phanc60844

Hi, Has anyone with the original Nikisil engine had their car on a rolling road? I'm interested in knowing how the power degrades over time, it is said that Nikisil engines are much better than cast iron lined ones as the clearances were much tighter and they just dont wear as quick. Just wondered if anyone had any real world experience of this? Thanks Paul

Glad you got it off , what condition were the metal brackets that support the leading edge of the bumper (the one that the slider connects to) ? Mine look to be almost dust and I cant see replacements anywhere ,looks to be a self fabrication part

Hi, No , the drawing shows the normal LH and RH horns and another which apparently has some nicads built in that charge from F3. This allows the sounder to still operate if someone disconnects the battery, however, after 17 years, I would say the nicads are shot and it has been said on some forums that they cause the F3 fuse to blow regularly

Hi all, just putting the interior back after welding in new floor plates in m 1998 XK8. I tried all of the switches to make sure everything was working then I found out that both sets of fogs, headlamp leveling and traction off button not working. After some checking I found that F3 had blown in the engine fuse box. According to the wiring diagram that feeds 2 relay coils, heater pump relay and front fog relay, headlamp leveling switch and motors, and the active alarm sounder. I've removed both relays to tak that out of the equation and it still blows. On further inspection of the fuse box, I noticed a strong wiff off electrical death (you know the one I mean!) So I removed and stripped the fuse box, not as bad as it seems providing you make a note of the fuse sizes and locations, the four connectors to the box are colour coded and handed s you cant !Removed! them up. The only thing I could see was that the circuit board was in 2 pieces hard soldered together with an insulator between. Got my meter out and I couldn't find anything wrong with it , other than that strong wiff. So this morning I restocked my supply of fuses and refitted the fuse box only to find that everything seems to work, good must annoying at the same time! So the question I have is, are do the fuse boxes on your cars have the same wiff -is this normal? and also, where is the active alarm sounder? would I actually have one? I 've checked on other threads and it seems like this is a good place to resume fault finding if it comes back. Thanks in anticipation Paul

Peter, do these projects ever get finished? I've go an old house that's like the Forth Bridge ,I've a feeling that my XK will be the same <_<

ops, forgot to mention that the car had a cherished plate on it. I've put some feelers out and got it valued at about £875. So the car has only cost me £2125! :D will have to put the money towards the repairs though

Hi all, after years of thinking about getting an XK8 , I've just taken the plunge, must be a mid life crisis! I've loved them ever since they came out and i'd always promised myself one after years of sampling various vauxhalls, mazdas toyotas, you know, just run of the mill stuff. So now I've got myself a sort of weekend car/work in progress thing! Got it off ebay (dont laugh), the guy wanted £3500 (1998 coupe ,132000 miles). Small amount of rust around the rear arches and lower quarter panel, drivers door does register open ,A/C pump a bit noisy on start up, heater doesn't work, air intake snorkel cracked, and so on........ I offered £2800 and we agreed on £3000.I had to pick up from London so took the train and he picked me up from the station. It drove very well, was quiet, overall in very good nick for a 17 year old motor. We did the deed and I drove it home. On the way,I could resist putting it in sport mode and floored it, I nearly had to change my underwear, I wasnt expected the acceleration! However when I came to my senses I could smell burning oil and the PAS started to get heavier and heavier until I lost assistance completely. Stopped off at the next services to find the engine bay covered in oil and the PAS reservoir empty. Looked like the pump had blown a seal when I revved the engine, oops! Got one off ebay again for £40 but what a pig to change, afterwards, back to normal, drives like a dream again. Got round to looking at the rust blisters at the back, did a quick a dirty fix to get me over winter. I will weld in new panels (sill, arch, quarter panel) on both sides and get them professionally finished next spring. This morning just started to Dinitrol the front of the car. Looked behind the wheel well covers and there was rust in the usual place, to the interior side of the wheel arch but was just surface. Cleaned then up, converter on then Dinitrol wax. However there is more serious corrosion behind the engine cross member where it connects to the front wish bones/strut. With the cross member in the way all I could do was poke about with a screwdriver. One side is flaky and the other goes through. For the time being I've sprayed converter in followed by wax and I will weld it up next spring. I'm not looking forward to it but then like a challenge. Well thats my first experience of XK8 ownership, a baptism of fire but as long as its fixable i'm fine with it all Paul