Billyboy

Hi Max, I had bought a NEW 3.0D which developed an annoying knocking from the vacinity of the rear nearside suspension when going over badly made roads. I took it back to Jaguar at Exeter who said that they could not find anything. I then took it to Jaguar at Taunton. A member of their staff took it out with me in the passengef seat......The rattle duly appeared when going over a bad road. They then arranged a day for me to take it in for further inspection. After taking it out on the same bad road, but this time with a member of their staff sitting in the back they detected that the noise was indeed comming from the nearside rear suspension....on further investigation it turned out to be....THE REAR NEARSIDE SHOCK ABSORBER.........This was replaced under my warrantee and Low and Behold my annoying rattle/knocking was no more. Sincerly hope that your problem is the Shock Absorber and that you can drive peacefully again in the lovely Jaguar XF. Rgards......William

Hi, my Daughter runs a 59 reg X type Soveriegn with 17" wheels.......... I have a spare set of 17" wheels which have rim size 7.5J- 49. Will these 7.5 -49 fit her X type. Many Thanks for any info........Billyboy

Hi Anthony, Rick has explained about the key that is attached to the "Fob". Just in case you are not sure on where it is located on the "Fob", you just slide back the Chrome strip on the Key Fob and this will expose the Emergency Key (best of luck when you relocate it back into its position) I have a 3.0 XF on a 63 plate, and there is another "Key Hole" located adjacent to the Boot Release Button on the Boot Lid. It is under a cover which you prise off, this will then "Unlock the Boot Lid". The battery on my XF is located in the boot beneath the floor. If your Battery is Flat you will not be able to open the Boot electrically......Hope this is of some help....Billyboy

Hi All, a very, very happy XF owner here. I was plaqued with a mysterious knocking noise comming from the rear of my XF (see my topic on the 15th March 2015). I took my XF back to my Dealer (Grange of Exeter) who reported that they could not find anything wrong. In desperation I contacted the Jaguar Dealer at Taunton. They asked me to bring my XF to them in order to investigate the problem. As soon as I arrived a Technician listened to my story about the "knocking noise" when going over badly surfaced roads. The Technician immediately drove my XF along a country road that was really badly surfaced. He immediately heard the noise and said that there was indeed a problem. My XF was duly "booked in for 2 days" for investigation, and "Hey Presto" the problem was eventually located.....it was a Defective Nearside Damper Unit. This unit was changed under the Waurentee. My XF is now 100% and I am now a very "Happy Bunny". Of course it now goes without saying that I shall reward the Taunton Jaguar Dealership with my future requirements. Regards to All...........Billyboy 3.0D XF Premium Luxury in Satellite Grey

Hi ALL, have just read an artical by "dervnut" (dated 01-10-12). It is the info for a Jaguar Technician to install a "Foam Baffle" inside the fuel tank of an XF. The Baffle is inserted into the tank via the Fuel Pump Assembly which appears to be located on top of the fuel tank beneath the rear seat floor covering. The artical gives instructions of how to gain access to the Fuel Pump Assembly and how to install the Foam Baffle. So this is what Jaguar does in order to quieten the Fuel Slap problem. It also answers my question of what is inserted into the XF Fuel Tank. Also I contacted Jaguar about my "Knocking Noise" in the rear section of my XF. They told me to book an appointment with a Jaguar Dealer which I have done. But this time I am going to a Dealer in Taunton. They have booked me in with a 1 hour slot so that a Mechanic can travel with me in my XF in order to try to locate the problem. Maybe it is the Foam Baffle that has come adrift in the tank. I sure hope that I get the problem sorted out as I love the XF. Also I have heard a whisper that Diesel is not fashionable anymore in the 3.0 litre guise from 2016. I notice that the New Jaguar Engines do not include a 3.0 litre Diesel but only a 3.0 litre Petrol Engine. Has any Member heard anything on this subject........... Many Thanks for your replies...........Billyboy

