Old Peter

Hi Steve, and welcome to the club. It looks to me as if you need to get your keys reprogrammed. They do not appear to be switching off the alarm. I have never experienced this myself, but my guess is that is where the problem is. Regards, Peter.

The Royal Town is back in existence, Trevor. Just recently the Freedom fighters established the fact that the Town Clerk of Sutton Coldfield forgot to re-apply for the Royal Charter in 1847, but it wasn't his fault because he wrote the letter but the guy who was in charge of posting it had gone home early on Friday, which is POETS day. [P*** off early tomorrows Saturday]. It has now been reinstated. Personally I couldn't care. Regards, Peter.

There is no way to release the interior cap from inside the car, Shaun. It is raining here at the moment, but when it stops or tomorrow when it is light, I will go and have a look at my car. It could be that a certain amount of downward pressure is required. Meanwhile, because it is Friday [POETS Day] and I live in Sutton Coldfield, I am going to open a bottle of bubbly and enjoy! Regards, Peter.

Hi Alan, And welcome to the club. I do notice the fumes but only for a second. But I don't get the puff of blue smoke. It could be the vents that are opened, but basically I do not know. I did have my car Terracleaned in the summer and it has made a difference, so it could be something in the fuel burning. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Tim. I am afraid I have the old-fashioned system that uses a disc. But there are several members with the USB system who will be able to assist. Regards, Peter.

Fit a towbar, Charlie. You don't need to tow anything, but the wall you reverse into comes off worse than the car. I have done it several times, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Frank. It sounds a bit like the switches are at fault. But try the cheap one first --- a couple pf squirts of WD40, Or, could it be that the setting that disables the individual units has been pressed? Regards, Peter.

I just press the defrost button, David, and it is gone in less than 30 seconds. I then switch Auto on plus the front and rear heaters, and job done. I have always thought it was efficient, although I do come from the era when a tea towel to wipe the from and rear screens was de rigeur. Peter

A bit far for me, Luke, but if the weather is good, and my wife feels like a trip to the East Coast [we have been to Cromer a lot] we could well be up for it. Peter.

If a tradesman, shopkeeper, garage or car salesman, to name but a few, tells me lies, or to put it a different way, makes false statements, I don't go there again. I like to buy fresh vegetable locally grown and when a small farm shop owner told me that he had cut a lettuce himself an hour ago I didn't buy it as having worked in a market garden and on my Dad's allotment during the war I could tell when a vegetable had been harvested. I never went there again. Formula 1 Autocentre told me that my brakes needed urgent attention, when I was having an exhaust changed under warranty. My mechanic checked them out, told me they were OK and they passed the next two MOTs. Sometimes telling it straight gets you into trouble, but my upbringing was a good one, and I would sooner have the trouble as you also get respect. Peter.

Hi Keith, The manual for the S Type and probably other Jaguar Models does say that you should always keep the A/C on in the Auto mode. Some Aircon systems [my Rover Sterling did] give you a better mpg when they are switched on, biu not Jaguar. Page 156 of the owners manual [if you have one]. The manual can be downloaded if you haven't got a copy. Regards, Peter.

The S Type is a great car, both in style and to drive. I have had mine for over a year, and other than an oil change I have spent nothing on it. A sticky handbrake was cured by disconnecting the battery, and an EGR problem was cured by giving the car a good burst of speed on the A38. The 2.7 diesel has given me a good fuel consumption figure - the best being 53 mpg on a 100 mile trip, - usually about 46 mpg. Great Car.

I agree, Trevor. I did get a free repair from a Rover Main Dealer when a failure occurred a couple of weeks after a service plus a courtesy car for the week because of it. Additionally, the put a note on my service record that for all occasions when my car was in for service they would provide a courtesy car for me. They are also Jaguar franchised and although I do not have them service my car, I do get some assistance from them when my mechanic is unavailable. It does't take much to admit they were wrong! Regards, Peter.

