I recall seeing a YouTube video on how to do this but cannot for the life of me find it now. There's a massive one paragraph somewhere here of the steps taken, but it's hardly legible to any value with no photos. Little else can I dredge up on this. I need to change out the heater hoses underneath, and will change the supercharger oil while I'm at it. Perhaps the belt too if it looks worn any.

I have the workshop manual and am thumbing through this procedure, but drawings and ASE-level bullet points don't really give a great scope as to the effort and time required of this. Anyone done this before?

I've tracked down a new local mechanic after my last shop closed recently and was quoted about 8 hours to do the job, just under a grand. I wanted to get some first-hand experience feedback on here from you guys before I make up my mind. I can afford for the car to be down for a week if the job is fairly doable to save that much- I have others to drive. But if it's going to consume more than a full weekend, I may delegate this one. The car has basically been down since August and I'm tired of trying to find the time to tackle this- I was hoping it would be a winter project but the winter filled up with other projects. Thanks in advance.

 

A random but timely update, my old mechanic called me today! He's at a local exotic shop now even closer. Awesome. I told him what I needed, he gasped, and said, "oh that's not too fun". But he gave me a good estimate, so I'm about to just send it to him next week and get this thing back on the road in time for the good weather.

Still curious just in case, though. If anything, to provide a thread of future reference.

 

Hard to explain but it's a 1.5 - 2 hour job to remove, 5 minutes go change the pipe and 2 hrs to put back

 

I've had two shops, and what else I can find online, that say it's about a 6+ hr. job. Maybe if we all had your skills!

 

Remove the throttle body which is pretty easy. Just be sure to get all of the connections off, mostly on the left side. Then the egr connection and vacuum line at the lower intake under the throttle body. To get the vac line off, push in on the plastic ring while pulling out on the plastic pipe. There are two brackets that support the lower part of the intake, and those bolts are a pain, but must be loosened. You dont have to take the brackets out. Just get them loose. An 1/4' drive 8mm swivel socket is basically a "must' ON THESE CARS! Remove the lower intake unit under the throttle body by removing the bolts that hold it to the back of the supercharger. Remove the coolant hoses from the supercharger. Take off the drive belt. Remove the 3 bolts that hold the supercharger onto the engine and lift it out. The two intercoolers stay on the engine. I may have missed a detail or two, but this is basically all it takes. Not hard at all. Some patience required on a couple of the bolts!

 

I just did the heater hoses on a 2000 XJR a few weeks ago. I think I charged 5 hours.

Some hoses, gaskets and coolant all came to a little over $400 total.

Expect a few extras like deteriorated plastic coolant bleed lines etc.

bob gauff

 

It's a 6hr job if you've never done it before maybe.

Honestly, the worst part is draining the cooling system as there is no way to do it without making a terrible mess.

As chopr said, it's not hard, just time consuming.

 

It's not that bad if you use the drain plug on the front of the cooler, L/H side bottom, the only time I make a mess if the car has an 05 bumper on as the under tray is in the way


Me and Bob seem to agree on the time

 

I didn't know there was a plug on the left side front of the radiator. I've always used the one at the right side rear bottom of the radiator, which sprays back onto the subframe and dribbles all over everything.

Good to know for next time (which I hope is a long time).

 

Hi Sentinelist. For the video: try Googling or Binging "XJR Supercharger Removal". I know I've seen the procedure in one of those. Just for your casual enlightenment - good to hear your mechanic is on the case.

 

I would also say 6 hours if you have not done it before. As mentioned, you will need a full set of 1/4" extensions, wobble extensions, and a universal. Most of all you will need some patience with the rubber and plastic hoses - they do not want to release. Check the EGR valve and the port on the trottle body for clogging while you have them apart.