Hi Peter and Joe, many thanks for your reply. I have had the wheel off twice and double checked all of the suspension bushes etc. However today I managed to meet a good friend of mine who has a good knowledge of mechanics. We therefore were able to carry out a test whilst the car was in motion. I lowered the rear double seat and I drove the car with my friend almost lying inside the boot. He said the knocking noise was NOT comming from the suspension but it appeared to be comming from beneath the boot floor at the rear of the car. Having made previous tests with the spare wheel removed, and the knocking still audable I knew that it was not a loose spare wheel. HOWEVER there are only two items that are left. One of these is a large box which I think is to do with the Audio system, the other is the Fuel Tank. I don't know if you have heard of "Fuel Slap" on the XF. This is the noise of fuel being thrown around and hitting the sides of the tank when you go over slight "bumps". Jaguar cured this by inserting something into the tank its-self in order to stop the noise. I had this "Mod" carried out by my Jaguar Dealer free of charge. I have today tried to find out just what is was that was inserted into my fuel tank....Could this possibly be the culprit. I tried to find out from my Dealer but I cannot get any reply. However I did manage to contact someone who suggested that what had been inserted into my fuel tank may have become loose ?.....Does any Member out there know what is inserted into theXF tank in order to stop "Fuel Slap" ............Regards.......Billyboy

Hi All, having changed my 18" wheels over to 17" wheels in order to overcome the dreaded teeth rattling ride when travelling over badly surfaced roads here in the Cullompton area of Devon, I now have another problem that has reared it's ugly head. For some reason I am now getting a "knocking" noise comming from the nearside rear suspension when going over badly surfaced roads. I have tried to do many tests in order to try to find out where it is comming from. Each test that I have made have been with the rear seats laid flat in order to make sure that I can hear the noise better.... First Test.....I emptied the boot of all items .....no joy. Second Test.....I hooked the boot floor tray up with the "clip" and left it hooked up, result...no joy....... Third Test......removed the Space Saver and Tool Tray and left the Boot Floor hooked up, result....still no joy.... .Fourt Test......Took car to Grange at Exeter. They could not find anything wrong. To be fair they arranged for one of their Mechanics to travel with me in the car in order to try to locate the problem. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to locate a badly surfaced road in the vicinity of "Grange" So I am now experimenting with the tyre pressures in increments of 0.5lbs/sq". This knock did not used used to be there. I know that the tyre tread depth is going down but it is still aroud 4mm. My Brother mentioned to me that the suspension units on cars used to be held onto the top of the body by 3 bolts, but on some modern cars they are only held on by just one nut this being the one on the top of the damper. Does anyone know what holds the Spring/Damper unit onto the body of the XF. I am looking at this in case the problem might be in this area. I assume that in order to see theTop of the Rear XF suspension unit then the covering in the Boot would have to be removed........Any thoughts in this problem really would be appreciated as the noise is driving me mad........my XF has only done 11, 800 miles Regards to All.........Billboy 3.0D XF Premium Luxury in Sattelite Grey

Hi David, welcome to the club. If you would like to prove that a full size spare wheel will definately fit into your XF without obtaining one at present, then if you can, simply remove one of your Full Size Wheels and replace it with the SpaceSaver.Then use the Full Size wheel that you have just removed and see if you can fit into your your Boot Well. Then simply remove the Space Saver from the car, refit the Full Size wheel back onto the car, put the Space Saver back into the Boot and then obtain a Full Size wheel if you find it will fit. All the Best ...........Billyboy

Hi Ray, if you do many short trips in your X Type, look no further than the EGR valve. Unfortunately it gets "sooted up" which then gives out black smoke...especily when accelerating away from rest. I have owned 3 new X types and I have had this problem twice. The first time I had the EGR Valve replaced by a Jaguar dealer....cost £410. The second time I removed the EGR Valve from the front/top/ lefthand side of the engine,(quite an easy job) I cleaned out of most of the soot and then used a Carb spray to finish off the job and "Hey Presto"...no more smoke). Hope this is of some assistance.............Billyboy

