wish you were closer to NC man!

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

Well written Andrew. See a lot of posts on other forums looking for the cheap, I can understand it to a point. I purchased my first luxo car in 89 it was an 85 380sl
but, I knew going in if something broke it was going to cost $$$$. So why are some owners amazed and shocked at the prices for Jag repairs or parts? Buy a Porsche and go get a simple tuneup and see what it costs (its a wake up call).

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

Then sell the Jag and drive your Chevy where everyone will be friendly (you asked for that one).

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

I didn't want to start a big flame war, but I see this will never be a site for me. Just to finish this topic off I want everyone to re-read the welcome message on this site:

Jaguar Forums is a Jaguar discussion forum & one stop resource for all Jaguar related discussions. Forum topics include Jaguar vehicle maintenance, tech help with car repairs, and Jaguar performance upgrades.

I dont understand why there is even a tech forum, if everyone here believes that you should take it to a shop. Should just lock this entire section, and post a sticky that says, No help here, take it to a shop.

I understand you want to keep the little guy in business, but then why even have a tech section, what info are you giving out. I usually take my cars to respectible repair shops. I had trouble finding one for this car, and the one I found, the guy was not at all friendly to me. So why should I take my car to someone who doesnt care about his customers, that he only speaks in a harsh voice to me. If he would have plainly just said, I am not sure till I look at it, I would have been fine with it, but to get a nastily snapped remark, just bring it here and I will fix it, kinda pissed me off. So I started looking for other repair shops on the net, and I found this site. Thought is would be a helpful site and meet other owners in the area, guess not.

Sorry if I was such a bother.

-and to wdonovan, your right, I will enjoy my corvette and the people that I have met with that car. At this point I may just let the dam car burn (per JagtechOhio)to the ground and collect the insurance money, that will be one less future jaguar owner attitude to deal with down the road.

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

Hi Rat

I'm sorry you feel that way about this forum, I am a member of several forums including Dodge and BMW forums, I think this is the best of them all.
The layout of the site the sections and above all the quality and the quantity of information available, I'm sure if you read through some previous threads you would find the info you need.
At the end of the day you have to respect the fact that these garage owners are in the business to make a living as quoted on previous posts and you can't get too upset if the info is not volunteered straight up foc after your first post!

I had a problem with my S-type, I had a couple of suggestions but did not resolve the problem but I didn't get upset with the forum because my problem didn't get resolved.

Montru

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

thats what i usually say to v12 customers.. cant fix anything over the phone. but i love working on those V12's. Just handed a bill to my cutomer XJS v12 '78 $4200 definitley not a cheap car to drive everyday.. or even on a sunday ..

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

Just did a coolant leak on a '94 6.0 litre: RH timing cover gasket was squeezed out at water pump port behind cover. Nice squirt.Reassembled with new pump, hoses, belts, $1500 for a $1.00 gasket.
I think that was way cheap, but he also bought one of my XJ8's a year and a half ago and has been a 15 year customer.

If the gasket leaked the other way, his pan would have filled with coolant and toasted the motor. First time in 25 years I saw that one.

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

LOL...

My lack of being around lately is more to do with being ill. Not lack of thanks here.......

RE: Need help, 1989 V12 running issues
 

Thank you and don't get Ill anymore;)