Old Peter

Welcome t the club, Jeff. I wanted an S Type for quite a few years, and when my X type was stolen SWMBO said "Turn a disaster into an opportunity" and look for the car you want as long as it is not too expensive. I found an S Type that suited me in Dumfries at a Stratstone dealership and asked the local dealer if they could bring it down to the midlands for me to look at. They said they could, but they had one in their storage garage that they had not advertised that was better than the one I had asked to them to bring down. Bought at first sight and never regretted - totally reliable and other than tyres, fuel and servicing only £135 spent on a water pump. Great car! Regards, Peter.

Hi Graham, We started caravanning on a whim. It had been raining and SWMBO suggested that we get out for a drive when the sun came out, and we visited a caravan showroom, and when we got home we realised we had bought a caravan, a Bessacarr. Over 20 years we had three caravans, the Bessies and a White Arches Special edition of a Swift. Each one got better. Thoroughly enjoyable time, but the Boss thought that when I was 78 it was getting too much for me! Regards, Peter.

Hi Dominic, I am on my third battery too, replaced in February 2017. I have a exterior plug outside the garage [which houses SWMBO.s Yaris Hybrid] where I plus in the CTEK charger when I have had no longs runs in a week or so. Regards, Peter.

Hi Stuart, I changed the batteries on my Rover Sterling three or 4 times over 11 years, with never a problem. I have not had reason to change the batteries on the fobs for my s type, but the handbook gives good instructions on how to do it, and it does not seem too tricky. I have changed the fob front part of the fob when the figures were getting worn, and that was very easy Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Peter. Doing a small mileage I would guess that your battery needs a charge. Jaguars have so many electrical bits on them that a battery only lasts about 5 or 6 years and I think that it should get a charge every couple of weeks. Regards, Peter.

Hi Debra, and welcome to the club. Sadly I am not electrically savvy, but there are other members who are. I would be resigned to call for the services of an auto electrician. We lived in Derbyshire for 12 enjoyable years. We still go up there frequently to enjoy the scenery. Regards, Peter.

Hi Mike, Loyalty to a particular garage or mechanic is always a good idea. I have used the same mobile mechanic for 16 years and he has never let me down. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Stuart. It is nice to be back in a Jaguar, ins't it? The the Sportbrake is a nice car, and a bit of a pity the Jaguar discontinued its manufacture. I worked in North Wales for 8 years in the sixties and also enjoyed the roads and the coast. Much quieter then, though. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Paul. The cam belt change on the s type is either 105k miles or 10 years. I would be reluctant to change it until then. The XF will be the same. I would also check the mileages per year and you can do that either with the service book record or using the Free app Vehicle Smart which gives you the MOT figures. I do the same kind of mileage with 30k in the last six years and my cam belt will need changing next year as there was a new engine fitted while the car was in a Jaguar dealers ownership when the car was two years old. What the dealer has said is what is known as "boosting the job" and I have come across this before. Three of my staff, plus myself had company cars and I had an account with a local dealer plus a certain other company who alleged to have fitted new brake discs when the car in question had them fitted at the dealers on a service three weeks before. Regards, Peter.

Hi Mel, and welcome to the club. I also found that EGR issues were common on my S Type 2.7 Diesel until the local car accessory shop owner pointed to Millers eco plus [Diesel] which has cured the problem. I also use Shell V Power [Shell station 500 yards away] which does keep the diesel fuel system clean. It could cure the lag on acceleration, which surprises me, as my s type has never had that problem. But let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Robert. The club members do like to share experiences and your input will be very useful. The XF is a very good car and the few times in have been in one I have been well impressed. Enjoy! Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Kevin. Several years ago I saw a few main dealers offering to do the cam belt change for a very reasonable price and cheaper than other garages. Regards Peter.

I agree with Joe. Additives suited to clean a diesel engine can be useful, but a petrol engine does not really need them. Peter.

