Old 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.

Hi Steve, Will the key not work on the door locks at all? I do believe that the XK8 has a key hole underneath the boot lid. The S type certainly has. Let me know if it has. Regards Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Matt. I must admit I do not get oily hands any more, but I think that your diagnosis is on the right lines. There are many club members with the expertise to assist you. A Jaguar should not sound like a rusty lorry ---- it should roll past you in silence! Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, David. It took me a bit longer to get a Jaguar, and like you I am absolutely delighted with my S Type, [my second Jaguar] after driving company cars for 30 years. Regards, Peter. Lancastrian in exile.

Hi Phil, Thanks for the information about the garage in Coleshill and will probably get my EGR valves Terracleaned there. It does appear that the machine is quite expensive to buy from Terraclean and I think the price of a service will gradually come down as there will be more competition. I have put the address of Spanners into my little black book! Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Bob. You have encapsulated in a short statement what many people like about Jaguars. I hope you enjoy the Club as much as you enjoy your car. Regards, Peter.

Hi Stan, The handbook says to run the car with ACC switched on all the time. In respect of tyre pressure the handbook refers you the information on the door pillar on the driver's side. For my 2.7 diesel the correct pressure is 31psi, remembering that the 2.7 S Type is 90 kilos heavier that the 3.0 litre petrol. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Peter. That is a very useful piece of information for all car owners. I used to do the same [not on a spreadsheet] when I had a company car, as I had to submit a weekly mileage with details of journeys, including mileage done in private usage, even though I had a fuel card which paid for all miles done. I have noticed variations on the trip computer in respect of range when I have filled up, again always to the brim, and when I have done 100 or so miles. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Roy. I have a half cover for my S Type, which cost around £15. It does not do a great job outdoors, but would be brilliant indoors as it is quite light. I would expect to pay about £50 for one suitable for outdoor occasional use. Regards, Peter.

Hi Phil. I think I would be interested in the EGR valve cleaning service, particularly as the S Type has two of them, plus two turbochargers. I will check out what the secondary service covers. I will be ringing to book in my car before its MOT which is due in late June, and I always have my car serviced at the same time. Regards, Peter.

Hi Phil, Thanks for the feedback on Terraclean. I had heard good reports on the service, but not from someone who had a problem solved such as yourself. I will be booking mine in --- the mobile mechanic who Terraclean pointed me to has been in touch with me and I will probably have in done in the next three weeks. His quote was £114 inc vat for my 2.7 diesel which is the same as a garage in Brownhills. When it comes to the EGR valves I do know he has not got the equipment to do that, and the cost to do it manually on the s type is in excess of £300. Regards Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Gareth. You will enjoy the Jaguar experience, and there are many knowledgeable people in the Club who will assist when there is an issue that you cannot solve. Your XF is a nice looking car and the colour suits! Regards Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Michael. You will enjoy the Club and your Jaguar which looks great. There are a lot of knowledgeable people in the Club who do exchange a lot of useful information. Regards, Peter Lancastrian in exile.

Welcome to the club, George. Have you had the power steering fluid checked? I was told by a Jaguar main dealer that I had some water in my power steer fluid, by my mechanic told me that it was OK. Maybe the dealer was trying for some work at a big labour charge. However, I would be inclined to have the fluid changed, Regards, Peter.

We went to London to visit our daughter, and on the way down, crossing the river by the Blackwall Tunnell my mpg was 41.8. Coming back via the Old Kent Road and the City, my mpg was 36.2. The difference was caused by the City, which was packed. The MI was surprisingly clear and I drove at circa 75 mph. I could notice the difference in performance, and the mpg going down to London was good, considering we were on minor suburban roads for the last 10 miles. The next fill up will be Sainsburys in Tamworth, as I have a voucher for 10p a litre off. [The offer runs out on Wednesday.] Peter.

Aye, but as Yorkshiremen say "Us do it reet in Yorkshire" I was down Sarf at the weekend and on Sunday it took an hour and a half to drive the 14 miles from Brockley to Brent Cross, and two hours to drive the 110 miles from the start of the M1 to Sutton Coldfield. I switched on the SatNav and told it to go home, and the question popped up "Castle Bromwich or Sutton Coldfield?" Regards, Peter. Exiled Lancastrian.

There appears not to be a valet mode on the S type, which seems to indicate that S type owners never allow a stranger [not even a perfect one] to touch his or her Jaguar!

Welcome to the Club, Nigel. I think lurking around has shown you how useful the Club is and how there is a fund of useful experience to be found. You have a nice looking car which you will enjoy. Regards, Peter.

Hi Josh, I am assuming that the pressures are specified by the tyre manufacturer and they appear to be the same for all the sizes suited to the S Type. My tyres are 18" and I run Pirellis on 31 psi. When you are going at speeds over 100 mph the tyres are affected by the speed, as is the roadholding and steering. I am not a tyre expert, but I do know that when a tyre is under inflated or over inflated it certainly affects road holding. I had a slow puntcture some years ago and found that the car was all over the road at about 50 mph when the pressure dropped to about 5 psi. Regards Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Mark. You will enjoy the Club as much as you enjoy your Jaguar. Regards, Peter.