So my '89 kitty HATES getting up in the morning. Noon, afternoon, night, those are no problem, it'll get up and go. As I am new to this, though, maybe I'm not used to my new cat's behavior.

I let my kitty idle warm up for ten minutes or so in the morning before I go. It's always a good idea here in Colorado, especially when it's cold out in the mornings. After about ten minutes, I shift into drive, and off I go!

Except kitty doesn't really want to go, at least not like any other time during the day. I give it food (gas), and the motor seems sluggish. The transmission, while it will shift, will only do so reluctantly. After about ten minutes of driving, kitty finally seems to wake up and will chase after anything at any speed if I ask it to (and probably catch it).

I let it warm up for about thirty minutes one time, on a milder winter morning, and it still did the same thing (sluggish motor, transmission shifting reluctantly), so I don't think it's a "let it warm" thing.

Any ideas? Am I just not used to the way these breeds behave in the morning? As I said, any other time of the day other than mornings, or after ten minutes or so of running, and kitty's awake and ready to go. Maybe I'm giving it the wrong food at night?

Eskr

 

I've always lived in florida so warming up cars has never been much of a thing to me. Thats being said letting it idle for 30 minutes doesn't warm up the tranny, driving warms up the tranny. So my guess is look for clues there.

 

I don't know the XJS at all, but I will throw my two cents in.
Maybe before you bought the car, the seller topped up the transmission fluid, but put in the wrong type. The residual fluid and the new fluid mixed into a concoction that isn't the best. Or maybe the tranny needs fluid?

 

I went thoroughly through the car. The trans fluid level checks out well. It's also a nice bright red, so it looks good. However, color isn't always a good indicator of needing replacement, so I'm hopefully going to have it professionally flushed this week or next.

Perhaps I'm dealing with two different issues. I'm scratching my head over the engine lacking that "oomph" when starting in the morning, warm or otherwise. When revved on idle (in the morning), it seems sluggish at increasing RPMs. Nothing is leaking, all hoses are in good working order. I used to have a misfire when I got it, but replacing the spark plugs, dist cap, rotor, and wires fixed that right up. It almost feels like the fuel-air mixture is not there. I'm going to check/change the fuel filter and sump pump net thing next.

If anything, this car will keep me plenty entertained in the "it needs this" side for a while.

Eskr

 

Thanks Heima for the "It's a Jag" link

 

Yeah, I'm sharing that one!

 

It might be only a transmission problem.

1. Will it rev freely in neutral during the period that the car remains sluggish?
2. If not, thne an engine problem,most likely
3. If it will, transmission

Let us know what happens after the tranny service, new fluid, new filter etc.


Greg

 

Try replacing modulator valve before flushing, worked for me .1990 GMC 400 trans Modulator valve, 10 minute job.

 

So the 89 has the TH400 tranny, and not the 4HP22?
Once again, Wikipedia has it wrong.

 

I think I found the problem yesterday, and you guys are going to groan when I say this.

So I've had this kitty for two weeks. First week I put a Fuel Injector cleaner in with the Premium Shell gas tank. kitty didn't like vitamins in it's food, it coughed and hacked for a bit. Went away when I gave it another feeding of Premium Shell. Well, I forgot that last week I gave it El-Cheapo regular gas, as I was outside the city and I had planned to fill it up when I got back to Denver. Except instead of only getting a few gallons, I forgot where I was and it got filled with El-Cheapo regular gas. Yesterday I gave it Premium again, and...well, guess what? The sluggishness wasn't there this morning. Yeah...kitties are finicky, aren't they? I feel dumb for having forgotten about this until yesterday when I went to get gas and realized what I had done last week. Proper nutrition seems to be important!

As for the transmission not shifting correctly, I do believe that this had to do more with it not getting the proper torque from the engine as it ate the El-Cheapo gas in the morning. The transmission shifts beautifully otherwise. I still plan to flush it and what not, just as part of regular maintenance.

Promise, I'll feed it right and give it regular check-up from now on!

Eskr

 

I think your Jaaag's name is "Morris".