It's been a bit Chaotic down at 'Orange Blossom Towers' my Two Ride on Mowers have Broken Down including my Long Grass Cutter and now the Grass got so high its almost like a Jungle (So may need to have a one to one with Lawn Mower Guru 'Greg')

The only good news being that I've now got myself a New Phone! so that I can get back to Posting with Pictures again! although ironically having said that, those Photos may have to wait a little while longer, as at the moment it's chucking it down with Rain!

So it may be too dark in the Garage to take any decent Photos

Ok so having got that bit out of the way, I cannot lower the Soft Top on '50 Shades' my Grey XJS and the reason that I know that is that the last time that I took her for her annual MOT, on the way it started Raining and I only just managed to get the Soft Top up and even had to give it a bit of assistance

And so I am suspecting that the Soft Top Motor has got low on Oil and isn't exactly a piece of cake to get to, especially as it's so dark in there that its hard to see what you're doing, so hoping that some Oil might solve that problem

Which sort of neatly brings me onto problem Number:2 as the Power Steering is leaking and the Reservoir is Low on Oil, although thankfully hasn't run dry, as I always Check it every time before I go out and so I'm thinking maybe it's because She's been Standing so long, since last MOT in November

Although this is probably not much more that some 'Wishful Thinking' on my part, as the Power Steering probably needs a new seal and so I'll have to keep an eye on that, being one of those jobs that may have to wait until Autumn

As if that isn't bad enough both of her Rear Silencers have started to come loose having sort been ripped off by a Speed Ramp on the way down to the MOT Garage, where they kindly offered to tighten them up so that She could pass her MOT Test

One of the reasons being that I think the probable cause was the OEM Exhaust Clamps, which may look aesthetically pleasing but don't seem to grip as well as the 'U' Bolt ones do

Where as some of you may know, trying to line the Exhaust Pipes up, so that they don't rattle about, can be a bit like trying to plait Spaghetti

'Ask me how I know' or rather don't!

 

AJ
If it is any comfort, I have to reset my exhaust over the rear axle/exhaust tunnels at least once per year!

 

Hi Greg

That is Cheering me up 'not'

As I think they could have come up with a much better design, as the Rear Exhaust Boxes are the very last thing that you want to fall off

Tempted to design one if I get the time, which is in very short supply as I am playing 'Catch Up' at the moment

 

Nix's exhaust are rattling again, but I know the reason this time; husband wanted me to drop the cage when I rebushed the trailing arms a couple years ago, so I loosened them as a first step. After I convinced him that much work was not necessary, I didn't quite get them up in place again after that (but I want to be clear, there's NO procrastination here! ). So they set up a harmonic at certain idle speed that sounds like someone drumming on the floor pan.

I should probably fix that this week..........
(';')

 

Hi Lnr

Lining up those exhaust Pipes is not my favorite job, for as soon as you get the Pipe in place, it's then that you suddenly realize that the bit with the bend is nearly touching the drive shaft







I think those Clips in Photo (Top) could well be the problem, as they may look nice but they don't seem to have any grip

While the more industrial 'U' Bolt shown in the Photo below that, should help to Stop that Exhaust Box from sliding around

 

Ohh, Alex, I Ditched those Very Pretty ring clamps soon after I got the car.
She now has U-clamps on all joints, ugly as they are, but they Stay Put!

It's just that I need to jack her up, loosen all clamps, set a bottle jack under the last upward curve and pump it up until I begin to raise the car, wiggling the pipes and forcing the joints together. Then clamp it SO tight!

Every time I set them up this way, Nary a rattle or even peep... until the next time I have muffler work done.
That shouldn't be for about another 15 years.
(';')

 

Except of course that life is never that simple, although on Second Thoughts maybe it is, as we were just about to go and do a bit of Shopping when suddenly the heavens opened and the Sun came out, instead of all the Rain we were expecting! OMG

So the GF went off in the MAZDA to do the Shopping on her own and I picked up some Tools and went into the Garage, where having first opened the door and put the Lights on

The First thing I saw was '50 Shades' my Grey XJS laying there under her Covers, where She had been hunkered down ever since last year and to be honest last year was a bit of a disaster, in every possible way you could imagine including the Cost of Petrol that had suddenly gone through the Roof!

