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Hi, I am looking to buyi a 1994 XJS 6 cylinder convertible. Wanted some help diagnosing issues it has, or finding out if I should run away.
1. Check engine light on. How do you get code, and how to you determine what code means?
2. Brakes seem very soft, does not brake quickly. Is this normal? I can not imagine it is. The car has been sitting for 5 years. Any thoughts on issues? Just need to bleed? or is brakes a common issue, what could it be?
3. Convertible top and back windows will not go back up. I was told they just lowered the top, but when I got there it would not work to go up. No whining noise at all from pump. Maybe a fuse? back windows would not work either. Any thoughts on this? Where is fuse for this?
Started up fine, seemed to dtive fine other than brakes feeling off.
Are you mechanically inclined? That part isn't mentioned. How much time are you willing to invest in fixing all the nagging problems?
You buy an OBD II scan tool and plug it into the port under the dash. That will tell you what the code problem is, and let you reset the light, but not necessarily fix the problem.
The power top on my '88 H&E convertible car doesn't work, i raise it and lower it by hand just fine, it isn't worth the effort for me to fix the power part. Its good exercise anyway. The rear windows I got to work by banging the motors, probably a temporary fix, but i don't drive it in the rain.
The previous owner bollixed up the wiring badly, such that is was easier to simply run some new wiring circuits rather than track down shorts under the dash/trans tunnel. Fortunately no anti-lock brakes or airbags so i don't have to worry about that stuff.
This car could take more time to maintain that the other seven collector cars of mine combined, if i wanted it to be "as originally built". I don't care about that, its a nice looking hot rod, to me.
If that car is a US 1994 Model Year, it will have the AJ6 engine and will not have an OBDII port. You would need the appropriate Jaguar software and hardware to get the codes read. However, if it has the trip computer fitted, you should be able to see the fault code displayed that way.
The brake system is very unusual on the car, has a few known technical problems, and also requires a specific process to bleed the rear brakes. It could be something as simple as sticking pistons or pads on the brakes, but you definitely want to use the issue as a bargaining point if you buy the car. There's a way to read the fault codes of the brake system, using a bridging wire in the boot, but things such as sticking calipers, pads, air in the system, will not show up as fault codes.
The hood not raising or the windows going up, is possibly because the handbrake is not engaged. The car needs to be in Neutral or Park, and the handbrake engaged for the hood to operate. Also, the rear windows do not lift until 8 seconds after the button is pressed. It's unlikely to be just a fuse, or the relays, if both the hood and the windows are not working. Remember also that the handbrake is semi-flyoff type so the lever always sits at rest flat on the floor.
Hi Neal, I recently purchaed a 94 as well and I probably have the same issues your having. On the brakes, do you hear the pressure pump building pressue when the key is turned to the "on" position or the number2 position? If it's not running that could cause spongy brakes I would imagine. First thing I replaced was all the brake calipers, pads, cut the rotors, and soft lines. While doing that I found that I had water intrusion into the front bearings too. So replaced them too. You'll need a PDU to do diagnosis on the engine. There is one on ebay (if it's still there). My convertible top has a bad seal in the pump (available on ebay), so I replaced that as it was leaking fluid. I found the hydraulic cylinders were leaking slightly, so I replaced those too along with the lines. I have come up with a rebuild kit for the cylinders now that I had time to look closely at them and I have them on ebay. Top now works fine. Lots of things to sort through on this beast, but it is a really fun ride. Here is a shot of the PDU docking unit I made for mine.
Help diagnosis
