So when you hear people say that Jags have horrible wiring issues are they referring to the engine/gauge cluster wiring or throughout the whole vehicle? Is it something that one should upgrade as they go along sorting other things or?

 

It all depends on who the 'people' are and their level of automotive skills.

Most of the electrical issues on the older vehicles can be attributed to corroded, loose or faulty earthing points and connectors.

 

I have a "speedwire systems" kit I purchased for a build I'm not longer working on. This has a independent relay/fuse board with controller. Would it make sense to start switching components and accessories over to that management system? I'm not looking for a stock setup but want to have a more reliable vehicle. Im currently installing a Fuelsafe fuel cell with a submersible Aeromotive fuel pump in the trunk and was considering relocating the battery at the same time...... Who hates me? haha

 

Nah! It's not a proper jag if it doesn't go wrong!! Tune for maximum smoke!!

 

Usually people who have never worked on one.

80% of the much ballyhooed "Lucas, Prince of Darkness" issues are dirty/loose grounds and connectors, as mentioned. Not horrible, but annoying at times. Takes some patience to sort through but really not that big of a deal. Once you learn to clean connections first, before replacing parts and before assuming it'll be a major problem, you'll be surprised at how easy most the problems are to solve.

A person can upgrade to better connectors and such, if desired.

Or spend a weekend cleaning all the grounds and important connectors and forget about 'em for another 20 years

Cheers
DD

 

Make sense to who? You? Or me?

Doesn't make sense to me, no. But, if you're kinda sorta looking for an excuse to make these changes because you'll enjoy the work, go for it! I have full appreciation for that

But....and no hate here.....you can make an old Jag very reliable with a lot less effort than you're describing here

Cheers
DD

 

Hey Doug, Thank you for your advice! The upgrades I've described have definitely been more out of desire than necessity. The fuel pump went in the fall so I know I needed to replace that. Over the winter one of the tanks sprung a leak on the bottom seam of the tank. There was also a pretty significant amount of rust repair that needed to be done in the trunk and behind the three bumper sections. I looked at it as an opportunity to upgrade the system in hopes for a engine swap down the road. I also enjoy adding some of my own flavor to the jag in a very modest way.

 

I own two Jags, a 1965 S type and a 1984 XJ.-6. Both cars have intact wiring and I have never had any wiring issues with them. Never in 30 years.

Sure in the engine compartment the wiring gets toasted after 30 years of use and abuse. But that happens in any car. Replace whatever is deteriorated. Splicing wires is no big deal.

In the XJ, the wiring harness that gets "cooked" the most is the one for the Coil and Sensors. Located at the intake side of the engine. They are available new.
Expensive at $280.00 but if you need it and you want to keep the car going, you spend the money and tomorrow is another day.

 

Jose, Where do I get that $280.00 wiring harness for my 1985 XJ6?

 

https://www.autosparks.co.uk

that was a couple years ago, price might have changed. They have all the engine harnesses aka Looms.

 

Leaning experience, oh yeah!!!!

1. Jaguar electrics mantra. Clean tighten and lubricate. The term electrickery applies.

2. Early on, the high beam on the right outboard lamp went dark. Normal fix. Swap in a new sealed beam. Been there on USA cars. Easy enough. A bit more fiddly on the Jaguar, but done.
Ugh, no light!!! More fiddling. Included ground point clean! Eureka, lights up!! So, I have an aged seal beam as a spare. Well, actually more!! At a later date, I swapped out the others for fresh Halogen lamps. I had noted the new one was a lot brighter... Detiorated reflectors...

4. Many a part has been removed and tossed that was just fine. The R&R reestablished continuity!!

5. A few months ago, my Jaguar stranded me. No crank in a Rite Aid park lot!! Flat bed ride home.. Much effort and no fix. Then son added a ground cable. From the one on the wing to the engine strap. FIXED... A LOT OF STUFF WORS A LOT BETTER !!!

Carl

 

It's fun to hear the stories of the culture but not fun when you become a story! haha. That's part of the fun i suppose. I have an old Austin Mini cooper as well and I was told when I purchased that you better get used to disappointment and spending way more money then you'll ever get back. Truth! haha

 

Thanks for the link Jose, looks like they stock all the bullet connectors, plugs, junctions, parts etc. separately so you can make or repair your own harnesses as well.
Like the comments above about corroded connectors / grounds, I fixed the fog lights on my 1985 Sovereign by just cleaning the ground connections ( while cleaning / lubing all the lighting junctions and grounds ).

Cheers,
Brian

 

good to know Brian. A lot of these issues depend on the environment where the car lives. Some places cause more corrosion than others.

the one issue in my car is the Headlights and Aux. Fan Fuse Box, the fuses oxidize in their contacts and the headlights become intermittent and the auxiliary fan does not come on.
A little cleaning of the brass contacts and everything is back to normal.

 

Brian, you might also check with Jaguar Specialties. They advertise a replacement harness for the sensor, A/C compressor clutch, and some other things that are mostly on the right side of the engine compartment. It is a direct plug-in and color coded correctly.

Dave