I get a clicking noise, like a relay clicking in, when brake pedal is pressed down. The click is coming from under the wood panel where the J-Shifter is. It never made this noise before. It's a 1998 XK8 and I was just starting the car, like I do every once and away while its in storage, but did not take it for a test run.

 

It absolutely did always make that noise. You just never noticed it before. That is the sound of the shift-interlock solenoid.

 

*^^^^^^^^ this ! ^^^^^^^^^

if it makes the OP feel any better, the shift-interlock solenoid on my 2002 XKR sometimes makes a louder “click” than at other times. I don’t know why that is, and am not going to look for trouble by tearing the mechanism apart to find a problem that isn’t there anyway.

Z

 

I removed mine because of issues with the microswitches of the line switch and no desire to spend money on that.

 

Thanks all! I can rest easy until next summer.

I remember back in October, we had an 80 degree day with total blue skies, on Cape Cod... Had top down driving down the coast line, and I have to say, what a beautiful riding car!!!

I watched this youtube video, with a so called expert on Xk8s, who said, the reason there's not may miles on these cars, is because the suspension goes south every 3,000 miles, which turns this car into a low rider car. I watched it about a year ago and don't know what he has pointing too; and it's hard to believe, given how nice this car rides and the fact that I owned this car since it was almost new. Is this true???

 

Age along with mileage wears out quite a few of the suspension parts on these cars, especially the front upper shock mounts. Plenty of recent threads here on the forum will provide you with the reading you need to do to inform yourself....

 

I have a hard time believing suspension components last three thousand miles, unless it's sitting in a garage and that's three thousand miles over ten years in which case age is the factor, not the mileage. Car parts are always designed to last at least the warranty period* - I'm not sure what Jag warranties were like in 1996 but I'm 100% certain it'd have been more than 3,000 miles. Was your youtube expert talking about a specific part that's known to fail early?

* yes I am aware some parts fail prematurely, sometimes people and companies make mistakes and things don't go the way they were planned, that's what warranties are for

 

It's actually an accurate statement. The front shock mount is made of foam and badly enginered. Aftermarket ones can last as little as one year and 3000 miles. OE ones are six times the price and can last between 5 and 10 years in the best cases. Forum members, baxtor and cjd777 came up with a poly version that is holding up much better than what's available on the market.

 

I watched the video again, and it's the front suspension shock absorber mount (bushing). Looks like an easy job to replace, but i will be looking up how to do this... Part Number: MJA2170BD

 

oh my god, the sky is falling , run chicken little !!!

“your” u-tube expert took a little bit of truth and spun it into a huge lie, or at least an out of control exaggeration.

and why ? Why not just tell the truth. Which is, the upper shock mounts are sub-standard. That’s all.

Z

 

Yep I see the OP's clarification on the part they're talking about, and thanks for your clarification that the 3000mi thing relates to aftermarket parts not factory. The post I replied to said "the suspension" implying the entire suspension system which I found hard to believe, but a single crap component I sure can believe hence my question about whether the video referenced a specific part.

It sounds like JLR's parts are lasting way longer than 3000mi though, if they were failing that quickly I'm very certain they would've had to recall and redesign while the cars were in production. Suspension is where all the fun happens so 5-10 years for some components is pretty normal... maybe not ideal, but not abnormal..