Re: Worked on the XJS this weekend...
Bob M:
My XJ6 was also a 1989. I've sometimes thought that maybe the reason I bought a boat to work on is because I missed the challenge of keeping my Jaguar up to snuff. Actually we owned two at one point. My wife had a 1992 XJ6. Hardly spent anything on my wife's car other than routine maintenance. We bought both of them "pre owned", well down on the depreciation curve. We drove them both for almost ten years. Being in them was a wonderful feeling.
No, it wasn't the brakes. One day on the highway, I started to hear a grinding/whining noise from the rear end which just got worse with time. First thought it was a rear wheel bearing. But no. Apparently the ZF4 (from memory) differential on these cars was problematical. Some people thought it was because Jaguar did not specify that the differential fluid be drained/refilled -- ever. I bought a remanufactured differential. After the installation, all back to normal.
How have you done with the dead light bulb warning system on the instrument panel (if that was a feature of the V12)? If all your bulbs are good, but the warning light is on, let me know. I managed to fix mine at a cost of $0 and a low wattage soldering iron. The electrical system on these end 80's Jaguars was ahead of its time. Designed and made by Lucas -- and affectionately known as the Darth Vader system because of its evil way on not working.
