Almost forgot I would pull the radiator and have it professionally rod cleaned or re-cored. Check the mechanical radiator fan - when the car is hot turn it off and the fan should only turn a couple of times before it stops if it turns more than 2-3 times replace the viscous clutch, or install electric fans.

 

Oh so what you are actually doing is not comparing different cars and how they tend to go wrong if cared for, what you are doing is saying if a car is better at being abused or neglected, it must be a better car and it is more reliable.
Either way, I don't believe 90% of XJSs had the coolant changed every 30k, or the points greased every 15k or the thermostats changed every 3 years.

Since you keep bringing up the fire issue lets look at this.
If you have a 25 year old honda that has a fuel injected 4 cylinder and a 25 year old XJS..which is more likely to have a fuel leak? The car with 4 injector hoses or the one with 12?
I'm just saying the things you are criticizing the car for aren't all the cars fault, no car should have 25 year old hoses on it in ANY place. Just because you have seen cars that managed to survive doesn't make them better or one that survived less worse.
If you replace the hoses with new EFI hoses you don't need to replace them every 5 years, inspect them once a year and replace them as necessary, probably close to every 100k.
My 88 has the original hoses and it is currently fine, although I would like to replace the hoses on it since they are so old. If I drove a 88 corvette I wouldnt keep my old dried out hoses just because they are american and somehow impervious to breakage by your standards.

You are right the owners manual doesn't necessarily say everything that needs to be replaced, BUT if you took your car in for scheduled maintenance any issues would be found on inspection and fixed before they went wrong.
Bottom line is the XJS has all the issues a 25 year old car has,rotting hoses and lines, a totally neglected fuel system, a dirty tank, tired bushings, old rotors, old belts, dark brown brake fluid,etc. Fix them and you won't have any problems with it. Just because you can neglect another 25 year old car and not have as many problems doesn't make it a better car.

Thats like saying burger king is better than mcdonalds, because when you let them both mold, burger king tastes better. Ignoring the fact Mcdonalds tastes 100x better when its prepared the way it should be.

Note: I don't care about either of those places much, its just an example.

 

Dick, if you haven't already come across it, do a google search for Kirby Palm's Jaguar XJS experience in a book. Tons of information on the XJS including details on the Marelli ignition system.

Congrats on the XJS and good luck.

 

Also the thermostats..just replace them. EBC3576
Buy both and buy that part number, its not worth bothering with off-brand ones that MAY fit. the XJS has a weird cooling system, just do what it asks lol.

 

I have nothing of any real value to contribute to this conversation BUT I will share what I heard when I was looking at buying my 1990 XJS convertible. We called the mechanic the previous owner used, and one of the issues we brought up was the "it can burn to the ground" one that we'd heard about. Here's what he said: "well, yeah, they can catch on fire. But it's not random."

What he meant - I choose to believe - was that if you maintain the car, keep on eye on the temp and check fluids every now and again, the "bursting into flames" issue can e minimized. But then, isn't that the way with anything in these cars?

I've noticed in my brief (since Spring) period of having a Jag that there are no "Jaguar drivers" forums. There are "enthusiast" and "owners" forums, but none that focus on the driving. I've come to believe that's because we don't spend nearly as much time driving them as we do pampering or worrying about them. These cars simply don't suit everyone, much like the off the track Thoroughbreds I used to ride. And, like the OTTBs, it's not about skill as much as it is your ability to deal with the quirks. If you can, you can have an amazing relationship that no other beast can match. If you can't, you can get hurt. Know your own tolerance and I think - or hope - these cars can be amazing partners. At least that's my story until the next time I have to call for a flatbed...

 

just saying, burger king is way better

 

just saying, burger king is way better

 

I agree with Sidescrollin and adding to Gina's equine analogy, in my view it's 'horses for courses'

To it's very great credit, many people use and compare their XJS to other daily drivers. One easily forgets that the car was designed as a supercar able to run effortlessly all day long at 100-140+ mph.

I was at Earl's Court in 1975 when the car was introduced and at that time everyone was comparing it to the Ferrari 365 GT4, Lamborghini Espada or Aston Martin V8, which it could most certainly hold it's own with. They were not comparing it to the Ford Cortina!!

