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Dear cat friends,
my 96 4.0L (AJ16 engine) has a return spring fitted to the end of the throttle cable, see attached photo. This spring is a bit old and I am thinking of replacing it. According to the parts catalogue it has the part number EAC8616, but I read in another forum that the spring was not always fitted.
Hence the questions: Do I need it at all or does anyone have any tips for a suitable spring? The spring doesn't necessarily have to be the original part (would be desirable, of course, but I haven't found it anywhere!), length, mounting and spring force are the decisive parameters.
Cheers from Europe
You'll probably get better results, doing the Jaguar technical bulletin mod that was recommended. That was to put an extra turn on the spring on the shaft of the throttle capstan. Easy to get to, I did it to help a slight return hesitation I had on my AJ16.
I can't remember where I first read about the extra turn of the spring. I've searched through the TSBs but can't find one that suggests that. However, I did find the TSB which explained fitting a revised return spring to cure the idle problem. When I did the extra turn, I also purchased one of the revised springs. Interestingly it's not referenced at all on the Jaguar parts website under that part number NBB3131AA but when I walked into my local dealer, they just looked it up and supplied it, about £2.
So below, I've attached the TSB for the spring replacement, and a couple of pics of mine when I did it. As you can see, I don't have the horizontal spring on my car, Also, have a look at this thread on the x300 forum and see where someone describes putting a turn on both springs, as I mentioned.
You have NO IDEA how many AJ16 wound throttle spring 'customer-complaint' service actions I performed on the XJ-S and X300 engines.
That TSB actually became a RECALL in July 2000.(amended later)
The springs were on Back Order sometimes as well as the PROMS for the ECM.
I would actually wind the old spring ONE EXTRA TURN and cut off the 'tail' so I could reassemble the retainers if the throttle was 'hanging open' and the new ones were on back order.
The AJ6 was fitted with that, not the AJ16.(I did 'retro-fit' that spring to a few cars)
Interesting thread as my 3.6, AJ6 engined, '90 manual doesn't have this spring.
I presumed the spring was missing and wondered if I should find one. However, looking at other cars some had the spring, some didn't so decided to leave alone. I seemed to see more automatics with the spring fitted than manuals. Possibly coincidence or perhaps it was fitted to automatics to bring the tick over down to ease gear engagement.
Throttle return seems ok but I'll check my idle speed when I'm next out.
Was Supplied with that Throttle Spring OEM the same as yours when She was New (see Photo)
Though in the Technical Bulletin earlier on in this thread, Jaguar came out with an Upgraded Spring to help cure the High Idle Problems, some Owners were experiencing
OEM Throttle Return Spring as fitted to my 1995 XJS with AJ16 Engine (This is the Original OEM and Not the Upgraded Version)
Throttle return spring
