Old Peter

Hi John, What model have you got? [s, SE, or Sport]. It is certainly standard on the SE and Sport, and I think it is on the basic S model, though there are not many of those around. The electronic handbrake is also standard, although it can stick. If it is dead, it could just be the warning light, as when you go into drive or reverse it automatically disengages. Does any message come up in the message centre? Peter.

Hi John, I looked at the internet for some images of the throttle body, and found some. The 2.7 diesel has got a throttle body. A new one would cost over £100. Worth cleaning it. Peter.

The E Type is stil a Jaguar symbol, but the early Jaguars leaped on the Automobile scene, and I have known their models and aspired to own one for almost the whole of my adult life. The company cars I have had never got me a Jaguar -- the Boss got one, though. The XK and the F Type are great contenders, but it must be the E Type for me.

Hi John, I am inclined to agree with Trevor in respect of timing chains. The engine on the 3 litre V6 has a timing chain [my 2.7 litre Diesel has a belt which i believe should be changed at 105,000 miles]. I have not seen anything about changing timing chains, but only about changing tensioners. The 3 litre V6 is the same engine as on the Mazda, and you might find something from Mazda sites. Peter.

They look very interesting, Mike. They would cost £64.95 on my S Type, which is not bad. Cheaper than a dented wing! Peter.

Hi, Pip and welcome to the club. Have you checked Euro Car Parts, British Car Parts, or the David Manners Group, the latter being Specialist Jaguar/Daimler stockists. Phoning any of these would be the easiest way of getting the part you want. Also Euro Car Parts have a large number of shops. Regards, Peter.

A Happy New Year to everyone. New Year Resolution: Was the car every Wednesday. I am having it washed at the moment. Free, as it has been chucking it down here for the last 12 hours.

The P Zeros are the recommend ones. I got a good deal from Halfords. I still have a 17" one in the garage that was too good to throw away, as I like to change them in pairs. It was intended to go on the spare wheel of the X Type, but I changed to an S Type. Yours if you want it. I travel to Northampton [Earls Barton] regularly, so I could drop it off if you want it. Peter.

Even when it is wet, it still sounds like an enjoyable journey. Peter.

Hi Lee, It cold be suspension bushes, though if it is why a mechanic could not spot it I don't know. What tyres have you got on the car? Sometimes the tyres can contribute to steering wheel wobble. Peter.

Thanks, John. If it happens again I will try that. I also am a relatively newcomer to the S Type -- 6 months -- although I did have an X Type prior to that. Peter.

Jaguar recommend Pirellis. I had them on my X Type AWD on 17" wheels and I liked them. Now my S Type 2.7D runs Pirellis on 18" wheels. Jaguar have their reasons for recommending them, although there are other good makes around. Peter.

Hi Seb, The X type and Mondeo do share the same platform and also the same gearbox. Car manufacturers did and still do often share technology as well as the other bits. The S Type uses the Lincoln platform, and the 2.7 diesel engine in the S Type was a joint venture between Peugeot and Ford. Cheers and good luck with the track rod ends. Peter.

Hi Lee, and welcome to the club. I am no expert but it could be some wear on the steering system that has not been picked up. Try turning the steering wheel when the car is stationary and feel to see if it is a smooth turn. Some members with more technical expertise that me might put their finger on it Does the wobble go away when you pick up speed and get past 50 mph? Regards, Peter

Yes, Trevor. After two disastrous and expensive experiences with Windows, I got a secondhand Apple Desktop and had it without any trouble at all for 6 years. Last April I bought a Apple laptop which I use now. Being of advanced age I am not too au fait with the mise en scene in respect of computers. But I will try it tomorrow when our visitors have gone back to London. I have only just mastered emailing photos! My best wishes, Peter.

Hi Trevor, For some reason I cannot download photographs on to the site. I fed the 5000 yesterday in Leeds. I will work on iPhoto to see what I can do. Nice looking car --- good colour for Jaguars. Regards, Peter.

Quite right, Stan. The mechanic I use reads up on the cars he is servicing and repairing. When I pay for roadside assistance I want to see a guy who knows something about the car when he gets there. I had 30 years of company cars and we had a comprehensive policy with the AA. I have found that they are no more expensive than Britannia Rescue.

Hi Trevor, Britannia Rescue was started years ago by the Civil Service Motoring Organisation and it used to very good and economical. I was entitled to join the CSMA as well as my day job I had an appointment as what is known as Judicial Support in respect of Employment Tribunals. BR was taken over by LV-Frizzell 2 or 3 years ago. It was very good also in covering family members and also caravan cover, in the days when we towed a caravan. I had decided yesterday, actually, to give up on them and look elsewhere. I will check out Jaguar assistance -- as you say, they know about Jaguars. Best Wishes and a Happy New Year. Peter.

This morning I was just about ready to set off with wife, our daughter and her fella to visit our son a his family in Leeds when I found the message "Handbrake fault". It was stuck in the engaged position. Not anting to mess around too much I called Britannia Rescue and within an hour they ca,e out with a tow truck. The mechanic told me he knew little about the modern cars but was expert on classic cars. This did not help a lot! I told him that I had heard that certain electronic problems could be cured by disconnecting the battery, whereupon he opened the bonnet. I opened the boot. The battery was duly disconnected, left for 10 minutes, and then reconnected. The Handbrake then was able to be disengaged again. I spent 10 minutes resetting the various things like radio etc and then went off to Leeds. Moral of the story. Do mechanics know more than drivers about the vagaries of their car?

I think there were. In 2002 a 2.1 litre V6 was introduced with FWD. Your car could be one. I'm just guessing a bit but I do know that the first X Type was more or less the Mondeo Ghia with a different radiator grill, and in very late 2001 a new Jaguar model was designed. Just Guessing, but I am not a bad guesser! Peter.

Richard, I can never understand why they put mayonnaise on sandwiches. They do not put sugar in your tea or coffee before you get it, so why put something else on that you do not ask for?

Hi Simon, There are several good videos on how to do a plug change on You Tube. Apparently main dealers charge a lot of money, so it is either a good mechanic that you know or a DIY job. Peter.

Hi Seb, I have had a look at the various statistics and the average consumption for that model is given as 29.5 mpg, so your 21.5 is not far out, presuming you are doing shorter journeys, and not on empty motorways It was not a particularly frugal engine, which is probably why the diesel was introduced. It is FWD. I think from my experience on automatics there can be a flat spot between gears going uphill particularly with a fairly heavy car, and I solved it by pressing the "S" button which keeps it in the gears a bit longer. Regards, Peter.

Hi John, A main dealer will charge quite a lot, and I guess that it would be close to four figures. I did hear from the mechanic who has service my cars for about 11 years that the easiest was to do it is to take the engine out, and is probably a ten hour job.I would be inclined to check whether the job has been done on a high mileage car, as what might appear to be a good price at first glance might not be so, Regards, Peter.

I find Mayonnaise quite good for cleaning wooden tables. [Get the cheap stuff]. That might also work. About the only thing that Mayonnaise is good for! Peter.