Lord Sladacre

Can members advise please? Should I run my 3.0 litre, 2003 S - Type auto on the premium or standard grade unleaded? My practise has been to give it a tank full every so often of the "good" stuff - as i have read it keeps injectors and other bits in more efficient and clean condition. The difference in Dorset is not fantastic in terms of cost approx 15p per litre - £9.00 on 60 litre tank full. As I am about to cover 1000 miles to Northumberland and seemingly all points in between I would like to be sure I'm doing the right thing. Currently, on a 200 mile run, with cruise control used when roads dictate, at 80 mph - average 55 mph, I manage an astounding 37 mpg !! - and that is on a mix of fuel ! Your thoughts would be much appreciated, thank you, Dominic

Hi Joe, Many thanks for clearing this point up - I actually feel better, now i know it wouldn't have helped in my situation !! Regards, Dominic

Hi, Having recently (Sept 2018 - experience still raw) locked my keys in the boot of my S- Type Dec 2003 SE - (in heavy rain and darkness) - unable to retrieve them despite best efforts of RAC, radio beams etc,. - eventually (over a w/e - 3 days later) received spare keys from my wife at home in Dorset - sent to Kent. However, I have become aware that some models (market) of the S - Type had what is known as a Valets access / button which will open the boot without the need of an ignition key, once of course the cabin is entered. Are members aware of this? Pity Jaguar didn't fit it to all market cars.

Good Evening, i have just replaced the standard blades which appear to be 24" (torn rubber) and 19" respectively with the newer flat design. It was recommended by Autobitz - having referred to the "wiper book" that a 22" and 19" - given the flat shape would actually be the recommended fit. Certainly I don't have a problem with the area cleared by both wipers - I suspect that the proof is in the pudding, so that is fine. Of course, I couldn't resist measuring the screen for the normally prescribed standard wiper once at home and found that it would be incredibly tight to fit a 24" (normally recommended) anyway, with a 19" - any comment from members would be appreciated. I'm still recovering from some years back mistakenly fitting "oversized" x 3 blades to my Mk1 1/2 1968 - E type Coupe. - hence my interest - or paranoia, as these are at least under sized !! Regards, Dominic.

I cannot believe the economy achieved by my S - Type (Dec 03) 3.0 Litre, petrol, 6 speed automatic, on a mainly motorway journey from Kent to Dorset yesterday a total of 146.8 miles. The trip indicator tells me that I managed an astounding 37.8 mpg at an average speed of 57 mph !! of course, I was doing 70 - 80 mph on the motorway, probably 80% of the journey, 20% were A and B roads. I didn't use the cruise control but was ultra steady with the right foot !! This was with the V - Power high(er) performance petrol (Shell). Figures with lower RON 95? going to Kent on Saturday were marginally less eg: 35.9 mpg and an average speed of 54 mph. - still mightily impressive i think. These are trip indicator readings - i would be interested to know if other members do in fact achieve similar performance figures, as it would help to validate the accuracy of mine. On another note my stay was unintentionally extended due to me locking the keys in the boot of the car - when the rest of the car was already locked. I couldn't believe it !! Why I used the "boot only" function to open the boot simply to put wine / flowers inside and didn't open the entire car, I know not. Teeming with rain, 5pm and the RAC quoting a 5hr response time !! In fact they appeared within the hour and stayed for two hours. Managed to get into the car - but not the boot. Solid bulk head behind the rear seats on the later 2003 model. Had to wait (until Monday) for my good lady to send up the spare key !! Does any member know of a trick to gain entry in the same situation? Unbelievably lucky as the Airshow tickets for Battle of Britain show at Duxford were in the car and not the boot - so gratefully visited show by my brothers X - Type, sadly not my glorious "S". Thank you for any thoughts in advance. Kind regards Dominic

Thanks for reply. I have managed to get into the car (RAC help) but the key is in the boot and that is still locked. Will wait till spare key arrives on Tues.

Having driven a few hours away from home I unfortunately closed the boot with keys inside. The car was already locked and therefore the boot locked automatically. Am at present stranded until spare key can be couriered to me on Tues earliest. Has anyone got any ideas? We have already tried sending the pulse from spare key over the mobile to the car...... didn't work. Cannot get into the boot from back of car (not this model). I'd appreciate any suggestions

Hi, I too find excuses to re visit the especially concreted parking area at our home to re view the S- Type !! I could not appreciate the lines of the car design on our conventional drive - which now only has my long suffering wife's RAV 4 on it. The new parking area (May 2018) cost me as much as I had paid for the Jag in Dec 2017 !! I can view the car from my office window and the master bedroom, are we all nuts? So much better though - I can lavish care, continual leathering, internal leather feed - overall polishing all in an area where I could now park two S - Types !! - Well you never know. Taking her to Duxford - The Battle of Britain Air Show on Sept 23rd - Gold Pass VIP adjacent parking - with the number plate of FLY 11 1T she will look great - Can't wait !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look after 'em - a rare marque and a rarer model ! Dominic

