My 03 xk8 had sat for a month so I thought I`d turn it over and let it run for a few minutes. Well, I went inside and forgot it was running, until 30 minutes later. I went back out and car was still running but antifreeze was all over. Engine still sounded fine but I turned it off very quickly and figured I would try to figure out how bad it is ruined another day. Before turning it off I looked at temp gauge and it was at the halfway mark. What do you think I'm going to find? I did look quickly at the pressure cap and saw no issue there. Thanks R Morton

 

You've obviously got a coolant leak, but based on your temp gauge reading you caught it early enough and you shouldn't have any engine damage.


.

 

And make sure you check the coolant level before you try starting it again. If it is leaking as bad as you say, should be easy to see where it is coming from. Fix that first, obviously.

 

Thank you. I will crawl underneath and see what we find. Hopefully just a hose popped off....could I be so lucky.

 

Ok, so opened the hood and ran water through the reservoir, began to hear water hitting the ground. On the passenger side where the upper radiator attaches to the block it appears as if a cap/plug has blown out. Roughly the size of a quarter, slightly larger. I'm guessing it is right underneath the thermostat but can not be sure. I know this is a terrible description but I am hoping someone can interpret what I am trying to describe. Looks like one long part with both upper hoses connected to it. The "hole" is right beneath the upper hose on the passenger side. It almost looks like a plastic piece that is designed to blow out if pressure builds, not sure. No threads on it literally just a black piece that almost looks like a milk cap. The problem I guess is that where this cap used to be is a longer part that both upper hoses attach to.

Thanks for any ideas or suggestions as to what I should be looking for as far as replacement part. This is a 2003 Jaguar XK8

 

Don't worry morty, there are some legends here when it comes to the XK8 so I'm sure you'll be in good hands and real soon.

Good luck

 

I'm pretty sure it is this Thermostat Housing

The question now, is this something I should attempt?

 

I love this site, no one yelled at me to go search through hundreds of other threads to see if I could locate the info elsewhere. Jag owners are good people!

 

You've already drained the cooling system and that is the worst part of the job.

 

well, I keep seeing folks talking about "bending" an 8mm wrench to get to the bolts but honestly it looks like everything is unobstructed to me. Am I missing something ?

 

I've only had the housing off on a S/C car, but it wasn't that bad. You'll want to put the bonnet in the service position, but other that a sort of awkward reach, I was able to get a 1/4 drive socket on the bolts with an extension.

 

The 2 back bolts can be a pain it's very difficult to get a socket on them. A crows foot will work, mine were to large so I bend a couple of wrenches and add a piece of key stock. Had the material and a welder easy mod for me. Check the sticky's. several members have used a dremiel tool and cut slots in the bolts for a screwdriver. I changed the upper and lower radiator hoses at the times everything was 12 years old cheap insurance. Good luck jim

 

The housing on my '99 is different, but it was easiest for me to break the old housing to get at the rear bolts. Some guys have replaced them with shorter bolts, some with phillips screws, some have slotted the bolts to make it easier if and when there's a next time. But you're right, it's very straightforward.

 

What's the service position please? Is there a way to open the bonnet more for easier access to the motor?

Thank you.

 

I did a search and found out.

Disconect the struts and open hood to 90 degrees, insert pin or screwdriver in holes at hinge to prevent closing allows more access to engine bay.

Cool!

 

Sounds like the car did a self diagnoses for you. Not unusual for plastic thermostat housings to fail.
But don't read too much into "Before turning it off I looked at temp gauge and it was at the halfway mark" Unless you have the realgauge of course.
If nothing has changed by 03 they all sit at the 1/2 way mark pretty much.
On the bright side it happened at your house.

 

Just to be clear, the bottom connection on the strut will just pop off with a gentle twist from a flat-blade screwdriver between the holding clip and the bottom of the strut. To reinstall, push it back on and snap the clip into position. Just make sure it's tight.

Doesn't seem like much extra room in the service position, but you'll be surprised how much it helps. I keep two short bolts with nuts on my work bench to hold it open. Then you don't have to worry about your screwdriver falling out and slamming down the hood.