Hi Kasandrich, as Lord H states, you have to have the "Key Unit" about 3ft away from the car, otherwise the Key will/should not allow entry to your car, (Providing it has been previously Locked). I have trained myself to push the small Locking Lever (next to the Door Opening Lever) AS SOON as I get into my XF. By pushing this small lever it will lock ALL of the doors. Anyone outside the car cannot open the doors even though you have the "Key Unit" in the car and it is within 3ft of one of the Key Transmitters. Make sure that you have Locked and Armed your XF when leaving it by pressing the "Lock Button" on ANY door TWICE within 3 seconds. This will prevent ANY door and the boot from being opened from Inside and Outside the car. The Hazard Warning Lamps will "Flash" twice (with a long second flash) and you will get an Audible Warning. This Audible Warning can be Enabled or Disabled by your Dealer. Happy Motoring..............Billyboy

Hi Raymond, firstly, have you tried replacing the battery inside the Smart Key?.... (battery number CR2032)......Page 9 in my XF Handbook....If the battery is LOW a message should appear on the XF's Message Centre........SMART KEY BATTERY LOW..........There are 6 Sensors on the Saloon XF...page 177 in my Handbook. There may be a bad contact inside the Key where the Battery sits......Another test that you can make is when your XF fails to unlock, immediatly go to tht rear of car and try to open the Boot by pressing the Button under the Chrome Strip.(as you know, when the car is "Armed" you can open the boot as long as you have a working key within range of the Boot Sensor). If the boot opens then it could mean that the "Drivers Door Sensor" is at fault......also try Unlocking the car when standing beside the Nearside Passenger door, as there are Sensors located near to each of the Door Handles. If you can, try to Unlock your XF on the Nearside of the car. Do this for a period of days in order to see if it fails to Unlock the car. If the car fails to Unlock from the Nearside also, then it is either the Key or the XF's Unlocking Module .If it is the Unlocking Module this will probably mean a trip to a Jaguar Dealer. There is one other item mentioned in my XF Handbook (page 78).....If the Smart Key fails because of an internal fault inside the Key Unit, a message should appear on the Message Centre..SMART KEY NOT FOUND - REFERE TO THE HANDBOOK. This message should appear when you are sitting inside the car with the ignition ON. If I had this problem I would change the battery first, regardless of NOT recieving a Low Battery Warning. I would also try to Unlock the car from the Nearside rear passenger door for several days in order to see if I could get the Unlocking System to FAIL from this position. Sorry if the above is a bit "Long Winded" but these intermittent faults do sometimes take a while to sort out. Hope you eventually get your problem sorted Regards...........Billyboy

Hi, my Daughter now owns my last X Soveriegn 2.2 D/ 2009. A few days ago the 6 cd disc changer which is situated in the boot of the car stopped working. I located the fault which turned out to be one of the 6 cd trays being warped making the retraction of the disc back into its tray from the cd reading head too heavy for the internal mechanism to operate correctly. I had to remove the changer unit from the car in order to free the trapped disc.After correcting the fault, the changer was reinstalled back into its place. The ignition was then switched ON and the eject button on the changer illuminated and when operated, the cd cassette was ejected from the changer. The Touch Screen also illuminated. Having Jaguar Voice fitted to the car my Daughter gave the command ....Radio Play.......the radio then switched on and began to play. The ignition was then switched off and then back on again, but this time the Touch Screen failed to illuminate, together with the eject button on the 6 disc changer. I would like to think that a fuse has blown, but I have no idea which one. I believe the fuse location is in the fuse holder located in the rear of the parcel tray. Does anyone out there know anything about this problem. Since the only place that I had touched was the items and wires that surrounded the cd changer in the boot I double checked all of the wires and connectors, but I could not find anything amiss. It is beginning to look as if it a visit to the Jaguar Dealer in order to get it sorted. Many Thanks...............Billyboy

Hi to All, just a thought, before buying a spare wheel in order to see if it will fit into your spare wheel space.....remove the Spacesaver or any items that are in the spare wheel recess....CAREFULLY jack up the car at one of the front jacking points,....make sure HANDBRAKE is ON, remove one of the FRONT wheels and see if this wheel will fit in the spare wheel recess (before I remove any wheel from my car, I mark the end of one wheel nut stud and also the wheel nut recess on the wheel in order that the wheel goes back as it came off, this is to keep it balanced this is usually the stud that the "Anti-Theft nut is on.)........If the wheel does fit then put everything back as it was and go ahead and purchase a proper wheel......as this wheel is a Spare wheel, if you cannot get a matching style of wheel another style could do as it need only be put on for a short period of time until you get the original repaired. Regards..............Billyboy

