Can anyone advise how difficult it is to replace a thermostat in a 97' XK8? Can someone with not a great deal of automotive maechanical experience do it?

 

Give us an idea of your abilities. What other projects have you completed on a car? Oil change? Change a tire? Spark plugs?

 

I recommend replacing the housing as well as the stat. I used the aluminum version (not OE) and purchased it from http://www.motorcarsltd.com/. Ask for Ken and he'll take care ofyou. Here is a link to a post talking a little about the housing. https://www.jaguarforums.com/m_51297/tm.htm As far as how difficult it is to replace the stat / housing, all I can tell you it wasn't that difficult for me. Having the correct tools and parts, as it is for any job, is a must. Ditto what Gordo said.

Good luck and don't hesitate asking the Jag Techs questions. They have been very helpful !!!!

 

If you are willing to change the sparkplugs on this car you can change the thermostat. Limited tool requirements, nothing Advance AP couldn't solve in 2 minutes.

 

I have a 97' XK8 with a leaking thermostat housing. The screws do not come out. They are in sleeves and the sleeves just spin around. Anyone have any ideas on how to remove the screws?
THanks, Dick King

 

Welcome to the forum!

The screws are in little brass inserts in the plastic housing. You are just going to have to pry the front and back apart and replace the housing, which you should do anyway . . . with the aluminum one.

 

Don't be afraid to break the housing apart-that's how I replaced mine and made it easier to get to those back bolts. Take off the top plug and put in a big screwdriver or similar and pry it apart. Good luck,not the hardest job in the world if you just dive in. Looks worse than it is. Don't neglect a new t-stat while you're at it, and some people advocate removing the bleeder pin from the t-stat. I did it, and so far so good.

 

This link to my procedure should help Jaguar thermostat housing 4.0 xk8