And then on Top of that the Credit Crunch! where you needed a Second Mortgage to buy a Bottle of Milk, that had gone from £1-15 to £1-65 for a 4 pint bottle and in doing so had taken every thing else with it including 240 Tea Bags at £5-60 a Box! instead of the previous £3-50p

This was the New Normal, as once those prices had gone up they were non coming down and putting on the Washing Machine was now so expensive, that it was actually cheaper to go and buy New Clothes

And if that wasn't bad enough no one was using their Cars and my ISP had gone and doubled the price of our Internet from almost £40 per month to £80! and there's no way that I was doing that, and so my Friends, I decided to dump them and find another Company to give my money to

As already unbeknown to them I had a 'Cunning Plan' as now I am paying the Princely sum of £4-50 per month! and 'No that's NOT a Miss print! it's £4-50

So Stand by for a Magazine Article, where I will be showing everyone how to do it. as my ISP can Whistle in the Wind!

But now back to the Plot, with me standing there Gazing in Awe! at my wonderful Car that was still covered up, so as they say on YouTube, it's time to do some unboxing and see what is under those Covers




Already I'm thinking 'Yikes' that's a really long Car!



Off comes her Winter Cover and already I'm feeling excited like a Kid at Christmas!



Oh! Yeah Baby! that's what were talking about!



Overcome with emotion, I'm having to hold back the Tears! as She just sits there looking 'Drop Dead Gorgeous'

It's been a long time coming and to tell the Truth, I don't know what to do!

Though Slowly but Surely it's all coming back to me now! 'The Pre-Flight Checks' even though there's work to do before She goes back on the Road

And so the First Job is to Check the 'Coolant' with both Caps off, as I'm thinking it must be low after standing all this time




At least I've still got an Engine! so that's a good start if She Starts?






Oh! my days! as they say on 'Tik Tok' She's still full to the Brim!

Although unfortunately cannot say the same for the Power Steering, as the Reservoir was empty! 'Been there done that, it's what I was expecting and so its not Freaking me out, so just have to keep an eye on it and Top it up every Trip until my ramp is free again



Engine Oil also up to the Mark but looks a bit like it needs Changing



Power Steering Reservoir has run dry, so time to Top it Up (or do I mean refill it?) Yeah I think I do!



As recommended by 'Grant' as it helps to Stop leaks!



Using a Syringe to Refill the Reservoir, dead easy doing it this way, as you can rest the outer edge on the Rim, as you Squirt it in and I had to do this four times to fill it right up to the Mark

Time for some more Drama!

So let's see if She Starts




No 'Battery Tender' No nothing! all I use is a Battery Discarnect that I got off ebay for less than a Fiver and that Battery has never lost Power Yet

The 'Moment of Truth' has no arrived, as I insert the Key in the Ignition!

I cannot lie, I'm feeling very Nervous and Excited and though its not a Red Hot day, beads of perspiration are now running down my Face as while I'm hoping She will Start, I am also hoping that the Engine Revs don't run away, especially since I made a Mod to the AAV

But more about that later 'if it Works'

 

Come on OB don’t keep us in suspense. Did it start 👍

Rob.

 

As I finally plucked up the Courage to Turn the Ignition Key as always seems to happen on First Start Up of the Year if she's been standing, a part of me was hoping that my Car wouldn't Start, at least not with her usual 'Lightening Bolt' ignition

As the last thing that I wanted to have was the Engine roaring away at very high revs before the Oil has got round, which often used to happen on my other XJS that would Start on the button and then continue to Rev at 1500 until the Engine got warm and then drop down to about 1200

Decreasing to 750 RPM after she was out on the road, the major downside being that after Starting her up, as soon as I put her into gear to reverse her out of the Garage, there would be a bit of a 'Clonk' from the Gearbox, that I seemed to accept as being normal

Up until 'Jagboi' made me aware that this could damage the Gearbox and so I had to find a way to try and get those Rev's down, which I think were probably caused by a Stuck AAV

The only problem being that I'd heard those 'Horror Stories' of those who snapped the bolts as they were trying to take it off, either to repair it or replace it, where the very last thing that I wanted to do was be left with a problem that was bigger than the one that I had started with

So having been burning the 'Midnight Oil' I came up with a Plan, that was to make an Air Flow Restrictor and then insert this in the Big Rubber Tube that exits out the back of the Air Filter, which is then connected to the AAV

Where although there was a little bit (make that a LOT of guesswork involved) in my trying to work out, just how restricting this Air Flow restrictor should be, after much Trial and Error, I managed to get those Start up Revs down to around 1000 RPM

Maybe I could have left it at that but then the OCD cut in because I sort of became obsessed with getting those Start Up Revs right down to the Magic Figure of 750 RPM when in my quest for perfection, I kept on 'Modding the Mod' which meant an awful lot of 'Stone Cold' Start Ups

Though seeing that this was a Year ago, Professor 'O B' was having some serious doubts about what might happen, so there was really only one way to find out and that meant Turning the Key on yet another 'Stone Cold Start Up' after a one year lay up




Ambient Temperature 11.5 c
'So what would happen when I Turned the Key?'

