It looks like my time with my XK8 may be coming to an end.

I have not been able to find the source of the problem with my rear windows (randomly drop and refuse to go back up till the car has been at for an hour or 2, roof refuses to latch when this happens), Looks like the clockspring has failed (or connections just need a clean up) and now I have the dreaded clunk from the gearbox when going into reverse or first gear.

If I had a pit or lift then I would probably have a look at the gearbox and try and fix it myself (nothing to lose really) but I only have a driveway and am a bit wary of working under the car just on stands.

Anything I can do (at reasonable cost) to save this cat ? I know the clockspring is an easy fix but I am loathe to put any money into it if the gearbox is going to go.

 

It's going to be cheaper to fix the gearbox than replace the car. First though find out if it IS the gearbox (could be a bad UJ, diff mount, gearbox mount, or sticky parking brake. I don't know where you are in the UK but if you're in the south head to DesignXKR at Andover - their gearbox guy will tell you the truth.

If the body is good then definitely do not consider condemning it.

 

First, I agree, change the battery.


If all else fails, and you love love love the car, there's always the Lincoln LS conversion. From what I've read here on the forums, and by all means correct me if I'm wrong, it's the same platform and running gear. I've also read about a Mercedes transmission that will plop right in (?)


As for the windows randomly lowering, that to me sounds like a switch failure. In the simplest terms, think of a wire running from the battery to the switch, from the switch to the windows, from the windows back to the switch and back to the battery. There would be only one place (short of crossed fuses of course, but that isn't likely) that could possibly fail and make the connection to lower the windows, and that would be the switch. That connection needs to be made to activate the windows, and since you say they don't like to go back up...well...I'd check the switch...

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

The battery is ok (~8 months old, does the same with the battery out of my XJR (~2 yrs old).

The reason I suspect the gearbox is how this happens and from various other posts on this forum. Basically : start the car, foot on brake, move gear lever to reverse, hesitates for about 1.5 seconds and then engages with a clunk and jolt. From reverse to drive : same hesitation and engages with a bit less of a clunk and jolt but still present. When driving if I accelerate hard (when cruising) it doesn't just drop 1 gear but 2 resulting in the revs going from 2k to 6k instantly.

I am going to have a look at the clockspring today and see if it is just poor connection and while I am at it I will have a look at the switch for the roof but the roof operates normally unless the windows have dropped of there own accord in which case the roof will not latch (will latch ok with a hex key though).

I am up in NE Scotland so bit far from Andover, I have heard that there is/was a really good independant jag specialist in Aberdeen but I have not been able to track them down.

I have loved driving this car from the moment I got it and the body is in pretty good shape (bonnet needs a little attention but pretty minor really, about 1 inch of surface rust due to stone damage on paintwork). Roof might need replaced due to wear on one side but engine etc is as sweet as could be, 9 months MOT left with no advisories.

If I can save it without spending silly money then I will but like everything else there comes a point where I would be throwing good money after bad.

 

It sounds like a cracked matrix casting in the gear box , best thing is get a recon one. Sorry
IanP