Hi Graham, I towed our caravan for 20 years with various cars, and although we retired from caravanning 7 years ago I still look at kerb weights and towing capacity. I have found on a Jaguar site that the 3.0 litre XF S will tow a weight of 2000 kg and has a kerb weight of 1750 kg I don't know how to fit the towbar, but I guess there will be someone who does. Regards, Peter.

Well come to the club, Kris. If you check out the David Manners Group Website you will see that they have a very good parts catalogue with part numbers. They will also advise and probably give you the information you need if you telephone them. They will also supply genuine Jaguar Parts. They are relatively local to me and I have used them several times. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Dave. I think Steve is pointing in the right direction. The best route to go on with an issue is usually the cheapest. You should also check the last MOT for any advisories. Use the free app called Vehicle Smart which will give you the last and previous MOT results. Regards, Peter.

Hi Luis, There is no reason why the EGR valves should cause a stuttering when going uphill. You would get an amber engine light if it was. I am guessing that it is a fuel problem. It could be worth putting i an additive that could clean the system -- Millers Eco plus [diesel] or Diesel Magic or similar. I always use Premium fuel, which others will also recommend. I would also suggest a short blast on the A50 or the M6. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Hi Gareth, When I bought my s type over 5 years ago I was pleased to see that it had a proper spare wheel which was provided by Jaguar at Castle Bromwich and charged as an optional extra. When I bought a Toyota Yaris for SWMBO it came with a bottle of gunge and an air compressor. I managed to obtain quotes easily from a used part dealer just by telling him the year and the model plus the Reg Number. He only supplied wheel rims, and appeared to be quite expert. Maybe a Jaguar dealer or a tyre supplier could comeuppance with the answer, and a long shot could be an alloy wheel refurbisher. Peter.

Welcome to the Club, John. It is possible to get a used fuel pump from a car breaker, and some of them will export to the US [if President Trump will allow it]. Can you tell me the cost of a fuel pump in the US and I will make some enquiries re prices in the UK. It is also possible that the part could be much cheaper in the UK, and I do know a supplier who will export a part. Regards, Peter.

Hi Mark, Steve has given you a clue! I had the same problem with my Rover Sterling V6 with the 2.5 litre petrol engine, with exactly the same thing happening. After about 6 miles the car would lose power, and being a 1999 model it didn't have a code erase facility. My mobile mechanic could not fine the fault as the car ran perfectly well to start off with. I asked him to take the car for a long run which he did, and immediately diagnosed the problem when the power loss started. A new coil pack sorted out the problem, Getting a new coil pack might be easier and cheaper than a new catalytic converter. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter,

Hi Gordon, I had a look at that, but I think the 18" wheels on my s type prevents access from the top. I think if they put the car up on a ramp removing the sub frame right let the mechanic get his hand on the alternator. Given the fact that the alternator is supposed to last for 150k miles I don't think any f the design team could have been much bothered in making it easy. Gone are the days when I could replace the distributor on my Triumph Herald in under an hour! Peter.

Hi Gordon, I don't get underneath cars any more, but looking at where the alternator is on the S Type 2.7D I would guess that it is difficult job. Most mechanics have a routine to get to awkward parts and I guess that the alternator is one of them! Its position appears to be down on the right hand side [passenger side] so it does not surprise me that a part or two needs to come off first, Good luck, Pete.

Hi Gareth and welcome to the club. Steve has given you the answer. I also had the same problem and having new sealant put on the tyres stops the leaks. Some tyre fitters do not put on enough sealants. It is still a good idea, though, to check your tyres regularlarly. Regards, Peter.

Hi Graham, I had a similar one a couple of months ago. I applied the brakes gently and it went. The car passed its MOT a week or so later. Conclusion: I don't know, but as its gone I can't be bothered! Regards, Peter.

Hi David, I have been using the same mobile mechanic for 16 years and he has never let me down yet. He did the belts on my Rover Sterling [2.5 V6] which was supposed to be an all day job and he did it in 4 hours! Regards, Peter.