If any proof were needed here is the uncut Video to Show exactly happened (where any Camera Shake is down to me!)

Having Turned the Ignition on, it took about 40 Seconds for the Brake Warning Light and ABS Lights to go out, although I left it a lot longer to make 'Belt and Braces Sure' that the Brake Pump had finally stopped running

And then (Drum Roll) I turned the Key to see if She would Start, as there were only Two ways this could go! or maybe Three if the Revs got so High, I would have to turn her off PDQ to prevent the Engine Blowing up!

Though as you will see, Thankfully that didn't happen!

So get the 'Pop Corn' ready, as here's the Video!



Even if I say it myself those results exceeded all my expectations, as even with a 'Stone Cold Start' after Standing a Year, She Started on the Button with 'Light Switch Ignition' at 750 RPM and stayed at 750 RPM all of the way through, until of course I revved her on the Pedal

Although of course there was still work to do, namely get the Soft Top to Lower back down and then try and fix the Exhaust

But having put the Soft Top problem right at the Top of the List, seeing as the 'Jaguar Gods' appeared to be Smiling on me, it was then I decided to push my luck, 'Just a little bit further!'

 

Great stuff OB. Love the dash illumination too!

 

Hi Greg

Cheers! and thanks for reminding me about your 'Hack' of using those much Brighter 5 Watt Bulbs, as that has really made a massive difference!

Ironically fitting 5 Watt Bulbs instead of those 'Dim' OEM ones, was literally the difference between 'Night and Day'

And wasn't half as Scary to do as I was thinking it might be, although I stopped short of going as far as you did on your own Car, by also removing those 'Green Filters' at which point I'll admit I lost my nerve, in case it all went wrong

But even on their own those 5 Watt Bulbs made such a big difference, that I am really kicking myself for not doing it sooner than I did

Anyone wanting to try 'Greg's Hack' you can have a look at how I did it, with a 'Shedload of Photos' that you can use as a 'Step by Step Guide'

I really can't Thank 'Greg enough' as in my View it's one of his best 'Hacks' that makes such a difference to Night Driving!

'Gregs' Brighter Binnacle Lights Conversion Hack with my Step by Step Guide
Its right down near the bottom of page: 135 of my 'Cherry Blossom' Restoration Thread

 

^^^^
>WHEW!<
I finally found it!
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...5/#post2540627

 

With the benefit of hindsight, I should have seen this coming from a mile away as my local Hydraulic Shop was Closed for Celebrations and the only thing I need right now is 'A Pint of the Hood Stuff ' Royco 756 Hydraulic Oil' (For The Soft Top Pump)

So how did this disaster come about? 'How long have you got?'

OK I'll save my time and yours and give you the Shortened Version

Basically things were going so well that I started riding my Luck, as with only Two Jobs left to do I thought I would try and fix the Soft Top that for some strange reason decided not to go down

The reason being it looked like the Soft Top Pump was right out of Oil, where ironically that made Two of us! as I had also run right out of Royco 756 Which is the Hydraulic Oil that I use for The Soft Top Pump

Then to make matters worse if they could get worse, I thought I'd try the Soft Top just to see if it would go down and things were looking really good up until it was half way down or should that be half way up?

At which point the Soft Top was stuck up in the Air and wouldn't move!

Then if that wasn't bad enough, I made an even bigger mistake by saying to the GF

'The next time I do this job I'll make sure I've got Hydraulic Oil before I start it'

Where She then 'Crushed me with Six little Words' 'I could have told you that!' except of course She didn't until it was too late!

 

Ye Ha! (have I Spelt that right?)

After Yesterdays debacle, '50 Shades' My Grey XJS is finally back on Track with just those very wobbly rear Exhaust Pipes left to do, which should be Fun as once again, it's Chucking it down with Rain in the UK

So in some ways I'm thankful that I haven't Taxed her for the Road just yet, as lining up those Exhaust Pipes can be a Thankless Job, that can seem like the equivalent of trying to Climb Mount Everest in a pair of Carpet Slippers (I kid you not!)

OK so back to the Soft Top, what went wrong and how did I fix it?

