Old Peter

When I had an x type I always used to keep the front foglights on. Only a part solution! Peter.

Hi Robert, Always take out the ignition key when doing something electrical When the battery is starting to fail, unnecessary electrical operation are shut down. When I first had my car, I found that the heater rear window was not working. A battery charge solved it!. When you change the battery, make sure you have your radio code to hand. You will have to reset the windows, clock, volumes on sat nav, radio etc. Regards, Peter.

Hi Shaun, and welcome to the club. I had the same problem with a Rover after being potholed. While the tyre looked OK there was a large bulge on the inside. I had a wheel bearing problem on a Toyota, as I though, till I found it was the stabiliser bar. And has Joe said, a visit to a tyre fitting garage could solve this annoying problem quite cheaply. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Ian. Once you have made up your mind as whether you are going to buy a petrol of diesel engined car and set your budget, I always look for the youngest car with the best service history and mileage and then take it from there. Having all the bells and whistles is nice, but not absolutely necessary, as some can be retro fitted. When you have had a good look around, and armed with other information from XF owners, you will see the car you want. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Robert, Joe has given you some very good information. I had problems with that "Parkbrake Fault" on several occasions, usually when it was cold. I had my mechanic examine the whole operation and he reported a clean bill of health. Although I have had no problem resetting it, I came to the conclusion that it was occurring when the battery was low on power. and the message from the switch inside the car was not getting there, putting it simply. A new battery three and half weeks ago, plus a solar powered trickle charger have been installed and even in this cold weather and the car parked outside, it has not happened again. Regards, Peter.

Hi Gareth, I would not worry the slightest about the EGR valves and the DPF. In the main, many members post when they have a problem. It is quite rare to see a post saying "I have never had a problem with EGR valves and DPFs". I do a small mileage with many short journeys, and the slight issues I have had with the EGR valves being sticky on occasion have been resolved with the use of an additive. Just get in, switch on the ignition, wait for the glow plug light to go out [about 3 seconds] start the car, and drive away gently. You will be surprised how quiet and easy to get on with. When the engine has warmed up you can just treat it like a sports car. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Lee. Your experience with Jaguars will be of great assistance to the members, as sharing experience and knowledge is fundamental to the Club's success. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Gareth. The 2.7 diesel engine is deceptively quick and a pleasure to cruise in. It also powers the S type. As Joe has said, the colour code is on the inside of the door pillar, and the metallic element in the colour will change somewhat in the sun. I hope you enjoy your Jaguar and the club. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Phillip. The X type is a great car, and the 3 litre AWD sold very well in the USA and Canada, as they thought, and rightly so, that it was brilliant in the winter. I would check the fuses and connections for the overhead lights, and the key fob could well need a new battery. The "Plastic" wood used by Jaguar is real wood veneer, usually Maple but sometimes Burr Walnut on Daimler versions. But De gustibus nil disputandem! Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, John. I have the s type with the 2.7 diesel engine, and although I only do a small mileage plus mostly short trips I have never had a problem that I am unable to solve very easily. Both the EGR valves and the DPF c an both be solved by the use of an additive -- there are plenty available and all pretty good. Currently I am using a Millers Oils diesel additive, and a longer trip about once a month is not a chore but a pleasure and can be fitted in with a visit to somewhere nice or useful. I hope you enjoy the club as much as you are enjoying your Jaguar. Regards, Peter.

Yes, Joe. Preventative maintenance is usually much cheaper that fixing something after it has been broken, Peter.

You don't need an MOT to check your tyre legality. The motoring experts are issuing a warning that car owners should always check the wear on their tyres was well as the pressure. A tyre depth gauge costs less than a fiver. Peter.

Hi Richard, I have driven quite a lot in Norfolk, having taken my caravan to the Cromer area many times, using my Rover 825 Sterling to tow the caravan. One of the differences I have noted with my S Type, which is of similar size to my Rover, is that it is quite a different car to drive and driving techniques have to be altered somewhat. The Rover is a front wheel drive, and the S type is a rear wheel drive, and the transition from the one to the other takes a little getting used to. Those driving in the sixties will remember the change from RWD to FWD, when the body of the car was being pulled instead of being pushed. Regards, Peter.

I have just read that the Government are soon to propose changes to the MOT, increasing the 3 year test for new cars to four years, on the basis that new technology and better quality materials are making it possible to extend the time. The Government introduced the MOT in 1960, and the test was for cars 10 years old, and involved Brakes, Lights and Steering, and was changed to 3 years in 1967, and has, over the years, added many other items. One of the things that some motoring experts have mentioned is that there could be cars on the road with well worn tyres as some cars will be going for their MOT with over 100k miles on the clock. Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Andrew. There are quite a few members in your area, and you could well come across them. Regards, Peter.

It is a well known fact that main dealers sell cars rather than service them. Since I retired in 1999 and the company car never came onto my driveway every year or so I have only bought three cars, one Rover Sterling, and two Jaguars. I bought all three from main dealers. I have never had them serviced by a main dealer, and only once have I been to a main dealer [for a diagnostic test when the amber light came on] and the cost was £69 for ten minutes. The amber light has been on a few times since, and when I joined the club about three and a half years ago, the advice I have had has enabled me to run my car economically. The removal of the DPF is a chancy thing, insofar as if the MOT rules are changed and the DPF removal is a fail, then you can be stuck with an expensive bill or n unsaleable car. Peter.

Welcome to the club, Waldo. That is a very useful piece of information. Regards, Peter.

Hi Jon, At last you have your dream! On pairing your 'phones I wonder if you have bluetooth fitted in the car. Mine would not pair with an 05 plated x type, but I had no problem with my 07 s type. Regarding the boot cover, there are several places that you could try. I have used the David Manners Group a couple of times and you could also try googling the item - my son's x type estate has a broken cover and it would cost about £200 to get a new replacement. On the key fob a good auto electrician/locksmith could supply and programme one if not able to repair it. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Hi Tom, I have the 2.7 diesel in my car and have never had a problem wth the DPF. I do use Shell V Plus and also an occasional additive to clean the EGR valves and the DPF, which, with the occasional longer run, seems to work. I would not personally go down the illegal route. There is strong opinion that in the near future the MOT will include a full inspection of the DFP which will make the car an automatic failure if it has been removed. It might well be the best route to have the DPF cleaned in a garage as Paul has suggested. Regards, Peter.

That's the first sign of a failing battery. Mine was 4 years and 11 months old when I changed it. Everything perfect now even when it is freezing. Peter.

My can of WD40 would come out for issues like that. It is possible that the lock is not coming on quite fully. Just a guess, but a squirt of WD40 is a cheap fix if it works Peter.

In spite of only going just under 7000 miles a year I have never had a problem with the DPF. I always us Shell V power and the extra 8p a litre is well worth it. I also give each fill up - about once a month - a dose of an additive which keeps the EGR vales clean a well as assisting the DPF to burn off soot. Preventative maintenance is better than having to sort a problem out after the event. Peter.

Welcome to the club, David. I am assuming you have a diesel engine in your car. The curly wire means that there is something wrong with the glow plugs. Not being a mechanic I would not have a look at them myself, and would take it to the garage which does my servicing. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter

Hi Phil, Unfotunately I can't offer an answer, but the irony is that a squirt of of WD40 would have seeped through. I have done it several times with door locks. Let us know how you get on on Saturday. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Phillip. I went looking for a s type diesel and came back with a 2.5 litre V6 AWD in a nice metallic red. A really nice surefooted car which I enjoyed till two scroats carjacked me. Still I got my s type eventually and the two scroats got 8 years in jail. Regards, Peter.