I am finding that in my pursuit of getting a 1994 XJS on the road, the greatest problem is the handy work of the previous owner.

Bought the car for $3500 from a guy who did not want to spend the money to repair the teves III abs system. Pump was missing as was the gas bulb. PO had striped the interior "to clean". So I had to put all that back into the car. Car had 92000 original miles.

PO stated he kept the battery disconnected because of a parasitic drain. I found the parasitic drain was the relay for the fuel pump which he had popped the cover on and attached a harbor freight plastic clip. ( now I can understand being broke but I think I would spend the $10 bucks for a relay instead of having to disconnect the battery all the time).

replaced the relay and proceeded to fix the abs. Put in used pump and gas ball and pump would not work. Found that PO had the wrong relay for the pump. Looked Behind the passengers kick panel and no yellow relay. Put the yellow one in and now have brakes.

1st drive i fill the car up and im getting high from gas fumes. Fuel gauge was not reading correctly and i decide to replace the sending unit and discover the PO evidently had a problem with the tank making pounding noises because of a failed Rochester valve at the charcoal canister and he decided to pull the neck overfill hose off the top of the tank. Again ( I've been broke but I think I would replace the Rochester valve or at least pull the hose at the charcoal cannister instead of filling the boot up with fresh gas fumes where the battery and brake lights live)

learning my problem with a jaguar is not with it being a jaguar. My problem is the cheap guy who owned it before me.

 

"My problem is the cheap guy who owned it before me."

And he seems to have put an extraneous piece of metal on the bonnet at the front that you'll need to remove!

Well done on all the bodges that you've managed to resolve so far!

Keep us all informed how you're progressing.

Good luck

Paul

 

The 'gas bulb' or accumulator is still available in new OEM-ish or there is a slightly smaller mercedes version that somehow fits, and for some reason I have three of these despite never needing a new one in 190,000km. Similar scenario to you I bought my car for a song and then spent 30k doing everything but the paint - as you'll find here everyone will tell you to focus on the mechanical first not the look and if a guy named Grant comes along and says you need to start drinking then I suggest you take his advice. It sure helped me.

 

Looking at why the ac compressor is not engaging. Jack the car up and grab the ac clutch to find its fully locked up with a bad clutch bearing. Po's remedy was to loosen the belt.

 

Good luck un-effing what the PO did. Just wanted to say on the outside, from that picture you posted, it's in wonderful shape! Very jealous.

 

Was pulling the gages to look at a fuel gage with erroneous readings. Was wondering why there was black electrical tape over the last warning light on the right. Po did not want to fix the wiper fluid sensor.

 

Although the minor gauges are notorious for under-reading due to the instrument cluster and poor earth connections; that fuel gauge is far more likely to be the anti-slosh module failing, I'd suggest.

Cheers

Paul

 

DO NOT REMOVE THE LEAPER,,,,,if nothing else, it'll keep people in prkg lots from asking you what the car is AND it looks beautiful.

 

Haha, that's really not a debate that the PO will wish to open on this forum! (Unless they have no plans for anything else in their life until after Christmas!)

Paul