Hi Dave, latest update on XF Boot Lid opening saga. I have a Son who now lives in the USA. Having seen the U-Tube video of the fully opening Boot Lid in the USA, I contacted my Son in order that he could find out if the American XF had a fully opening Boot Lid. He therefore contacted a Jaguar Dealer in the USA and this is what he was told.......The Boot Lid (Trunk) does NOT open fully...it is just like our XF. However the Dealer did say that if a person living in New York had an XF then the Boot Lid would never open fully....UNLESS the weather was very HOT, as it is a normally cold State. However a person living in a normally HOT State (Texas) would have no trouble with the Boot Lid opening fully every time, especially, if the inside of the "Trunk" were to get hot. He also said that the XF owners in a continually HOT climate are finding that their "Gas Struts" in the "Trunk" are having to be replaced every couple of years or so as they loose thier effecency. So it looks as if we will have to await some HOT weather in order for us to see a Boot Lid raising from the Closed position to the fully OPEN position. I did notice that one of our members said that his Boot opened fully when the air temperature was HOT. So there we have it, or so it seems......watch this space Regards..............Billyboy

Hi Dave, I have been looking at the mechanismn that opens up the boot lid on the XF. Firstly I notice that each of the PIVOT PINS has a thin black washer (rubber?) fitted each side of the metal linkages. If these washers are made of rubber then putting oil on them would not be advisable. I think that a Silicon based lubricant would be better. (There is a Red Rubber grease that is OK for rubber). I had already put a quantity of oil on mine to see if the boot lid would open fully. I found that it still failed to open fully. I then took a closer look of the linkage that was associated with the boot lid. There is a link that has a spring attached to it. One part of this linkage rests on a small round "stud" about 1/8" thick. It looks as if when the boot is asked to open the electric boot latch disengages and the boot lid is pushed upwards by the link with the help of the SPRING. It is then that the gas struts come into play. It looks as if the spring on this mechanismn needs to be a bit more powerful so that the boot opens a little more in order for the gas struts to push the boot lid fully open. I experimented on my XF by temporary increasing the thickness of the "stud" (another 1/8"). This certainly made the boot lid open further and it almost reached the point where it would open all the way. Therefore I have come to the conclusion that unfortunately the boot on my XF is not designed to open fully........unless someone knows differently. Please let me know if you get any more info on this item. Best Wishes...........William

Hi Daveallen2, In answer to your query with regards to the radio switching off after 10 mins, the XF set up will do this. Even if you switch on the ignition without starting the engine up and no radio switched on the ignition will switch itself OFF after 10 mins. This is done in order to conserve the battery power so that there is enough power in the battery to enable the XF to run through the start-up procedure before the engine is allowed to start. I have a 2013 /3.0 litre D Premium Luxury in Satellite Grey. According to myXF Handbook, on page 102 (Audio/Video Controls) it states the following.......The Audio system will switch OFF with the Ignition being switched OFF. The Radio can be switched on again with the ignition OFF but the Radio needs to be switched ON by pressing the Radio button again...THE SYSTEM CAN REMAIN ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 minutes..........Hope this is helpful to you. I love my XF but I did not like the rough ride that I got with the 18" x 245/45 tyres/wheels that were fitted when I purchased it from new. I have since had the wheels/tyres changed over to 17" x 235/55 which has resulted in a much softer ride but it is now a "jiggly" type of ride especially when going over white lines etc.........I prefer this to the teeth rattling ride I was experiencicing on our lousey roads here in Devon. Happy Motoring in your XF............William ..... (Billyboy)

Hi All, when releasing the XF Boot Lid, should it open up FULLY on its own. I was watching a video on U-Tube about an XF in America. In this video the presenter stated and displayed that the Boot Lid opens up fully when the internal boot release button was pressed. My Boot lid only opens a little way and then needs to be opened fully by hand. Is this the norm for the XF in the UK or do I have a problem with the Gas Struts on my XF. If this fully automatic opening is something that is only installed for the overseas market, can I convert mine to open up fully after operating the Boot release button. Any replies would be appreciated...........Regards................Billyboy

