After spending hours perched on top of the engine trying to sort this Duckbill issue I'm admitting defeat. I've made all the tools on the forum pages and tried with a camera to see the damn thing but to no avail so I've decided to have a go at doing it properly. I contacted a local Jaguar Independant who has done the job before but can't get the car in before we go for a 2 week tour of the Lake District in August and my wife is tired of getting her feet wet.
So has anyone out there removed the dash to do this job and how much of a job is it? Is it within the scope of a reasonably competent DIYer and how much of the dash needs to come out, I'm hoping its just centre console and HVAC, how long did it take?
Many Thanks
Ian

 

I replaced dash myself (but did not think about duckbill). Fairly easy (there is a great manual on a forum). Just be careful not to damage any parts (I did some scratches on door panels - they were to be replaced, but still...).

All in all - having dashboard and seats out - couple of hours for DYI-person (like 2-4h). Putting it back together, also doable (probably even faster).

The most tricky part is a passenger airbag in my opinion. And dozens of tiny screws...

Good luck!

 

Is there enough room if you pull the throttle body off? I had mine off fixing a vacuum leak but I never thought of the duckbill until I had everything back together. Allot easier than a dash if there is room. My next step if it ever leaks again as I sliced it once and it resealed, drilled it last time but it stole my bit. Bit still in duckbill (long story) but no longer leaks.

 

Hi and thanks for your replies. As mine is the regular XK (non Supercharged) there is room once the engine cover is off, but my stubby banana shaped fingers can't quite reach into the hole and I've made every tool I can think of to eviscerate the thing but no joy, don't know how you got a drill in there, but if it works!
Hopefully I'll be keeping the car a good few years so don't mind going to the trouble of stripping the dash out and doing it properly. Just need a few pointers.
Cheers Ian

 

Its more then the dash guys , all the intrusion / reinforcements that are located behind the dash will need to be removed .

Easiest option is from underneath however you'll need to get it on a lift to drop the gearbox many inches

 

Don't you have a wife, daughter, son or friend with skinny hands?
I asked my daughter cause I couldn't reach it either!

 

Sadly my 3 boys are all robust units so also would struggle to get their hands in. My wife on the other hand could probably reach it but there's no way she would clamber up on the engine...sigh.
I'm weighing up whether it would be better to have the gearbox out and sorting it out then where access would be easy and doing a full gearbox service at the same time.
All this for a poxy bit of rubber pipe. aghhh

 

Has anyone ever tried taping a razor to the end of a boroscope/endoscope and cutting it that way??

 

They tend to be too flexible, don’t think you could get the leverage needed to cut/saw through it. Maybe if you had a surgical one, that could deploy a cutting loop, like what a proctologist would use?

 

Hi, Well decision has been made and the gearbox is coming off on Monday. My local garage have offered to drop the box for £300 which seems very reasonable looking at the work required to get it off, though they will try lowering it on the mountings first to improve access. Hopefully this is a better option than taking the dash out and running the risk of damaging some of the trim.
I'll try and post some pictures of the job being done next week.

 

Down pipe will need to come off , also dropping the subframe a few cm's , theyll either brace engine from top and lower or use transmission Jack on subframe to support weight and lower.depends .

A bit of work but nothing compared to going through dash / intrusion bar route

 

As a matter of fact this indeed has been done and successfully. There’s several threads on this topic to be found using the search.

 

Hmm ... I've only seen the one where someone taped a razor to their finger.

 

Where's this guy when you need him

 

I pull the transmissions out and gain access that way. It’s also a great time to replace the rear main and cap seal that’s just above it. In the above photo(not Edward scissor hands), if the intake manifold was removed, maybe there’s more room for a shoulder to get further down and hence reach in there further? 🤷🏼
I have pulled 2 evaporator cases out of X150’s. I did one earlier this week and another several years ago. In my opinion, it’s an excessive amount of work to pull the dash out vs R&R the transmission.

 

Totally agree however I'm gathering we're both mechanics so that helps

 

Hi All, not sure how to add RESOLVED to the title but the car is fixed HURRAH ! no more wet feet and rotten carpets. Garage eased the gearbox down on the mountings and then there is acres of room to get to the Duckbill. Much easier than getting the dash out and they only charged £80. Spent all afternoon whizzing round in the car with the aircon on (it's over 30 degrees Celsius here in the uk at the moment...Phew) and not a drop on the carpet. Absolutely delighted.

 

So far, I've been doing the "close the vents " and turn the AC fan on high to pressurize the system and force the Duck open, process. Do t on a regular basis.

 

I've done it for you. Congratulations on resolving the problem.