NumeatonGraham

Hi Everyone, i am now in the very lucky position nearing retirement(59) of being able to to recieve some cash from my pension and i thought the best way to spend some of it would be on a Jaguar. I do like the S-Type,well more than like i feel it is a great car and it does bring a smile everytime i use it. I have been looking at the XK8 which i have always liked its looks,and as before owning an xjs v12 it would be interesting to see how they compare. The only restriction i have,apart from budget is that i want to put it in my garage,my trusted S-Type fits in a treat but not so sure about the XK8. My S-Type is a 2004 3ltr Auto,petrol,are the later s-types all diesel,not keen on a diesel as i do not do the miles anymore and having experienced the DPF problems with my wife's Mazda i will not go down that route. All comments welcome. Graham

Thanks for the reply Peter. I will measure the gap i have when the drivers oor is open. The XK8 looks so good and with some cash coming my way i thought it just would be nice to own one. I do think the s-type is a superb car but i have never owned an xk8 and they do look nice,as do most Jaguars. Graham :D

Hi Guys and Girls, currently running a 2004 S-type which is fairly easy to fit into my garage which is 82" wide with about a foot from the rear door,so nice and snug. This question may have been asked before, but as i am not keen on leaving it outside the 64000$ question is would it fit in my garage. I realise that the doors would be larger so would getting in and out of the drivers side be a none starter? I park the s-type nearside as close to the garage wall as possible and can open the drivers door halfway which is enough for me to get in/out. Many Thanks Graham

Good advice Peter. Plug in a code reader to get the fault code,it could be a number of things and because these cars need fully charged battery (even though the car will start)that would be the first place i would look. Do you know how old the battery is and what charge it is pushing out? I also believe the wiring loom behind the front bumper can perish,causing problems,but not sure if it is applicable to this year. It might be best to investigate rather than leave it. Graham :D

Trevor, maybe next time put 'Best Offer'!.....i suppose then again you might still get no response! Graham :D

Trevor, totally agree,one of the best things about the internet is that there is so much information about from just about anywhere,just a little time taken to search and you can save lots of £££££'s. Graham :D

Hi Trevor, yes thats the software,but i believe the version 138.02 is for newer vehicles as i think is the VCM connection. Graham

Peter, yes very interesting,i do wonder if all the technology on todays cars is neccessary....but thats just my opinion. I must admit i am looking at another v12 Vanden Plas.....Graham :D

Kevin, Mongoose is the name of the cable that connects into your laptop and in to the diagnostice socket in the car.There are various sources to purchase the mongoose cable and it usually comes with the appropiate software for your vehicle. Like all technology these days clones of the manufacturers equipment are available on auction sites,websites etc. There are lots of options available,like all things nowadays you just choose what is suitable for you. My particular S-type is a 2004 so i went for the cloned mongoose cable,with version 1.30 of the software,this has worked successfully for me.....eventually. Like all things to do with technology,its not always straight forward and can be frustrating to set up,but once sorted i feel in my opinion it will save me money in diagnosing any problems that arise. Generally speaking the software will only run on a Windows version of XP,on a dedicated laptop,this is because the software was written when xp was the available operating system at the time.You can also purchase the reccommended laptop that Jaguar used for the diagnostics at the time and load the system onto it. I chose to buy a secondhand laptop as all i have on it is the Jaguar S-Type Diagnostics.If you go down this route make sure the laptop has at least 1.2gb of Ram as any less and i have found that the software fails to load. Hope this explains what and how i have gone,any questions i will try to help. Graham :D

Hi Mike, Blimey your house must be small,i have 13 Jags in my office! Laptops are cheap as chips,remember these cars are old technology. :D

I have found it much cheaper than the stealers.Laptop cost me £40,software and mongoose £45,i can also use it as many times as i like,will not cost me anymore money for diagnostics at least..well hopefully. :D

I did think of that as my under engine sump cover is held on with cable ties. :D

Colin, no i did it myself. I just ran the car up to temperature,gave it a run,poured in the additive,full lock left and right,took it on another run(any excuse), then over the next couple of weeks the squeak went away. My car is not used a lot a now thats why i think it took sometime. Graham

Hi Peter, just an update really,when squirting rustproofing wax inside my sills today i noticed the fixings for the sills are the same as the rear bumper. Graham

Hi Colin, i bought the additive and followed the instructions,it has now cleared my squeak but only after a few weeks. Graham :D

Hi, i had the lurch on my car and i sorted it myself using a laptop,mongoose and software. On first use i used it to sort out my airbag warning lights,then took a deap breath and flashed the gearbox software,this appears to have sorted my gearbox lurch.This was last October. I was also able to reset all the codes logged. I was sceptical at first but i was not prepared to pay the dealer costs,my choice and i am pleased with the result. Graham :D

Hi phildog,another possible cause could be the heater valve,i believe it sits near the bottom of the radiator,these have been troublesome from posts on another forum i have read. I always go for the cheapest item to look at first,as the previous posters have said,might be worth changing the thermostat first then look at the more costly item,heater valve as i believe they are not cheap. good Luck Graham :D

Hi Peter, just to let you know that i have fitted the rear under bumper fixings. Ford Part No. N806322. - £3.49 for 10. Fiddly easy to break,not sure how long they will last. Graham

Hi Peter, thanks for the reply. I think that part is to secure the chrome blade on the bumper. I am looking for the plastic screw and plastic insert which i think there are 4 of. I have found part no. KRS113130,which i think is a Ford part which may do the job,although not sure. This part is also used for the under bonnet trim so i will have a look and see. Thanks Peter. Graham

Hi Guys/Girls, just as title suggests,i need to get the replacement plastic screw fasterners(4 ithink),to replace my broken ones.Would anyone know the part number or what would be the best fasterners to replace them with. Many Thanks Graham

Hi Everyone, i concur with the other posters great day out and meeting really nice people and the great cars. I have a nice red lobster face,thanks for the hardwork putting it on. Great amount raise. Take care guys/girls till next time. Graham:)

Nuneaton,Warwickshire

Thats great thank you:)

Thanks Peter,the weather looks extremely good......better ask the wife to get the picnic basket ready!

Hi, please could you add me to the list if its not too late,would like to meet other members and their cars and hopefully swap stories. Thank You Graham