Hi Silverfox, just to confirm that the noise you are hearingg is the fuel slopping about. I first heard this noise when I went to put my New XF (Prem Lux Sept 2013) into my garage. As I enter my garage I go up a slight "ramp" about 2" in height I then drop down about half an inch onto the garage floor. As the rear wheels go over this ramp I hear the noise. At first I thought that it was something loose in the boot. I therefore removed everything from the boot including the spare wheel/boot floor cover and the tray inside the spacesaver. I made sure that nothing else was loose.....battery....space saver etc. I then drove over the "ramp" and low and behold......there it was.....THE NOISE......I then (just to make sure), drove in and out of my garage several times to definately make my mind up that it was the noise of fuel slopping about in the tank. I wonder if there are any "baffles" fitted inside the tank.......I think not. Incidently the noise seems to be louder if the tank is nearly full (more weight -more noise). Regards...........Billyboy

Hi again, with regards to the unit attached to the rear suspension on my XF which I have mentioned in a reply to DWilson today, I have been looking through the XF E/Manual that I purchesed and is now installed on my PC and Tablet.......gradually getting to grips with this manual.......I have reason to think that it is a SENSOR HEIGHT UNIT that is used to raise or lower the headlamps.............As the suspention lowers with weight, the unit detects this and it operates a Variable Resistor which in turn operates the Headlamp Motor Unit.............Hope this is right............Anyone know different? Regards.............Billyboy

Hi DWilson, lovely artical on your XF. Nice to get another view on an XF running on 17" wheels (allthough its a Sportsbrake) and on different types of roads, and in another Country, which makes a good comparison. I have been making a few tests on my XF Prem Lux (Saloon). I set the tyre pressures to 32 lbs/sq" when COLD. I then checked the pressures after a 10 mile run on the M5 motorway. The tyre pressures were then immediately checked again and they had increased to 36 lbs/sq". The next test I intend to carry out is to travel over short section of badly surfaced road with the pressures set at 30 lbs /sq" (cold) and I will increase them at 1 lb/sq" each time up to 36lbs/sq" (cold). I want to try these tests when the tyres are cold. Fortunately I can do this as I have bad sections of road shortly after leaving home. Like you, I too think that it is mainly to do with the XF suspension set-up that is the problem....the varying tyre pressures help to absorb or stiffen the ride especially with the sidewall size of tyre.......ie; 245/45 or 235/55 etc. Incidently I removed my wheels last week in order to paint the brake callipers. I noticed that on the nearside rear suspension arm there was a small unit attached that appeared to be some form of a Varible Resistor set up. There were wires attached to this unit..........I will try to fathom out what this does..........anyone out there know what it is for? Regards......Billyboy

Hi Bill Bob, glad everything is now OK............the XF is a lovely car, but it sure holds some mysteries for yours truly ( 78 years of age this August). I have used all of the controls and switches at some time or other in order to see how things work.............amazing results especially the Dynamic and Sports Modes. Happy and Careful motoring..............Billyboy

Hi again Bill Bob, A quick test can be made that might help with your problem. If both batteries are of the same voltage then I suggest you check that the battery terminals are OK in the defective key. Another test that you can make is to make sure that you know which is the defective key, then, SWOP the batteries over in the keys. Then see what result that gives. If the defective key remains the same then the key is the suspect. Obviously if the other key becomes defective then the battery may be at fault. I replied earlier to your item of your interior lights not comming on when opening a door. Just in case you did not get my reply...I have a 2013 XF Premium Luxury and on this model the interior lights can be made to work in Manual or Auto by simply holding your finger on the overhead light until it "blinks" if the light is in the Manual mode (lights will NOT come ON when a door is opened) the lights will then go into AUTO mode.....lights will come ON when a door is opened. Regards........Billyboy Hope you get it sorted.