With those other supercars, you would be lucky to go a month or two without some major problem and constant adjusting but that was just accepted (and still is). All of which makes the XJS even more remarkable IMO and a contributing factor to it being produced for 21 years with relatively modest revisions. The fact that it can run all day at high speed or happily make short (slow) trips to the supermarket each day is a testament to it's flexibility.

Cheers,

Allan

 

Thanks to all of you who have replied to my post, I have documented all of this info and am reading it over and heeding to all of it! I will learn Jags soon as my interest is very deep, although 74 years old my mind is still sharp along with my reflexes, so my quest for learning is also very deep, I will absorb every bit of info you kind folks send me. As soon as I figure out how to post photos I will send photos of this nice car. For anyone wanted to talk with me personally here is my email: dicksknives@aol.com

Thanx again,
Dick C.
Colville Washington state

 

I don't think I intended to argue on behalf of the "abusability" of a car, but yes, I was arguing for the amount of neglect a car can withstand. I do correlate the amount of neglect a car can withstand with being more reliable.


I agree. Had you originally stated "Take car of it like you should ANY 12 cylinder car and you will only have the issues associated with ANY 12 cylinder car." I would have whole heartedly agreed with you. Well, maybe I wouldn't have wholeheartedly disagreed with you.


Not better, nor worse, just more reliable. To me, reliability has to include a fair amount of neglect. Most people do not follow maintenance schedules. Most manufacturers probably over-specify the amount of parts to be replaced/serviced/etc for obvious reasons. I believe reliable cars can last longer with less service/attention required.


I never said that an American hose is any better than a Japanese or British hose.


That's a big leap of faith on the mechanic. Some look around, others just focus in on the task at hand. I recall getting an oil change and having the tires rotated, then about 1,500 miles later, I needed new rotors because the brake pads needed changing. You would have thought someone would have looked at that when the tires were off!


Just more reliable. How would you classify one car that required less visits to the garage, versus another. How about one car that had consistently less items to service/replace/maintain versus the another? More Reliable?


But if I had to choose one that couldn't be eaten for a year, I would then buy Burger King. Every car should be equally 100% reliable when you drive it off the lot new. This whole conversation revolves around how reliable it is 25 year later. The fact that McDonald's tastes better fresh is irrelevent to the conversation. Perhaps this conversation changes to a discussion about which cars were better designed to last 25 years, since your analogy points to the fact that BK beats McD when left to age.

 

Just my slant on things related to this thread, I bought my '89 XJS convertible in April 2012, was working decent then, but thanks to all the good info and advice on this forum, I was pro-active and did (and had done), a full tune-up, transmission mount, rear springs, all shocks, al coolant hoses, all brakes, and a few other minor non-mechanical items. I am very aware of the potential fuel line issue, but since there are no cracks or any hint of age in the fuel lines, have not done this yet, but it will come.
-I bought the car with 72,200kms on it, and now has 94,800kms showing. I definitely enjoy driving it, and my wife an I choose the XJS for many of our short and extended trips over my Harley and our Freestar van.
I do enter it in Show& Shine events, but I didn't buy it to look pretty in my garage, it is a great thrill to drive, and would be even more thrilling if my "Speed Limiter" didn't poke me in the ribs when I get too giddy.

 

I just looked at my fuel hoses, at least the ones on the fuel rail....they look brand new with crimped hose clamps, not screw downs, so maybe previous owner had them replaced. There's no air compressor on the engine, I have it for a core when I can afford a new one so will pull a few of the plugs to see how they look. I looked at the distributor but don't see a brand name, so how can I tell if its Morelli or Lucas?? I have a water leak which I'm addressing today after installing the ignition switch....hard on an old man with artificial leg and half carbon fiber pelvis to get down there and change it but it must be done, want to drive it around the county a bit.
Thanks so much to all you guys for your help, wish some of you were here to lead me by the hand on some of this!

Dick C.

 

The later 6.0L used a Ford AC Compressor ans a different mount. If you could find one of these from a wrecker, otherwise the old compressor is a GM A6 compressor.

If you look at my last post on page 1 it shows the ignition modules on the radiator support. The Marelli cap has 2 HT inputs on the top and is smaller in diameter than the Lucas cap.

