Need help!
Veteran Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 12,704
Likes: 1,236
From: Brittany France
Hi Thuff and Tackle, as far as I can see, you both have full forum access. So no excuses, let's be having some pics of your recommissioning.
You can even arrange it so that one of you holds the camera, whilst the other one gets all oily and crudy. Up to you to sort that one out, but for what it's worth, age has its perks
Nice XJS sidescrollin
You can even arrange it so that one of you holds the camera, whilst the other one gets all oily and crudy. Up to you to sort that one out, but for what it's worth, age has its perks
Nice XJS sidescrollin
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 198
From: Napa Ca, United States
Awesome car and I love the euro style headlamps sidescrollin! I've got about 10 gallons of varnish still sitting in my garage from a previous jag project. Like a lot of people have been saying it WILL kill your fuel system if you don't do something about it. Also, even after I drained it, remnants of debris and i don't exactly know what else would get in the fuel filter and starve the engine thus stranding me at random points, stop lights, freeway entrances, yeah fun.. (I don't have that car any more.. I sold it when the transmission went south. It was a pretty trashed car when I got it and the guy I sold it to was going to restore it) Now that I have a cooling system bug fixed my new '87 it is a wonderful daily driver.
Veteran Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,459
Likes: 695
From: Key West, FL
do you have the owners manual?
It may be helpful with basic maintence stuff like oil and everything. I can post pics of mine or my service manual if its useful.
just so you know it took a good half hour to get it idling well, so if it doesn't run properly right away don't give up unless it seems like something is definitely wrong because the fuel system has to get all the gunk out. the ethanol in gas solidifies pretty fast and its pretty bad. I had to give it about half throttle for it to stay on and eventually i could drop the rpms lower and lower, like a cold bike with the choke out lol.
idk if you don't know already but these cars don't use regular brake fluid, so don't put it in, and your car may have ABS which i don't think you can use silicone in, so you'll have to use castrol stuff
anyways only 2 more posts and you you can post all the pics you want, look forward to it!!
btw thanks for the compliment translator & ecbjag!
It may be helpful with basic maintence stuff like oil and everything. I can post pics of mine or my service manual if its useful.
just so you know it took a good half hour to get it idling well, so if it doesn't run properly right away don't give up unless it seems like something is definitely wrong because the fuel system has to get all the gunk out. the ethanol in gas solidifies pretty fast and its pretty bad. I had to give it about half throttle for it to stay on and eventually i could drop the rpms lower and lower, like a cold bike with the choke out lol.
idk if you don't know already but these cars don't use regular brake fluid, so don't put it in, and your car may have ABS which i don't think you can use silicone in, so you'll have to use castrol stuff
anyways only 2 more posts and you you can post all the pics you want, look forward to it!!
btw thanks for the compliment translator & ecbjag!
Last edited by sidescrollin; May 24, 2011 at 08:27 PM. Reason: spelling lol
Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
we should be getting the owner's manual real soon, and then we'll be set, This is John the son btw, we're gonna share an account so that we can get the pictures sooner and get the answers together.
Anyway got it hooked up to jumper cables, and we test started it. It idled the first 2 times, but you know what they say, the third times the charm. She purred like an angel. She was loud, I was stoked, but when we left her running, we had two lights that wouldn't cut off, and we didnt' know how to make them cut off. the first was a red light in the door, and the second was a white in the inside, both were on the passenger side, does anyone know what that could be?
We'll post more when we know it, what we know, you guys will, thanks for sticking with us,
I appreciate it,
John
Anyway got it hooked up to jumper cables, and we test started it. It idled the first 2 times, but you know what they say, the third times the charm. She purred like an angel. She was loud, I was stoked, but when we left her running, we had two lights that wouldn't cut off, and we didnt' know how to make them cut off. the first was a red light in the door, and the second was a white in the inside, both were on the passenger side, does anyone know what that could be?
We'll post more when we know it, what we know, you guys will, thanks for sticking with us,
I appreciate it,
John
Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Well,
Young John and I had a very wonderful evening.
John had been airing the car out and doing general cleaning waiting for me to get home from the job. Young John started asking questions about fuel lines, and draining. Changing oil, etc. So with out having much time I decided to hook up the jumper cables and charge the battery for awhile while we muled over the various things we really needed the manuals for. After about an hour Young John started turning switchs checking lights, etc.
Then the great moment,
I said John
"Give that key a turn and lets see what she does?"
She truned over slowly at first, and we waited a little longer. Well you know how anticipation is. 10 more minutes was it.
Youg John cranked it again and we were in Heaven, the cat started right up.
We let her run for about 4 or 5 mins wonderful no surprises. There was some smoke coming from under the car, but nothing from under the cowl or front the tail pipes.
Fingers still crossed.
We still will drain the fuel flush the tnk and lines, same for oil, and all other liquids.
Great Great evening.
"Onward Ho"
Peace
Young John and I had a very wonderful evening.
John had been airing the car out and doing general cleaning waiting for me to get home from the job. Young John started asking questions about fuel lines, and draining. Changing oil, etc. So with out having much time I decided to hook up the jumper cables and charge the battery for awhile while we muled over the various things we really needed the manuals for. After about an hour Young John started turning switchs checking lights, etc.
Then the great moment,
I said John
"Give that key a turn and lets see what she does?"
She truned over slowly at first, and we waited a little longer. Well you know how anticipation is. 10 more minutes was it.
Youg John cranked it again and we were in Heaven, the cat started right up.
We let her run for about 4 or 5 mins wonderful no surprises. There was some smoke coming from under the car, but nothing from under the cowl or front the tail pipes.
Fingers still crossed.
We still will drain the fuel flush the tnk and lines, same for oil, and all other liquids.
Great Great evening.
"Onward Ho"
Peace
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 290
Likes: 31
From: Madison, MS
How much fuel was left in it? Mine had less than a 1/4 tank after sitting for 4 years, I added 5 gallons of Premium and some HEET (gets rid of water in the fuel) to it and drove it to E, then filled it with Premium again with some SeaFoam. Runs great now.
Veteran Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,459
Likes: 695
From: Key West, FL
thats great that she ran.So did you see what the smoke was from? maybe just some leftover oil on the pipes when it got changed?
also....it was loud?? Maybe you are just talking about the engine bay but if you mean the exhaust i envy you... I've been wanting to do something with the exhaust on my car for a while now. Stock the exhaust is DEAD quiet.
Put your hand over the exhaust tips when its on to see if they are running the same. I remember a XJS i looked at the right bank was barely putting out anything, it ran like crap.
PICTURES!!!!!!!!
btw i REALLY recomend changing the festoon bulbs inside to LEDs when you get the chance, mine look great and the heat that comes off the regular incandescent is incredible.
also....it was loud?? Maybe you are just talking about the engine bay but if you mean the exhaust i envy you... I've been wanting to do something with the exhaust on my car for a while now. Stock the exhaust is DEAD quiet.
Put your hand over the exhaust tips when its on to see if they are running the same. I remember a XJS i looked at the right bank was barely putting out anything, it ran like crap.
PICTURES!!!!!!!!
btw i REALLY recomend changing the festoon bulbs inside to LEDs when you get the chance, mine look great and the heat that comes off the regular incandescent is incredible.
