oswestryalex

Hi all, progress with my 'new' Jaguar S type - 3 L v6 SE model of 2002... just had a full service, and check over, and got a new alloy wheel as spare, put a new tyre on it... new battery to come... but - if I open the car, either with the key or the fob button, the front doors unlock, but the back ones don't seem to do so. Not from the outside handles - you have to put your hand inside and pull the handle in the car door inside to get either back door to open. It is not too convenient - especially with shopping... - any ideas how to overcome that? Cheers, Alex

I do reckon that with an older car purchase a change of oils is probably a good idea unless they have been definitely done recently. I did get a Volvo secondhand with brand new fully synthetic oil in there and new filter - the seller had only just done those when his replacement car arrived... so I had about 6 months of driving before I decided to change on that occasion. With the auto boxes on the S Types having such a bad reputation, I was looking to find ways to avoid problems down the line - but additives may well be a step too far; friction reduction in a gear box may not be the best idea... - for which cheers! One assumes all friction is 'bad' but actually....

The problems with the auto transmission I have heard of make me think it a wise move to get the trans fluid and filter changed as soon as I get the car, as well as an oil filter and oil change - that I always perform on a new/old car. Question is - I have in the past used friction reducing additives in the engine. There are similar products for the transmission available. Would they make a difference to how well the trans will run and its longevity? Some additives claim improved mpg too... that I am a bit skeptical about. Cheers, Alex.

Thanks Steve! This is sounding like good sense to me. I have seen the one S type, and was not too keen on that one, but Tuesday I hope to go see another which is a 2002 car, and an auto, so I shall see what that is like. I did like the general idea of the S type though - went out in it, the first I've been in, and loved the whole experience. So all being well when I do get that car, I will definitely get that fluid and filter done. Cheers! Alex.

Well, I saw the car today and it was an automatic - I didn't go for it, as it had a gearbox fault; wouldn't work in D position, you had to put it into 4 further along. I wonder whether with these auto box faults, would a change in transmission fluid help?

Hi, thanks Russ! I thought I wasn't going senile... :-)) The odd thing is, I am looking at S types on Auto trader, and quite a few that are listed as manual have the J gate, and in some pics you can even see the 2 - not 3 - pedals on the floor; ergo... auto not manual. The one that is doing my head in, is the one I may end up purchasing soon (with a following wind and some kind of transport back in action) has that J gate, can't see the pedals in a pics., but it listed as a manual. Now when I fed the registration number into the insurance system, it came back with S Type V6 3 litre.... manual...! I should be able to solve the mystery, all being well, when I get to see the car, hopefully tomorrow or day after. I am waiting for my 'other car' to have its clutch replaced (blew it spectacularly weekend before last). One thing I have discovered - no Haynes Manuals that I have located so far for it - even a secondhand one would do, just to get me familiarised with the car. Thanks again for confirming what I was pretty sure was true. Alex.

I am in the process of (possibly) buying a S type which is listed as 3 Litre V6 manual. The pics of the interior show a u-gate shape with a stick with wooden pommel. That made me wonder as when I check the automatics, they seem to have those. I have seen one other manual that had what I would term a 'normal' gear stick with the typical gear positions on the pommel. But also others which are said to me manuals, but have the u-gate arrangement too. The Reg number when given to my insurers comes back that the car is indeed a manual, not automatic. I've yet to see the car in the flesh - hopefully in a couple of days' time - but can anyone enlighten me on this? I am not too worried whether it is manual or auto, in fact - but it just looks odd... Cheers, Alex