Rooting around to figure out how water is getting into the passenger footwell, I spied this broken bracket (?) bolted above the oil pan on the passenger side (2002 XK8). Any thoughts?


Photo from below, passenger side oil pan.

 

Alternator cooling duct LJB1810AA.

 

Appreciate it.

 

Next question, wonder how necessary it is? My other two have them (yes, in retrospect, should have just looked at the other two before asking, but this car is up on ramps right now...). None have the unobtainable inlet scoop.

Just idle curiosity. I'll fix it anyway, while wondering how/when it vanished. Probably before me.

Note: this genius post makes me a 'Veteran Member'. It would be a shame if I was demoted for the content.

 

My wife's 2006 XK8 did not have its alternator cooling duct when we purchased the vehicle in early February 2012. No telling how long it had been missing. I discovered its absence during my first oil & filter change on the vehicle. They were still available at that time so I ordered one while grumbling about the price ($35) for a piece of plastic that probably could be created from an empty plastic milk jug. My guess is that they truly are not necessary. Not sure how effective they really are at delivering air to the alternator....

 

There is no fan on the alternator so they are essential. The fan on an alternator usually draws air in thro the rear where the hot diodes are and blows it out the front .. Essential

 

Congratulations.

Graham

 

Indeed, but there must be substantial airflow anyway since this one has been likely gone for at least several years without apparent negative consequence. In fact, this alternator keeps slightly higher voltages (~0.2V) than the others without the electronics apparently dying. Shortened life? Don't know.

Maybe I'll put a thermocouple on the housing some time to compare.

 

"Rooting around to figure out how water is getting into the passenger footwell, I spied this broken bracket (?) bolted above the oil pan on the passenger side (2002 XK8). Any thoughts?"

If you're getting hot water in the passenger footwell it's most likely a leaking heater core. Try and find a diagram of the heater core on-line and see if that helps you locate the source of the water.

 

Water in the footwell..leaking rear window ..check under the rear seat ..fills up then slops over and under the carpet when you brake .....

 

My own opinion, admittedly with little evidence is that having the relatively easy to find, sorta u-shaped cooling duct is important for longevity. And that having the harder to find scoop for it is helpful but not critical.

Having said that, I actually hunted one down for mine because I can definitely have my completist moments…

 

crbass,

Dale - veteran member - nice ring to it.

But asking about the alternator's cooling duct work - which I guess about 50% of X100s are probably missing (as it needs to be removed for the oil service and it a right PITA to get back in). In my XK8, someone even cut a chunk from the bottom bit.

You have to see the humour in it!

 

I did not touch mine to change the oil filter,
When you consider that in 99% of cars the alternator has a radial fan running at up to 12000 rpm I think you do need the duct.

 

of course it has a fan…..

it’s the same as any other denso alternator

 

I did some research and it does have a small internal radial fan at the front inside the casing . However this needs to be fed with cool air hence the duct