Old Peter

Hi Darren, I had an x type and the options for wheels were 16', 17" and 18". I also heard that 19" could be fitted also. However I heard from an expert that the most comfortable ride was from the 16" wheels. I had 17" wheels and they gave a very comfortable ride. Regards Peter.

Hi Stuart, Breakeryard , which I have used before can source you a part from one of their affiliated breakers. There is also Rimmer Bros, and also the David Manners Group and SNG Barrett will supply new part. eBay is also worth looking at. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Nik. The story about the fraudsters shows us that there are people who will try to obtain your money. I think that Banks should not release the money in such cases until the car is on the quayside so that the new owner can actually see it. Regards, Peter.

Hi Robert, What you are doing sounds a bit like hard work, but worth it in the end. There is a colour code somewhere on the car, but a quick way of finding out is using a site called vindecoderz which will give you the exact specification of your car as it left the factory. Regards Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Karl. I love the XK as does my wife, but we need the four seats! You can get a handbook vie Google.... There is a site that sells the handbook for about £10. Just google XK Handbook and I would not worry about the year as I don't think there were any changes for the XK. Regards, Peter.

Hi Paul, My garage was built when cars were small and my Rover and Jaguars would not fit in. I have never looked at getting a door opening systemmuch as I would like one! Regards, Peter.

Hi Stuart, and welcome to the club. I am not an engineer, but as your son's car is an all wheel drive I would look towards one of the drive shafts. I would jack the car up at the front, chock the rear wheels both directions, car in neutral, handbrake off, and try turning a wheel by hand. I would guess that if you hear the noise you have located where it is coming from. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Hi Colin and Robert, A few answers --- There is a topic which new members can use to show their location on Jaguar Owners Lounge titled What's your Location. If you want to organise a meet just throw your idea on to that forum and ask who won't to meet up. I am sure you will get some replies. Regards Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Andy. I had 30 years of company cars changed every year to two years. When I retired 16 years ago I bought a top of the range Rover Sterling which I kept for almost 12 years -- it had every bell and whistle you could imagine. When it was getting a bit tatty Rover was no more and since then I have had two Jaguars ---- a different world. I hope you will enjoy your Jaguar, and also the club. Regards, Peter.

Not a problem, Paul. I am interested in using that system, but I use a mac and there are some issues with it involving extra software or my laptop, Peter.

Correct, Phil. The diesel issue is when the engine doesn't pick up as quickly.

Mine all light up. Is there a possibility that the dimmer switch has a bad connection? Peter.

Hi Phil, I do get a bit of a lurch occasionally which seems quite common with the ZF auto box. Usually I get it just a day or two before the egr valves are starting to play up. Curiously my neighbour who has a Mercedes get the same problem at the same time. Both are diesels! It does not seem detrimental to the working of the gearbox, and I have found that when the car has had a longish run the issue does not arise. With your car having a petrol engine that issue [egr] should not arise. Regards, Peter.

Hi Tony, Independent Jaguar specialists are hard to come by, but MacMillan Jaguar in Motherwell -- try site on internet -- seem to be a family competent set of people. Let me know what you think of them if they are not too far away. Regards, Peter.

That's good, Robert. Nothing like a gentle drive through nice areas. Peter.

Hi Con, I have just found a definitive answer, Catalytic converters were introduced in 1975 and were being fitted on many cars. It was found that leaded fuel destroyed the Catalytic Converter, so the pressure was put on the fuel companies to get the fuel right. Jaguar was owned by British Leyland at the time when your car was built, and I can recall having a meeting plus a very good dinner with the British Leyland General Manager sometime about 1985 at which the use of unleaded fuel in all engines was discussed. So if you car has a Catalytic converter it will run on unleaded. Better safe than sorry! Regards, Peter.

Hi Con, Back to the fuel ---- I have done some checks around and it does appear that the 1988 Jaguar will run on 95 RON unleaded, although some say 98RON is better. I will have another look to be on the safe side, though. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Con. I would have to make a guess at the metric or imperial question, but I had to change my imperial spanners for metric only recently, so my guess is that a 1988 model will be imperial. The spanner test will get it right! On the question of lead additive being required, again 1988 is around the time unleaded petrol came in so it could be either. I will check and get back to you. Look out for my S Type in late June when she will be wandering around Clare and Galway --- Doolin being a place we are certainly heading to! Regards, Peter.

Just to add, Bob, it seems that in your model that the light staying in flashing mode is indicating that your traction control is working, which I find a little curious, as having a flashing light on your instrument panel would be rather annoying. Peter.

Hi Bob, I think that there must be a signifiant difference between the 2001 system and that installed in later models. "Traction control wil intervene to prevent wheelspin ----------- when the system is operating the warning indicator in the instrument pack will light. It will only stay on when the DSC is not available [to give a synopsis of a long paragraph.] Peter.

Hi Rowley, I was advised by a mechanic to use the forecourt standard fuel and periodically the best grade fuel , -- I use Shell V power as the Shell station is 500 yards away. The best mpg I have had is 53 mpg on the M1 with a 50 mph limit all the way on a 95 mile drive to Sheffield form Birmingham. Using supermarket fuel as Idid for a fe months I never got better than 42. Today I did a check driving quite quickly on a mixture of country lanes and dual carriageway and found I got 39.1 on a 30 miles journey. Mostly I do have short trips which puts down the average somewhat but after a year of using the best/standard alternately I reckon I am getting a better mpg by circa 5 mph plus the acceleration is better and the engine quieter. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, David. Experiences are useful to know, and for the reason that my road is a busy one, and the turn into my drive cannot always be easy, the LWB Jaguar XJ has never come into consideration. Regards, Peter. Lancastrian in exile.

Hi Robert, I was as mystified as Phillip when I read your post. I have had the flashing DSC light on once and I knew why -- I had wheelspin on wet leaves. It went straight off when I got on to drier ground - 2 seconds. I would be inclined to avoid that dealership. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, David. I don't get oily hands any more, so I will leave it to others more mechancally expert on how easy a job it is. A full day out in Hull does not sound very good to me. They used to say "From Hell, Hull and Halifax O Lord defend us." But going to a main dealer for repair work is not my idea of a cheap day out. Regards, Peter.

Hi Robert, The gearbox oil is supposed to last for life, but many members have changed it at around 75k and have found it beneficial. I intend to do mine at that mileage but it has only done 61k and is two years away from a change. Regards, Peter.