The universal joints on your Jag transmit power from the engine to the wheels while allowing the suspension and the engine to move about in their mountings. Movement of metal parts implies that something has to be greased to prevent failure. U-joints are no exception. Failure to properly (and regularly) grease u-joints will lead to […]
Category: Jaguar Bits
Ride and Ride Height: Springs and Shocks
There is a specified height for each end of your car. The ride height and the method for determining the ride height are both specified in the factory service manual. As our cars begin to age, the strength and resilience of the suspension springs will fade, and the car will gradually settle lower and lower. […]
A/C Control Panel on the 1988-1994 XJ6
If your 1988-1994 XJ6 A/C control panel does not power on and the blower motors do not work at all you will either need to replace the microswitch inside the panel or the control panel itself. Take the A/C panel out, using the instructions in the service manual, and replace the microswitch, in some cases, […]
Leaky Heater Cores for XJ6 and XJS Jaguars
Heater core problems have started to sprout up again with the cooler weather. When a heater core fails, the typical symptoms are small patches of fog (that don’t evaporate easily) on the windshield just above the defroster vents, and a sweet smell in the air. The sweet smell is the antifreeze escaping through pinhole leaks […]
Purchasing Jaguar windshields from a Dealer or Auto Glass Shop?
We don’t sell windshields. Ever. They are too heavy and too fragile to ship safely. So where should you get windshields? Not at the dealer! Usually we drive the "original equipment only" theme pretty hard, but this is one area where you can get an aftermarket part that’s just as good as the OEM part […]
Engine Cooling Fan Cracking
Jaguar engine cooling fans have a nasty habit of breaking. I’m talking about the big plastic fan blade at the front of the engine. The typical scenario is that the fan clutch will seize, causing the plastic fan to spin at full engine speed. This puts a lot of stress on the plastic fan, which […]
Engine Fires
The Series III XJ6 and the XJS both have a reputation for being "easily combustible." The typical cause of engine fires is a leaking or ruptured fuel injector hose or fuel supply line. On the Series III, there are two places that you’ll want to check periodically. The first place is the fuel injector hose […]
Replacing anti-lock brake pads
When you’re working on your Jaguar and it has an ABS (Antilock Braking System), changing the brake pads is a bit different from what you might be used to with older, non-ABS cars. Normally, you’d just unbolt the caliper, push the old pads apart to retract the piston, and swap in the new pads. This […]
What’s a Jaguar stakedown kit and why do you need one?
The XJ6 6-cylinder Jaguar engine was designed in the 1940s, and when designed was a perfectly functional engine. With the advent of stricter emissions requirements, the operating temperature of the engine increased, particularly around the exhaust ports. As a result of the temperature increase, the exhaust valve tappet guides tend to work loose and rise […]
Winter Cooling System Checks
When winter is near, it’s time to check and update your car’s cooling system. Here are a few things to check: A. With a coolant tester, test the antifreeze capacity of your current coolant. It should test to at least 20 degrees F below zero, or your coolant is suspect. B. Check the condition of […]
