Hi Daim

Thanks for the link but does the price you quoted, also include delivery?

 

Nope... But delivery of that part from SNG NL to me in DE would cost something like €3 or so... Basically nothing. If you buy from SNG UK you'd probably get it even cheaper

 

Hi Daim

Its the cost of postage that seems to be the problem, I still haven't managed to find one that wasn't around £10 inc pp.

 

First thing this Morning I got my new Aerial Gromit DAC3533 OEM for the Jaguar XJS.

It didn't look much for the nearly £12 that I paid.

Taking out the Aerial was a piece of Cake, just undo a couple of bolts and then pull it down and out of the hole from inside the Boot/Trunk.

Which after removing the 'Crumbling Gromit' left a hole for the New one to go in.

So the first thing I did was put a smear of grease around the hole, to help to ease it in and improve the seal.

I also figured inserting the new Gromit, would take about 10 minutes.

But! and you better sit down for this!

After 6 HOURS! of pushing and shoving, I still can't get it in!

I've soaked it in Hot Water and even Boiled the 'Gromit' in a saucepan of Water but it just does not give enough to squeeze the blinking thing in!

Maybe not such a problem to those who live in Warm climes but on a typical day in the UK, it doesn't want to play it wont go in!

So maybe its not so surprising, that I've never seen this Gromit on any Car before, as the rest of my XJS's have electric Aerials, that Clamp onto the back wing from both sides of the body.

Like almost every other Car on the Road.

Jaguar must have used a Special Tool for this so any ideas?

Putting in this Gromit, is harder than Changing the Spark Plugs! or even doing a Radiator swop! In fact it is the hardest job that I have ever done on any Car, including taking the Engine out of an MGB!

 

Both of my convertibles use the exact same grommet.





I just installed a new one on my '90 last month. It only took a minute to get it in the hole. I spent a lot more time removing and reinstalling the antenna.

I wish I could help but I just cant imagine why yours will not fit easily. Maybe the one you received is the wrong size?

Wish I could be more helpful.

Mark

 

Nope, it was the right size and the genuine OEM Part and even had the full number stamped into the rubber.

Which is just so solid that there is hardly any give in it at all, even after boiling it in Hot Water.

I've tried inserting it from the Top and even pushing it in from underneath but the material its made from seems as solid as a rock.

Somewhere at the back of my mind I remember seeing a Video of how they squeezed them into the hole with some sort of a Clamp.

So Tomorrow I'm planning to try a different approach, by putting a bolt through the hole in the Gromit with spacers underneath, then see if when I tighten it up it will pull into the hole.

Plan 'B' is to use a Welding Clamp to try and squeeze it in and if that doesn't work then I'll have to think of something else.

 

The grommet that I had was firm but not rock hard. I was able to squeeze it enough to get it in the hole.

Maybe yours is old stock and the rubber has become hard.

Mark

 

That has got to be right, OB. You have a duff one. Send it back and splash out for one from JCP. Strongly advise against clamps etc.: potential for bodywork/paint disasters too painful to contemplate. And, if it is that hard, it will not seal anyway.

Greg

 

Hi Mark

You could be right!

I wouldn't be at all Surprised if they only sell 'One' every couple of years! or maybe less than that.

Almost certainly an item that is very rarely called for and I'm definately not very happy about paying nearly £12 for this tiny little 'gromit' and as such I won't say where I ordered it from.

But the 'modus operandi' of some of the suppliers seems to be they either sting you on the postage or offer you cheap postage and then charge more for the item.

No doubt knowing full well, that if your 'Gromit' has broken up you simply have to replace it regardless of Cost.

 

Yes Greg

That is food for thought the only problem being, that I have no idea just how hard or just how soft this pesky Gromit is supposed to be, as I don't have anything to compare it with.

So maybe not surprising that this is the only XJS that I have come across, that has this type of Gromit on the wing.

I am going to give it one more very careful try and if that doesn't work I will send it back for a refund and fit an aftermarket electric Aerial, which clamps both sides of the wing like most of them do.

 

Okay, OB, try this (unless already done):

fit the grommit first. Smear SOAP (liquid like fairy or so) to the inside of the grommit, where the antenne is pushed through.

It should go in nicely then...

 

According to the GF.

In the right pair of Shoes a Woman could rule the World! and since She won't be reading this, She could well be right!

As while I was trying to work out, how to pull or even push, this 'Pesky little gromit into the hole, She suddenly came out with this!

'Why don't you soak it in Paraffin overnight?'

'No I don't want to do that, as it might make the rubber go Sssssssssss'

'Is Soft! the Word you're looking for?' Said She.

OMG! WTF! Where did that come from!

And so I reluctantly had to admit, that it might be worth a try.

So with the GF standing over me, watching every move, I picked it up out of the Paraffin it had been soaking in overnight and simply could not believe that it went straight into the hole.

Well almost!

As after protecting the paintwork, with some 'Gaffer Tape' with a little bit of prodding, from a small screwdriver, it went in 'easy peasy lemon squeezy!'

Then after lubricating, the inner sleeve with oil, the 'Aerial Mast' just slipped through the hole like a cork flying out of a bottle.

And 'Boom!' ten minutes later, the whole job was completed and wrapped up and now that the remnants of any Paraffin has gone away, the pesky 'Grommet' has returned to its original hard rubber state.

You don't get much for £12!



It had to be done, the Gromit had crumbled away!



Removing the Aerial





After this Pic was taken, I cleaned up the hole and then smeared it with grease.



After protecting the Paintwork, with some 'Gaffer Tape' I gently poked the skirt of it round with a Screwdriver.



'Gaffer Tape' to protect the Paint and that runny stuff is Oil.

Job Done!

Now I can get back to the job of fixing that 'Droopy' Exhaust Pipe, no doubt after I treated Her, to yet another pair of those 'Rule The World' Shoes!

 

Hi Daim

Thanks, I've fixed it now with a little help from the GF.

Maybe that idea of yours would have done the job but until the next time, We will never know.