Top won’t go up or down on a 99XK8 jaguar

 

Welcome to the forums 77Driver,

I've moved your question from General Tech Help to X300 forum. Members here with the same model will be able to help.

Graham

 

Is it a convertible?

Seriously, a little more info would help. Is this a new problem, or has it been like this since you took possession of the vehicle? Do the windows drop, does the latch loosen, do you hear the pump running, have you tried it from both the console switch and the door lock? Since you said it won't go up or down, is it stuck in the middle of the cycle, and if so, at what point?

 

Does it make any noise when you push the button?

 

just recently started getting slower and slower when you put the top up and down. Not sure if the pump is working. Haven’t tried the door switch lock either see if it’s working from there. It’s in the down position but won’t latch.

 

77driver

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for the additional info. If you give as much info as possible, we can help you better.

If the top moves, the pump is working. You should be able to hear it. Plus I assume, when you did hit the button to open, the door windows dropped an inch and the rear quarter glass dropped. Then the latch opened and the top dropped albeit in your case slowly.

Now I suspect you’re in the position of trying to close the top. But the top moves slowly and now won’t close.

A few more questions.

1. Do you move the top with the engine off. The pump is electrical so if you have a low battery it may account for low power and the slow speed. Your battery may be dying. Try running the car engine first so the alternator is engaged.

2. The pump may have a low level of hydraulic fluid. Pull out the trunk interior carpet on right hand side and look at the pump. It sits on top of a metal shelf stack. There are two level marks on the pump’s plastic tank. If it is low, you’ll need to top up with proper hydraulic fluid. I would keep an eye on it’s level as you may have a leak somewhere.

3. Did the latch above the windscreen ever work? Opening or closing? With the age of our cars, the latch itself could be faulty and/or leaking fluid.

 

This a common problem with the XK8. First, make sure that the pumps are activating, which is easily verified by listening for the sound. If there is no humming you need to check your electrical connections and switchware. Second, check around your interior to see if there is any hydraulic fluid in the headliner and behind the back seat. The XK8 is notorious for the "Green Shower" that occurs when the hoses dry rot and leak or break.

Given that you probably would have already noticed (or smelled) that, check the valves on the pump, which is located in the trunk on the right near the battery. Sometimes the valves will stick and need to be either loosened or tightened, depending upon which way they drifted. I have to adjust mine a couple times a year to keep the juices flowing. You should also check the fluid levels, although I haven't found that the hood system "burns" any.

Finally, the rams on either side of the top can go bad and need to be replaced. I've replaced my right ram once.

Hope that helps - good luck.
Cheers,
Larry

 

77Driver, You have not added a location.
If you are near some of the other members, they might be able to have a look and see if something simple is wrong or even serious.
Lots of us have gone through problems with this system, some a quick fix, some the whole interior has to come out. Lets hope not in your case.
One thing not mentioned, have a look on the right side of the trunk area and see if there is black flacking laying around under the carpet. All your hoses go through the rear fire wall there and if the hoses have the covering falling off, good chance it's leaking somewhere. A puddle under the rear of either door means rams.

 

I am suffering an earlier stage of the same problem, which I suspect is due to low hydraulic fluid. I know the hoses under my back seat are leaking and that I need to get around to replacing them, but since the top was working I put it off.

 

I have a 2000 XK8 that the top goes down like normal, but when trying to raise the top, it goes up a few inches, then hesitates and drifts back down. During the hesitation the pump goes from the normal “ loaded pump sound” to a softer/quieter pump running sound, then the top drifts down and after about ten seconds the pump quits running and the hood not latched message appears.
I can manually pull the top up past the peak pressure/load spot, and it will close normally when I press the top up button...
Do you have any troubleshooting suggestion?

 

Check the fluid level and the petcock closed at the pump.

Gus
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