During the Summer such as it seems to be in the UK, I always leave the Soft Top down and just drive her into the Garage like that after we've been out 'Tripping' as if it looks like Rain we take her Mazda or my Merc

So maybe it should be expected that after 34 years the Soft Top Pump might leak a little bit of Hydraulic Oil from time to time

Not any old Hydraulic Oil but Royco 756 or you could refer to whatever your Handbook advises

As for the Hydraulic Pump that operated the Soft Top, that is inside the Rear Cubby Box on an XJS V12 and also on the Drivers Side on a UK Car, hidden beneath a piece of Trim that makes it a bit of a PIA to get to

Although in the interests of Research, you might find it easier with the Soft Top down, or accidentally Half Way Down like mine was, where all you need to refill it up to the Mark that's marked on the Side of the Pump, is an Allen Key




The Hydraulic Soft Top Pump is a little bit 'Awks' to get to, as you may be able to see



To Fill the Pump you need to remove the Filler Plug with an Allen Key



Using a Food Syringe to Squirt the Oil in, makes Filling the Soft Top Pump a 'Walk in the Park' (ish!)



At last the Soft Top is back down and the Hydraulic Motor that Powers it, is working like it should

Next Job and maybe the last Job on the Car this Year is Fix the Exhaust (which should be fun!) though maybe not until it has stopped Raining!

 

You do have a lot of "Fun" with your fleet, don't you, Alex.
(';')

 

Hi Lnr

I'd rather have a High Maintenance Car, than a High Maintenance Girl Friend!

Oh! Hang on a Minute, I think that I've already got myself one of those and Trust me when I tell you that the Car is much cheaper to run

 

OB,

Well done for getting it fixed! Remember you could just turn the valve to Manual mode and manually lower or raise the hood.

Cheers

Paul

 

Hi Paul (ptjs)

That Certainly crossed my mind to do just that but the only thing that stopped me was seeing one or two Air Bubbles in the Fluid Lines, so I decided not to go there just in case I made things worse

Though if I get caught in a Rain Storm and the Soft Top won't go up, then it will have to be the Manual Option

 

I'm gonna show this to husband so he'll know just how, um, Inexpensive I am to keep.
Although I never claimed to be a cheap date.

 

This is a very sad day for me, as I have reluctantly decided to Sell my 1995 XJS 4.0L Celebration Convertible Finished In Morocco Red with Full Cream Hide Interior that I purchased in 1998 25 Years ago and has been in my Garage ever since

On the day I purchased her from the Only Previous Owner who bought her New from The Hadley Green Jaguar Dealership, She was showing 40,000 Miles on the Clock and I have to admit I was really beyond excited, as I always wanted 'The Celebration Convertible'

The Last of the Line, the 'Run Out Model' with all 'The Bells And Whistles' and I will never forget the day I first cast eyes on her

A Stunning Drop Dead Gorgeous Car!

With the all important 'Gold Badge' on The Bonnet/Hood

Twinkling in the Sunshine it was, Soft Top Down that somehow seemed to say 'You Only Live Once' don't Walk away just Buy Me, So I did!

For someone like me with no qualifications, I somehow managed to Blag myself the most amazing job, that I would have done for nothing, except they sort of insisted in throwing money at me, which left me with no option but to Spend it on sensible stuff like this awesomely wonderful Car

Where to make matters worse if they could get worse, I was going out with this Swedish Bird called Ilka who was working as an Au Pair Girl in Finchley who came straight out of 'Au Pair Girl Central Casting'

Ice Blue Eyes with Long Blonde Hair and Legs that went on Forever, which sort of had me wondering 'Where did it all go wrong for me'

And now that I had the Car as well, trust me when I tell you that it doesn't get better than this as now with the Harman Kardon Speakers playing 'Promises Promises' (Dionne Warwick) and Ilka by my side, I felt like I had died and gone to Heaven

Nothing lasts for ever and so eventually she went back to the Land of the Midnight Sun, although whenever I hear that Track I can't hold back the tears

But hey! I still had the Car, which I foolishly decided was much too nice to use and so I locked her away in the Garage where She still sits today, although I have always Started her up, every couple of months to keep her fresh

And though the Celebration Model is some say the only Car to buy, that has a somewhat Frugal Fuel Consumption of around 30 MPG I also had a V12 that seems to drink Petrol like its going out of style, as a Tankful of Synergy Ethanol Free doesn't seem to last long when you are doing only 17.5 MPG

Though She not only drinks like a fish but flies like a Missile, so I won't paint myself as a Martyr as that is the Car I prefer

Meanwhile Back at 'Orange Blossom Towers' I took the Merc out Shopping an Spent £150 quid on the my Celebration XJS that has been so lightly used that She has never had a MOT Test which in the UK every Car has to have after 3 Years

Eye Wateringly Expensive Exide Premium Battery 20 Litres of 10/40 Semi Synthetic Oil 5Litres of Dot 4 Brake Fluid to hopefully give the New Owner Miles of Trouble Free Enjoyment

With a Big Shout Out to Paul (ptjs) for all of his suggestions and hopefully ongoing help but with 10 days of Bad Weather Forecast, I will have to take my time as and when Weather permits



'Because She's Worth it!