Hi

I have an 1989 Jaguar XJS and when I went for a drive today I noticed a burning smell in the car. When I got out the car i saw smoke rising from the back/middle of the car coming through the rear back wheels. When I went underneath the car I could see the smoke coming from the middle of the car.

Looks like a plate has some sludge on it, but I am not sure.

Has anyone else had this problem with an XJS?

Any suggestions as to what this could would really be appreciated.
Thank you
Daniel.

 

not sure what you mean by plate with sludge on it. Are you referring to a grime buildup on the differential or a sludge on one of the brake rotors or maybe something else?

Someone literally just made a post about their rear brakes being seized. No way to tell without more info, but expect some replies about your rear brakes being locked up and being careful not to drive because it may cause a fire.

maybe you can give us more detail or send a pic. Don't drive the car.

 

Been there done that!

But with mine it was seized front Caliper/s

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...please-117945/

It could be a Stuck Rear Caliper on yours, possibly caused by the rear flexy brake hose, which can collapse on the inside (if its quite old) where while you may be able to Brake, the brakes may bind coming off and boil the brake fluid.

Which could result in total brake failure, as well as your Car burning to the ground.

So lets hope it not that!

Fire Extinguisher/s essential if you drive an XJS.

 

You've got fuel lines in the general vicinity of the rear brakes and yes I agree that it sounds like seized rear brakes. Like sidescrollin said, don't drive it

 

The plate is a strengthening plate under the centre of the axle cage. You car has inboard rear brakes, and there is, as the others have already said, a good chance they have seized on.

It could be that the flexible line that connects the hard brake line to the axle cage has failed and blocked itself, meaning the brake cylinders cannot release. It could be loads of things. If you can jack up the entire rear, both wheels off the ground, handbrake off, car in neutral, see if you can turn the wheels. If not, it is the brakes.

Greg

 

thinking outside the box,

was the parking ( or emergency brake I think our brothers call it ? ) still on ?

the XJS is more than capable to pull away with that parking brake applied , and those little pads will quickly burn up ,

it happened to my own car before I bought her, some punter blasted her up the road with the hand brake applied ,lots of burning smell and smoke form the inboard brakes


hope its sorted easily

BB

ps , agree with the fire extinguisher comment, mine is in the boot ( trunk ) screwed to the rear light cluster boxing in , easy to get to in the event......

 

What if you have a fire in the boot (trunk)?

 

There is a sort of plate under the center of the car, on mine at least, it looks like a heat shield to me. Mine was pretty well coated with oily grime, I don't know that it would have an ignition source or actually burn under normal conditions though. I'd say that either there's a problem causing way too much heat or the smoke is coming from somewhere other than the plate I'm talking about.

 

Is this the plate you are thinking of (pic RHS) as it is the one the OP was meaning, I believe:


If so it is a tie plate that strengthens the rear axle cage. Above it are the inboard disc brakes that are being suggested as a cause of the smoke. If the inboard brakes become jammed on, or as BB has indicated the handbrake is on, the heat generated produces smoke because all the years of accumulated grease and leaking diff oil that are coating everything including the tie plate, start smoking. The friction heat generated by the jammed brakes is the heat source; or combustion source if you go on long enough...

If on the other hand you mean the silvery heatshield between the exhayst pipes (pic LHS) then is is indeed a heatshield, but I do not think the OP means that one, as his smoke was coming from the rear axle.
Greg

 

Yes, I think I did mean the heat shield on the left of your photo, I may have misinterpreted where the OP's smoke was coming from. I never got quite that good of a view of the underside of my car as I've always had it only on ramps, so low to the ground, dark and awkward. Also not nearly as clean and un-oily as yours! But I'm working on it!

 

I appreciate everyone's help with my question. The smoke is coming right from the middle of that x brace, so it could only be the brakes. I had not driven the car in 2 months as it was my Dad's, so I drive it once in awhile.

 

It's beginning to sound like 'Stuck Calipers' which providing you have the Car jacked up very safely, isn't anywhere nearly as hard to fix as you might think.

I would rather do that job, than try and replace a radiator.

If you take her to a Garage/Shop then its best to go the whole nine yards, while the Cage is out.

New Calipers/New Brake Pads/New Hand Brake Pads/New Rotors/New Brake Hoses and anything else that is looking worn or in need of replacing.

Expect a Check/Bill of $1,000+

If it were me and the Rotors were still OK, then I would just replace the Calipers and the Flexy Brake Hose.

Personally, I would not rebuild the Calipers as ready reconditioned Service Exchange units, don't cost that much more in the Scheme of things and will give you more Confidence from the 'get go'

So the question you need to ask yourself, is are you a 'Driver' or a real enthusiast, who is willing to give it a go.

I started off in the 'former camp' until with help and advice not to mention Support from this Forum, 'I got stuck in!'

The sense of achievement I got and still get, is simply overwhelming, right up to the point that anything, short of an engine rebuild, is a job that I now trust to no one but myself.

 

I also forgot to mention that some brown/red fluid had leaked out on the garage floor, so I am leaning towards this being the hose. This car was never a daily driver, so I would like to keep it in the best condition as possible.

 

Someone will correct me but I think that 'Brake Fluid' is one of those oils that will ignite from heat alone without a naked flame.

 

Changing all the brake flexibles (one at the rear, one each side at the front) and bleed the brakes to new fluid throughout, is a VERY sensible thing to do. Then check to see where anything is leaking from.

Greg

 

That brown / red fluid may be burnt diff oil leaking from the output shaft seals or pinion seal that has melted from the heat. Even after mine had been on fire the brake fluid was relatively clean still, where it leaked into the garage floor.

As above,don't drive it. There is good reason my car is niknamed "Fireball"

When I stopped at traffic lights I had dark smoke bellowing from the rear guards.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...m-fire-115245/