I have a 2008 Jaguar XK convertible. After returning from a 4,000 mile trip I noticed a strange noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The noise itself is difficult to describe, it sounds like a grinding/rattling noise. I can't even isolate it to one side or the other. It is especially noticible if I'm driving between two buildings or walls which amplifies the sound. It doesn't seem to be there below about 20 MPH and then at higher speeds > 50 MPH I don't hear it but probably because other road noise is masking it.

I took it to the Jag dealer for regular maintenance last week and asked them to check the noise problem for me giving them the best description I could. No problems were found and brakes, bearings, etc. are all within normal limits according to the service department.

I read in the archives about the parking break cable possibly causing noise like this. I've never heard a sound quite like it in any other vehicle I've had which is what's making it so hard to describe.

This is driving me nuts and I wonder if anyone else has heard this in their Jag? I'm bringing it back to the service department this coming week.

Thanks, SWT

 

I've moved your question from General Tech Help to XK/XKR forum. Members here with the same model will be able to help.

Graham

 

Here's one possibility ...........

An annoying source of rattle I had on mine was a broken rear heatshield.



Fitted to the underside of the luggage compartment floor on four studs and secured with inadequate sized washers and hexagon nuts, these can rip through at one or more of the fixings and rattle against the top of the rear exhaust box.

Graham

 

Thanks Graham. That certainly seems like it could be a cause for the noise. Would also explain why I can't isolate it to one side or the other. Additionally, the long road trip over our less than perfect interstate system could have caused this part too loosen up.

Actually, not meaning to rant about our roads, we had a great trip and the Jag performed flawlessly.

I'll bring the vehicle in this week and see if they will check that for me.

Steve

 

Sorry, meant to say "...to loosen up".

SWT

 

This is what the less than perfect Spanish roads in the Sierra Nevada did to my centre heatshield during the Summer!



Just what I needed 2000 miles from home.

Graham

 

YIKES! Did you go over something too high for the vehicles clearance? I'm still getting used to the low clearance on my Jag. My other vehicle is a truck.

Right after I got the Jag I was pulling out of a parking lot with a very steep incline to the road... scraped the underneath of the front end, loud groan and a few expletives :-)

Was able to get that repaired. I'm definitely going to mention this to my Jag dealer this week when I take it in. We went through about 20 or 30 miles of Interstate in Michigan where they were working in the road. Had to drive in one lane on a very rough temporary lane. I never heard the bottom scrape but it darn near shook our teeth loose. It was after that that I began to hear the noise.

Thanks again for your tip on this, I hope that it may settle this.

SWT

 

Compared to the ground clearance of my old Ferrari the jag has a lot more. Areas I used to go over with care are no longer a problem. I still am careful but not as much as I am getting used to the higher ground clearance. Be careful out there.

 

A 'traffic calming' road hump leading directly into a pothole. It certainly didn't calm me!

Original with a piece ripped out of the side:


Replacement:


The heat shields are very flimsy, lightweight material.

Graham

 

I know what you mean. I hate those things!