Hi Trevor, For over 17 years i was responsible for the maintenance of company cars with the area I was the Regional Director of my Organisation. I had problems with one main dealer and sacked them and went to another. I was obliged by the rules to use a main dealers, and often challenged their bills. When I retired I knew that there was better to be had elsewhere and that is why I had my car serviced and maintained with someone trusted and cheaper. The real answer to a bad dealer is to sack them, tell them why, and then go elsewhere. I have dealt with Taunton Jaguar online and they seem efficient. My very local Jaguar Dealer is a franchised dealer and is very good, and I know they come from a long distance away to buy cars from them. I do know that most manufacturers will support their main dealers publicly but will give them a good telling off privately. It is sad though, that for the cost of a few shillings, a dealer is prepared to lose a customer. Regards, Peter.

Curiously, I have never had a problem with the main dealer I have been using [when necessary] for 30 years. It could have been something to do with the fact that I was somewhat involved with the purchasing and servicing of our car fleet for the last 5 years of my employment. Peter.

Hi John, As I said, I am not a mechanic, but I have been driving for over 55 years, and invariably anything that goes wrong with a car that has been into a garage is always not their fault. Invariably they are also wrong. They had the car, allegedly fixed it, and then a new problem suddenly appeared . Over the years I have had garages not put the rocker box on tightly, forgetting to put the oil, coolant and brake fluid caps on, and once not tightening the wheel bolts enough so that the wheel started to wobble which luckily I felt and rectified the problem. Firstly you must tell Squires that they must be wrong, and that they must fix it free of charge. If they don't agree tell them that you will go to the Trading Standards Officer and report him. Then you will write to the Local Paper and tell them about Squires, very politely and factually. If that doesn't work, park across the entrance to their premises, and tell people why you are doing so. [i did that once, and my car was fixed within an hour]. It had been there for three times and they never solved it till I took action. Also, being a pain in the backside can often be enjoyable. Good Luck, Peter. P.S. Then find a garage you can trust,

Welcome to the Club, Johnny. I don't get oily hands any more, but I guess that the noise has something to do with the repair that was done to the flexible hose. I could be completely wrong, as I am not a mechanic but just applying logic. Regards Peter.

Hi Johnny, On my s type and using the 2011/12 map under DESTINATION ENTRY there appears a small Box on the right with the UK highlighted. At the bottom of this box there is the word CHANGE. When you press that it produces a list of countries available on your map version. Select Spain and there you are! -- I hope the XF is similar. You will be pleased to know that Spain has Postcodes, unlike Ireland which is my next destination overseas. Regards, Peter.

What hair, Trevor? When I towed a caravan I used to start a holiday on Thursdays and always after the rush hour. Peter.

Hi Keith, I think the car needs retuning. To me, it is either that or new plugs, which used to be an easy job. Nothing wrong with the tank --- the steel is re-rolled and coated in Brierley Hill in a works I used to visit regularly and well quality tested. A bad product got a poor score from me! Peter.

Hi Danny and Trevor, I have been away for a couple of day and have just read this interesting exchange --- I fully concur with what Trevor has said and I do believe that there are several good garages recommended in the list on the Jaguar Owners Lounge in Derbyshire. which could be useful. I belong to the era that if WD40 doesn't work you just hit it with a lump hammer ---- sadly that era has now passed. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Paul and Mark. A friendly group of people who love their Jaguars hang around here. Enjoy your cars and the club, Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Mark. I hope you enjoy the Club as you do your car. There are a diverse group of members from all walks of life, but with one thing in common -- we all love the Jaguar experience. Regards, Peter.

That seems a bit excessive, Keith. What engine is in your car? Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Clive. Whatever the problem is I think it must be electrical/software. Your engine is the same one as mine, and they are solid engines, so I am concluding it is a sensor issue and that a sensor is sending a wrong message somewhere. Bearing in mind I trained as an accountant and that I don't like oily hands anymore, so I think that the trip to a a main dealer might solve the problem [expensively]. Good Luck. Peter.