Are these available for a 1999 XK8 or does Jag keep them to themselves. Not looking for Haynes, Bentley doesn't have anything to offer either.

 

I use www.Alldata.com

 

Prior to '04 Jaguar dealers used the CD based 'Jaguar Technical Information System' (JTIS) as the official shop manual. It is available on CD from eBay sellers for $10 or less or on this forum under General Tech Help (Sticky) as a download for free. AllData is based on JTIS but has additional information, including estimated repair time but has an annual fee.

 

There obviously has to be something better that the mechanics actually have access to. The "worst" Helms, Haynes, or Chilton manual is a far cry better than the JTIS CD and official manufacturer's manuals I have bought (at reasonable prices) for virtually every other car I have owned are light-years better than the JTIS. That is why I suspect there must be something decent out there that the Jaguar mechanics have access to but apparently not readily available to the public.

Doug

 

It appears it is a private club or organization that can only be joined by a person that becomes a certified Jag Tech and that person is sworn to secrecy. Actually I think they get a lot from us!

 

JTIS is not an intuitively easy data base to use but it has an amazing amount of information buried within it.

I would suggest that you start by learning how to use the 'search' capability. It will turn up all sorts of levels of drawings and procedures.

It's amazing how much more information surfaced after I read the 'help' file.

 

Buried... THAT'S the key word!

 

Thank you all for this advice.

 

You are right, there is a technical reference for the cars, it is an online one called "Global Technical Reference". This is what the dealers use and you can get it for about $250 per year.

 

I use JTIS, but intall it directly to the HDD every time I use it. The install takes about 10 minutes, but every option is available and the search functions local and global work flawlessly. I have not tried to use it from a CD.

 

The problem with the JTIS, whether running from CD or hard disk, is the lack of depth of information. The instructions are sketch at best and the illustrations are laughable. As I said, the most basic Helms, Haynes, Chilton manuals I have seen do a much better job than the JTIS and the "official" workshop manuals I have gotten in the past for other cars (Corvette, Acura, Nissan) were lightyears better than the JTIS.

Doug