Old Peter

Welcome to the Club, Ian. I don't know the answer to the question you pose, but I will look around and see what I can find. There might be some on on the Forum who has experience the same issue. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Andrew. There are quite a few xj8 owners who have much expertise. You need good steering on any car and especially a powerful one. How old was the MOT when you bought the car? I would be inclined to get it to a good garage ASAP. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Martin, The S type is a great car to drive. Regards, Peter.

Hi Karl, I have just found a site -- Jag web world -- who say 6 litres and who supply a kit. Regards Peter

Welcome to the Club, Tony. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Brian. Your first job is to check that the battery in the car is the correct one for the Jaguar S type. I don't get my hands oily these days, but the electrics on the Jaguar do require the right power source. Regards, Peter.

Swiftcover quote £379, and Tesco £462. I will have to examine the policy content, but it is certainly cheaper than SAGA. Adrian Flux was over £700. Peter.

It all depends who you get to mend the car, should it go wrong. The main dealers are somewhat expensive but there are lot of good independent garages who can do the same job for much less. There is a good topic on the Forum which lists good independent garages across the country. Peter.

Welcome to the club, Tom. That looks a nice car at a very good price. There was a similar car at a local dealer for £9700 yesterday, with similar mileage on the clock. I noticed that because mine has got 54k on the clock. Regards, Peter.

That's hard work, Matthew, but it seems to have paid off. Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Ian. I am uncertain if your model is the AWD or RWD, although I think it must be RWD. It could well be the wheel bearings, although that should have been picked up when the car was serviced. Could it be something like the DSC? -- The warning light should come on if so. Is there any noise on the straight? There are quite a few members with a wealth of knowledge who will be able to pass on some experienced opinion. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Brian. The Jaguar experience is great, isn't it? Regards, Peter.

Hi Peter, The Sportbrake is a beautiful car. When I got my S type I was driven to the dealers in one. But your s type is worth far more than you will be offered and both my head and heart would push me towards keeping it. Regards, Peter.

Just an addition to my previous post. The handbook for my S type says that when towing at maximum allowed speed tyres should be inflated to 39 psi [25 bar]. I don't tow any more, so I had not looked up the detail. Your dealer should have a handbook for the XF, though. Peter.

I always used to put 10% more pressure in my tyres when I towed my caravan. My test was not scientific either, --- did the tyres get too warm was the criterion. Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Gavin. I am sure one of the many XJ owners in the club will know the answer to that one. Meanwhile, I am fairly certain that there are some wiring diagrams on the internet. Regards, Peter.

It is a bit steep, Charlie. Living within the Birmingham City area I expect they will put on a slight premium. I will have a look around, though and see what is available. We do have Tesco Clubcards, and I will check Tesco out, and the next time I walk up to the little branch of Lloyds in what they describe round here as "The Village" [a very old enclave in Sutton Coldfield] I will check out theirs as well. Regards, Peter.

I think I have some work to do. My quote from SAGA is £909. My car was stolen last year and not recovered. My insurance paid up, but it appears that they put on a heavy penalty if you have been the victim of a carjack. I am waiting for my current insurer [LV] to give me a quote. Peter.

Hi Margaret, I have used CDF and found them reliable. But if the can't do it, that's it. There is another mobile company called P and J Towbars who operate in the West Midlands Tel No 01926 512876. They might be worth a call to check price and ability to fit on an S type. I have used Indespesion for trailer hire and they seem very able and efficient in that respect. They have a place in Halesowen, but they are a National Company and there could be one in Coventry. It is a pity that you are not nearer me as I have a big drive!! Regards, Peter.

Josh, If you find that the expansion tank is leaking, I would personally go for a new one. There would not be much difference in the cost. There are several other suppliers of genuine Jaguar parts as well as Just Jags, -- the David Manners Group, and there is also a Taunton Jaguar dealer, although I am not sure of the exact name other than Taunton Jaguar. In the days when I got my hands oily, I did change a water pump on my wife's Mk 3 Viva which also included the expansion chamber, which only took an hour. You will have no trouble. Regards, Peter.

Hi Josh, Water leaks --- I did see somewhere that the expansion tank can get a bit leaky, and if you can find where it is leaking -- hose or tank -- you all be able to do the job yourself, knowing your way round cars as you do. Just Jags sell new tanks dependant on model between £45 and £55. You might be able to get a second hand one cheaper locally. Reagrds, Peter.

That is a problem, Steve! The only solution I can think of is a squirt of WD 40 into the door keyhole, as I think the door lock is mechanical. You will then need one of those emergency chargers that fits into the power source unless you can get into the boot from inside the car. Peter.

Hi Alan, The auto gearbox is supposed to last for ever. Some owners do change the oil occasionally. I owned a Rover Sterling for over 11 years which had a dipstick to check the gearbox oil, which I did regularly but never found it wanting. The Jaguar gearbox oil gets no mention at all in the Owner's Handbook. I would be inclined to carry on as normal unless you get another warning. Changing the gearbox oil is not cheap, from what I hear. Regards, Peter.

Hu Steve, I have just found out that the key fits inside the 8 of the XK 8 symbol. Peter.