Convertible top question
 

In an early post someone stated that the top hoses in the '97-'98 MY XK seem to share some degree of immunity to a leaking problem. I'm wondering how true this might be. Anyone with these years had a green shower?

I've not yet experienced it yet and have installed the pressure regulator, but each time I operate the top it's with trembling index finger and a reverent prayer. Any vote of encouragement would help me sleep better at night.

Sam

See this poll: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...l-years-39014/

There is some reassurance here.

Feeling a lot better now and ready to face the sunny weather again without trepidation. Thanks!

Sam

Hi.

It seems that the first hoses marked "Power Packer Min Burst 600 Bar" are holding up. (600 Bar=8700 Psi. Pump output 1600 Psi.)
Later hoses marked 303 or 363 are the ones failing. All this according to "gus" Jagrepair.com.
When they changed hoses are unclear. My car is a -97 US spec last VIN 011XXX, and it has the old hoses which, knock wood, are doing fine.

Interesting to note.... the curve of that chart also looks almost identical to production numbers if you charted them in the same fashion.

O Joyful Day!
 

Based on the info in this and other threads I checked my hoses and see that I have the original 600 Bar hoses.

For those who may share MY '98, my VIN is 023299 which should give a degree of confidence to those who came before me.

I wonder if the 2010 poll should be bumped to give a chance those who missed it the first time around to input their experience and to update the stats.

Sam

The hydraulic system on the XK8 & XKR are by Power Packers and the early years of the car 1997 to ? the hoses installed in the system were rated at 600BAR that is equal to 8702PSI. The other figures on the hose are the Julian date of the date it was manufactured. The pump puts out 1600PSI! Now I am not sure when that hose production was halted but what we are seeing are hoses with 303 & 363 stamped on them and they are the ones failing. However, this does not eliminate any problems with the latch or rams the seals have had a tendency to leak. You mention that you have a Pressure Relief Valve and that was a step in adding years to your roofs equipment

You can find this along with additional info on my page. www.jagrepair.com

I did an internship at an auto manufacturer. It was standard for the engineering team to review the model every year and look for chronic failures to remedy, and look for new opportunities to reduce cost. Coincidentally, these seemed to occur with about equal measure...

For non-safety-related stuff they'd make the modification and try it out on the production line to see how it worked.

One of my jobs was to deal with the after effects of a cost reduction decision to reduce the number of gas struts holding up a hatchback tailgate from two to one - which permanently twisted the tailgates... Somewhere there are eight hatchbacks that left the factory with one strut and handmade quarter panels to disguise the problem...

My guess with the hoses is that the newer hoses were cheaper and didn't fail initially so were assumed to be ok. They probably trialled a few of the newer ones in the earlier model year to see if they failed in service, and if none of them needed to be repaired, then it was ok...

Marc

Are the power top struts rebuild-able? The o-ring is leaking and needs to be replaced.

Yes, contact https://www.tophydraulicsinc.com/en/...-xkr-xk8-96-06

Thanks for the link to the great site. I was wondering if there were rebuild kits available or do we have to have them professionally rebuilt.

The struts cannot be readily opened without specialty tools, so you should have it done professionally.

I sent my rams to Top Hydraulics a couple of years ago. They were quick and did an excellent job.