 

I filled it up with water and ran it for a few minutes, water starts coming out in the center of the front under the center pulley, right above the stabilizer bar. There's a small metal plate with an electric wire coming out of it, that's where it's pouring out of.
I'm going to put it up on my floor jack tomorrow and try to see where it's coming from.
Any tips or suggestions appreciated.

Dick C.

 

That's the water pump, Ok time to bite the bullet and pull the radiator out makes it much easier to get at the pump. If you do this properly the car will never overheat.

Have the radiator professionally cleaned and/or re-cored. Replace the thermostats and all hoses. Check the viscous fan is working correctly, and replace it if not, otherwise the car will overheat in traffic.

While the radiator is out I would also do the front crank seal it's a bugger of a job with everything in the way. really easy with the radiator out.

 

I have a 1990 and an 1989. You got a good price on yours. I paid $2000 for the 90 and $1400 for the 89. The 89 engine was dismantled by the previous owner. I am not going to try to put it back together. The 89 will get an LT1 from an Impala SS.

You have to do the maintenance. On the 90, I had to fix broken wires, switches and replace vacuum hoses. The previous owner neglected the car. I am also taking the opportunity to do the injector hoses and clean the fuel tank. She won't run because the Cats are cooked. I plan to dump them for aftermarkets and some open mufflers.

If you want to own cars like these, you have to dig in and work. Don't expect a whole lot out of money back either.

I have been working on mine since early summer and it is painful but I had the BMW's and other American classics. It takes special care to own a classic car, especially a British one!

 

clean it off and do a thorough check as to not give yourself to much work.

The water pump has an outlet that has the thermostatic switch to control the electric fan that is a seperate piece from the water pump. Verify whether this gasket needs replacing or if the pump is leaking from the weep hole or its own gasket.
The lower radiator hose and short bypass hose are also prone to leakage.

 

Vee, you are overcomplicating things. While its an obvious statement to say the XJS has the same problems any 12 cylinder would have it is still true that it shares 90% of its problems with any car.

The only thing specific about the 12 cylinder is it has more hoses to replace, more seals and gaskets, more spark plugs, etc. So there are a few things that are more likely to go wrong just because you have more of them.

If you think manufacturers tell people to replace things unnecessarily, its just starting to sound cynical. There is a lot of research done to determine maintenance intervals, belts need replacing every 50k or so depending if its centerline cord or high cord. Even if the belt looks find it should be replaced.
Can you wait til 100k and change the rotting belt out? Yes. But it could have broken at any second.
Maybe its worth it to you to save a few dollars and stick it to the engineers or whatever it is you think you accomplish, but a group of very well educated engineers determined these values.

Not all mechanics inspect ever part of the car everytime you bring it in, it depends on where you go. If there is no inspection sheet with the repair order, don't criticize the shop for not doing an inspection you didn't request.

Maybe you choose the less moldy burger after a year. I choose to pay 2 dollars and get the fresh one.

 

Thanks for the great info, guess I'll bite the bullet and start doing these things, will start with the radiator/water pump and front seal as it does leak a little oil too.
Thanks again,
Dick C.

 

I'm done. Now you have yourself talking in circles and I want to get off.

It's clear to me that you believe that this car has no more serious design flaws in it than a Ford Taurus or a Honda Accord. I disagree. According to the numerous posts on these forums, there are design flaws that need to be addressed or kept under a watchful eye and ear. There are too many posts reminding V12 owners to keep a fire extinguisher in their cars.

Most cars these days seem to be engineered with the negligent carefree owner in mind. If you want a V12, it comes with the responsibility of being a more educated owner than simply following the service manual. I believe that unlike most cars, if you make the mistake of igoring some warning signs, even for a few miles, you will end up with a 5,000 pound heap of scrap metal and possibly a couple of useful parts. I just don't know of too many other commonly driven cars out there that carry that kind of need.

It has been a fun conversation, and I hope you haven't been offended by anything I've said. I respect your knowledge on the XJS and automobiles in general. I'm sure you have had more experience maintaining vehicles than I have. I had zero intention of being mean spirited in any way, I just have to come to the conclusion that we will agree to disagree.