Old Peter

Hi Jon, I saw an XF Sportbrake yesterday in bright blue with all its rear windows tinted. It looked rather odd --- too much of a good thing, maybe? Regards, Peter,

Hi Ivan, and welcome to the club. It sounds to me that you have a fuel system issue. I am assuming you have the Diesel Version with the 2.7 litre Diesel engine, the same as I do. I use premium fuel and put a shot of Millers Diesel Power Eco Max into the fuel tank every month or so, which keeps bothe the EGR valves and the DPF clean, and I also give the car a long run once a month or so. I have never had a problem. Regards, Peter.

Hi Jon, It does look quite good and the metallic red. Regards, Peter.

Hi Jon, I have never had my windows tinted, but SWMBO's Toyota Yaris has the rear windows tinted as one of the factory fitted extras. I must say that they have never caused me any problem, even though I had certain misgivings about visibility. A lot depends on how much tint is there and whether or not the side front windows have any tint on them. Regards, Peter.

My offside mirror sometime doesn't work but when I press it in it does. It appears that now and then it slips out of the bracket. Peter.

Welcome to the club, Richard. My son has a 2.0 litre Diesel estate on a 06 plate, so I understand what is going on with your car. Blue/ grey smoke also appeared from his exhaust and a slightly higher consumption plus a slight loss of power, which signified to me a dirty fuel system. The 2.0 litre diesel does not have a Diesel Particulate filter but it does have an EGR valve which can get dirty. I also drive a diesel [2.7 V6] which also needs occasional treatment. Cleaning the EGR valve is a mucky job so I found a very easy way of cleaning it -- I was recommenced to use Millers Diesel Power ECO Max which costs about £15 and a shot of that every full tank of fuel will do the trick. Also I recommend premium fuel which will assist in keeping the engine clean. Both these solution keep my engine clean, and give a good mpg. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Thanks Ray, One of our members [Raistlin -- Paul] is an expert in matters such as that and will give you some advice when he sees this post. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the cub, Raymond. I am assuming that you are referring to the Sat Nav on your car. If that is so, you can obtain a 2012/13 disc for about £25. This is the last disc made by Denso. Just google Sat Nav Update and you will find quite a few suppliers. I did that on my S Type without a problem. Regards, Peter.

Hi Robert, Most solar chargers will give a trickle but not necessarily full charge the big battery on a XK. There are bigger ones though, and googling around should throw one up that will be big enough to keep the battery alive for two months. I would try to keep the battery in the car and tucked away in a warm part of my drive. Regards, Peter.

Hi Rob, Whichever way you go you could have to reset your settings. Will you fully charge up the battery before you lay up your car, and will you keep you car undercover or will it remain outside? It could be worth looking at a solar charger big enough to keep you battery at a reasonable level. Regards, Peter.

I am with Esure for both cars, the s type and the Toyota Yaris. Best quote for two cars. Liverpool Victoria did not make it easy after a long period with them. Peter.

Hi Todd and welcome to the club, Badging is often down to the dealership. I have had cars without such badges -- my current Jaguar does not have the 2.7d badge on andI have seen some that do. But check with Jaguar using the VIN number. Regards, Peter.

That's good. Sometime a second dose is good too. Peter.

Hi Jon, Afraid not! As you can guess he is very busy in the West Midlands Regards, Peter.

Hi Anthony, and welcome to the club. Tom has mentioned the intercooler hoses quite correctly -- my son's 2.0 litre sport also had the same problem. To keep the EGR valves clean [two on the s type 2.7d] I use a dash of Millers Diesel Eco Max which seems to do the job. You will enjoy the Jaguar experience, Regards, Peter.

Goodyear Eagle were regarded on a survey as the best all round tyre, I paid about £125 a wheel. They are quieter than Pirellis. There are plenty of good tyres around, and it becomes a personal choice. I have heard that Nexens are rather good, too. Peter.

No boring, Jon. I went from Pembroke Dock once on an overnight Ferry to Rosslare. Having driven from Birmingham and with the ferry being two hour late I managed to find a more or less empty area to get a bit of shut eye. Woken half an hour later by 3 teenagers who were a bit vociferous. I asked them if they could swim, and I think they got the message! Peter.

Hi David, 1300 kg is well within the towing weight of the s type. When I found that my caravan was making the car lower at the back I would alter the weight in the boot of the car, moving it more into the centre by putting heavier items onto the rear seats, and taking a gas bottle out of the front of the caravan and moving it to a position slightly to the rear of the caravan axle, and other items until I had bother a level caravan and a level car. Let us know how you get on. Peter.

Having towed a caravan for over 20 years [retired now] I always checked the weight I was towing ensuring I didn't get over the 85% rule, ie that weight you are towing should not exceed 85% of the kerbweight of the towing vehicle. I always checked the downward pressure of the trailer on to the towbar to ensure that there was not too much or too little downward pressure on the front of the towing vehicle, and consequently too much or too little on the rear suspension of the towing vehicle, I did this on level ground with a firm base every single time I took the caravan out. I would suggest that you have the rear suspension checked first before looking at the gearbox etc. If the rear of the car is lower when not towing I suspect damage to the rear end suspension springs. Peter.

Only once, Nick. My company car, when I was way down the pecking order, was a Austin Maestro 1.6 L. I had had it for about three months when I could hear a knock when turning. I had a quick look and feel underneath and felt some movement in the anti roll car. I took it in to a Main Dealer, he had it for a day and said there was nothing wrong with it. The knocking sound was back in about 5 miles and I guess he had put some snake oil on it. Twice more I took out back with exactly the same treatment. So on the fourth occasion I put my car across the dealership entrance -- luckily there was only one main entrance -- there was another at the back and hard of access -- and then went into the Reception area and waited. It was not long before state customers were coming into reception, some saying they could not get in and some saying they could not get out. Eventually the Manager came into reception and asked whose car it was. I told him it was mine and why to was there. he said they would have a look at it, which they did and found that anti roll bar needed changing. Result. They changed the anti roll bar and I changed the Dealership. Peter.

Welcome to the club, Francis, That information is a very good start in the Club. There are some very knowledgeable members in the club, and some like me whose knowledge of tools end with a lump hammer and adjustable spanner, which are generally not used in modern cars. Regards, Peter

Main dealer service prices are quite high. I had a Rover 825 Sterling, and its first service from new was free -- part of the deal. When it came to the second service the listed price [in 2001] in the dealership from where the car was bought was £325 +VAT. As a pensioner and from Lancashire [we would sooner be drowned than done] I started looking around for a cheaper price. Coincidentally, a flyer was put on my car by a Rover trained mobile mechanic who quoted £75 for a full service. He has looked after my cars ever since and a full service in June was £130. My cars - Rover for 10 years, Jaguar x type 2 years, and Jaguar s type for 5 years- have been treated as if he owned the car. A full service plus belt changes will cost about £500. Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Matthew. Your XF seems a well looked after car with a full service record. M s type 2.7d is the predecessor of the XF diesel and the engines are similar. I have not heard of any cam belt trouble with the engines as owners do tend to have them replaced when they should. My car had a new engine when in Jaguar ownership at 28k miles when 2 years old. The cam belt will be replaced in March eve though there is only 79k on the clock. Enjoy your XK. The Jaguar experience is quite unique. Regards, Peter.

That's good, John. Just in time for winter. Peter

Welcome to the club Reg, I think you will enjoy the club, and certainly the members will benefit from your Jaguar experience. Regards, Peter.