Hi Bill Bob, I looked in my Handbook and found that these interior lights can be in Auto or Manual mode. It looks like your interior lights are in Manual Mode. In order to put them into Auto Mode (lights should come ON when door is opened) you need to press the centre light with your finger and hold it on the light for a few seconds until it "blinks". I experimented with my lights and this is how I made mine go into Auto or Manual mode. In Manual Mode you can switch the lights On & Off but when you open a door the lights will NOT come ON. They will come ON when a door is opened in Auto Mode.........If your Auto/Manual Interior Lights fail to respond to this set up then you must have a "software" problem. I will be interested to know the result...........Regards..........Billyboy

Hi DWilson, I feel "Over the Moon" on reading your article. I have exactly the same feeling and results that you describe. It is most satisfying to read that someone else is experiencing the riding problems that go with the Lovely XF. As already mentioned on these forums, I purchased a new 3.0litre D in Satellite Grey ( a lovely soft Blue when the sun is shining) which had 18" Vela wheels 245/45 Tyres fitted. This were inflated to 31 lbs/sq " pressure. I experienced a very harsh ride on badly repaired roads (as I live in Devon, most roads are in this state). I eventually, and at a cost, had the wheels replaced with 17" wheels with 235/55 Pirelli Tyres running at 34lbs/sq" pressure. The result is that the Harshness over bumpy roads is no longer a bone jarring ride, but my XF still jumps about. However what I now get is the "White Line" syndrome (which was not there on the 18" wheels) the car changes sideways direction when going over changes in road surfaces (or when one part of the road surface is higher or lower than the other. Incidently is it me, when travelling in the Slow Lane on Motorways it seems that the constant running of Heavy Lorries have created "Wheel Ruts" I call them "Tram Lines"....this also results in a sideways movement of my XF when changing lanes from Nearside to Middle lanes, which is something at 70mph, (does anyone else out there get this feeling of "Ruts" being created on the Motorways). It seems to me that there are many permutations with regards to the XF suspension and riding. Some owners feel that everything is OK and others (like yours truly) think that it is not so good. However I have got a much "Softer" ride on the 17" wheels so I will carry on. I now have a set of 4 x 18" Vela wheels with 245/45 Pirreli Tyres that have only done 2200 miles to sell. Thanks once again DWilson for echoing my feelings exactly. Regards.............Billyboy

Hi Tom, I don't know if the following is of any help if you have not cured your problem by now..... I had a defective EGR unit......it caused smoke to be emmited out of the exhaust when a fast start was made from rest........the EGR gets "sooted" up through too many short journeys, the EGR can be removed from the engine and cleaned of soot. On my 2.2D it was mounted on the top lefthand side of the engine. Also with regards to the erratic tickover that you are experiencing when the engine is cold. I had this problem on my 2.2 D. It used to play up until the engine temperature increased. I lived with this problem until I exchanged it for my current XF. I believe there are "Sensors" in the Air Intake Hoses which operate a "Butterfly" in order to regulate the amount of cold air going into the engine. This "Butterfly" opens fully when the engine is Hot. I believe it is called a MAF sensor (Mass Air Flow). This sensor can be electrically tested and can be removed and cleaned with Special Cleaner......THIS MUST BE DONE WITH GREAT CARE.......when removed it looks like a minature electric light bulb filament. When incomming air passes over this filament it produces an electrical resistance. If the air is very cold the electrical resistance opens the butterfly just a little...thus it acts like a "Choke" to the engine. As the incomming air gets warmer the resistance alters and the butterfly opens up, thus this allows more air into the engine which then operates normally..If this MAF filament gets blocked up the engine can play up until it gets warm/hot then MAF is not needed. This can give a rough engine "tickover" and eratic engine operation until the engine gets warmer. I bought an E-manual for my X Type...It cost £9-99p. I downloaded it onto my PC and Tablet. It is in a PDF format and I could look at any part of the X type in order to see how it operates......it really is a good investment. (E manuals-on line). Please try to get further info about the above if you can before attempting to check the above. I had a simular problem on a Ford Explorer 4.0 litre Petrol Engine....this had a MAF which was |"Clogged" up. I had it cleaned by a Garage.....If you use the wrong cleaner it can ruin the sensor. If you go onto "U-Tube" and type in...cleaning a MAF Air Sensor on a Ford Explorer 4.0 litre engine, it shows you how to do it........and what cleaner was used. Regards....................Billyboy