Hi Joe, Interesting - thank you. i shall remove the plastic inserts and have a look. Fortunately no sign of rust visible on arches externally. Also will check lip etc to see if trolley jack may have been used. All very irritating as it has been serviced by jaguar every 3k mls and covered only 60k. Still, doesn't mean to say he bought the tyres there !! Thanks again. Dominic

Hi Pete, Certainly battery. My S -Type is on its third battery (replaced Dec 17) and is an 03 registration. Battery longevity also depends on use - eg: short runs add small charges to the battery and increase wear - shortening the life. Some (S-Type) Jag battery's have been recommended to be upgraded so, if you journey's are going to be short - get the best upgrade you can. Hope this helps. Best wishes Dominic

Have other S - Type owners noticed that the jacking points appear flattened in profile when the car is viewed at a distance side on, for example in a car park? This seems to give the sills a a flattened effect just in front of the rear wheels and just behind the front wheels. I wondered if mine had been jacked up incorrectly and have thoroughly inspected the underside finding no evidence of this. I find I'm peering at others (rarely seen model though) - and often not at the right angle / distance when seen. Am I becoming paranoid - or are these areas slightly flat?

Hi Joe and Steve, Much appreciated, thank you. I shall take a look behind the glove box tomorrow -the photo should now be visible on site, thanks again to you both. Dominic

Hi, Following a final visit to the garage to fit a second hand climate control unit, I have discovered a black plastic cover (put in the centre consol - clearly doesn't belong there). The garage are awaiting the return of the electrician, whom they believe will be able to identify it. Members, please help !! Do you recognise the item by my description and numbers on the outside of the cover? Please advise what and where it belongs. The cover is 6" x 3" and on the inside is separated in half by a dividing strip of plastic. The outside of the cover has a date range month and year "dot" indicator, latest would be Sept 03. (the car is a Oct 03 registered Dec 03). Also the number: 2R83-FO46C26(A) is featured just below >SEBS< 1. Cover also features a leaper symbol and the word in caps JAGUAR. I would be grateful if this can be identified and I can then put it back - it must cover something. I have checked shape and size of the three fuse boxes on the car, doesn't fit / match these at all. Many thanks Dominic

Good Evening, A strange phenomenon occurred today........... I locked the car at the boatyard at 1000. Cruised to Brownsea island, (thereabouts) - anchor failed to deploy, so returned to marina for repair and luncheon. Leaving the marina at 1600 we found all four windows open by approx 2cm !! Now, I have through members terrific advice and no doubt at a better cost have resolved, this very week, the aircon issue - it is now fantastic !! - Absolutely ice ! Thank you. However it is difficult to attribute the windows opening to the inert power of the climate zone control system ..............the "feature" described is not in the manual. Why would they? We left nothing with a pulse (we assure you) that might otherwise have been humanely detected by the ingenious climate control system - so feature or fault, my friends, thoughts please. And any on electric windlass faults, welcome as well !! Kind Regards, Dominic

Hi Steve, Thank you. I think i will get the Jag specialist to check it out with the reader - excellent idea !! If light comes back up I will raise on here, after checking your ideas out. Regards, Dominic

Hi, Two minutes after engine start this morning the message centre on my S - Type 2003 - 64k mls read; (Amber light - secondary warning) "Gearbox Fault". Pulled over - car just been serviced, took a paracetamol - in case another bill was looming, and restarted. No messgae illumination - and have driven 30 mls since. Would welcome fellow members thoughts / experiences - is it a problem ?? Thank you.

Thank you all very much for the excellent leads. Looks to me that i really should have taken matters into my own hands sooner. I'm grateful to you all and will keep you posted on the progress. Kind regards, Dominic.

Hi, My name is Dominic, and we live in Dorset. Delighted to have discovered the Owners Club - simply could not get to "post" any detail at all until now. My Jaguar ownership history sadly is not large - I have owned 78 different cars over the years, including a variety of MGB GT's, what has always been rare - a Triumph TR5 (2500i) 1969 Surrey top , an SP2 Brazilian "Porsche" (by VW) and a 289 cu inch Mustang convertible 1967. Having sold my E- Type 4.2, 1968 Mk 1 1/2 fixed head coupe many years ago, for the paltry sum of £1k (indicates possibly, just how long ago - to an Australian - I trust it is still revered down under. My current delight is an S - Type SE Auto- December 2003. 60k miles, 2 owners and serviced by Jaguar, every 3k miles since new. The decision to buy, if one was needed, after the detail of the car was of course the colour: Seafrost, particularly complimentary and attractive to the shape, in my view. I wonder if members might be able to help me with one problem. My garage tells me that the a/c despite intensive and comprehensive work by them now requires a "heat blender motor" - which astonishingly is unavailable in the UK. They have place an order on the Global Parts Jaguar List yet 5 weeks later, I remian denied the benefit of aircon !! Would Members recommend I seek an alternative source........or indeed know of a reliable "original part" supply source. I would be extremely grateful for guidance on this very vexing issue. Thank you, Dominic