1999 XK8 Convertible - Wife's new ride
 

After resurrecting a 1995 XJ6 (our second) and driving it for a year we sold it to a young family that needed a sport sedan. I had it running great and dependable, a big change from when it arrived at our home on a flat bed because it would not start, run or do anything. So we have been without a challenge for a year and the wife found the XK8; runs pretty good and is externally pristine.

So now the research begins. Issues to be addressed so far: fuel door hanging open - latch is missing and I have no idea what it looks like or how it worked.

Driver's seat button that moves the seat fore and aft broken - do I have to replace the entire switch and how do I get to it?

Convertible top raises and lowers, but you can time its movement with a calendar. Is that normal?

I have the same car, yes the top takes almost 20 seconds. I also have an S2000 which takes 6 seconds. Go figure?

When I bought my xk8 I had the same question. Someone on this site looked it up and affirmed the between 15 and 20 seconds is normal. Don't forget that one fix to minimize green showers is to put resistors in line for the motor . If they did it will increase time to close.

Re broken search switch describe broken. Has the top of the switch cracked off ? Do you mean seat will not move when switch is pressed ?

i am the second owner, he had the burst line problem and corrected it. I am in no hurry when it comes to any movement with this car, it's all about slow and smooth even with the controls. I rescued the car from dead, where it has been dead for two years....and I highly recommend starting with a new battery...got mine (Bosch) at pep boys it was a natural.

We couldn't have the top raising or lowering too quickly, that would be vulgar.

At least you don't have to stand in the rain wiggling and forcing the darn thing like I did with my TR-4.

When the XK8 was released, 20 seconds was heralded as amazing. The S2000 is at least a few years newer and has a much smaller top :-)

hey knuckles I'm right down the road in villa rica ga and have a 99 convert also if you'd like yo get together for lunch sometime along I 20 let me know and ill share some of the things i've found.

Back in the day, to be working with the TR-4 top was living large. I mean you had roll up windows fergawdsakes. We who dealt with side curtains were really jealous of such advanced technology.

Rain? Gentlemen, in college and thereafter I was the proud owner of an MGB and a Norton Atlas motorcycle. When it rained I didn't worry about the top, the damned things wouldn't start!

The top of the switch is broken off. I can move the seat using the end of the key to push in the front or back of the switch. My dear wife is not so talented and actually wants things to work as intended; can you imagine?