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Location: Approximately 50 miles from Missoula MT/38 yrs full time after 4 yrs part time
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I am a retired, widowed, senior citizen.....who recently gave himself a birthday gift!!!! I found (without intentionally looking) a 1996 JAG xjs 2+2 convert w/ 44000 miles. (6 cyl, 4.0 L, double O.H. cam).(It is my understanding that this is the last year before "FORD" began to "stick their fingers in the pie" and began to make changes.) Original owner, all service records, always garaged and in VERY good (excellent/mint) condition. Sooooooo, I sold some things I needed to get rid of and bought this Jag. Boy am I happy!
I will have it down in Tucson all winter and have the following questions:
1/ Can anybody out there recommend an "honest, good mechanic" familiar with this year Jag, who I could use (in Tucson area) if the need arises. I know there is "ROYAL JAGUAR" on Circut Dr., but I thought maybe somebody would know of an independent "Foreign Car Specialist (Jag background mechanic)" that might be less costly to use than a dealer's mechanical facility.
2/ The only problem I have now with it is: if it isn't used for approx 10 days, the battery gets discharged enough that it won't turn the engine over. If I put it on the 10 amp charger for 2 hours....it takes the charge and turns the engine over perfectly and starts immeadiately. The degree of discharge is such that the lights come on, but there is not enough "juice" to turn it over.
It also starts immeadiately if I jump it from another running vehicle.
Everything that I can find it "turned off". The only "parasitic" draw that I can think of is the OEM Security System.
3/ The original Alum Rims (wheels) are on the car. It looks like they came with a "clear coat sealer" on them from the factory. It also appears that someone in the past used the "wrong" cleaner on them and they look dull, grungy and stained. Any thoughts as to what I can do to them to make them look shiney and clean.
The old joke about Jags, especially before "'FORD' began to 'stick their fingers in the pie,'" is that they get more miles going up and down on the mechanic's lift than they do rolling down the road. Good luck with that one, my friend. You'll need it.
Well, in answer to your first question, if you don't daily drive the car, I suggest (assuming it's in a garage with mains power available) get a Battery Tender (smart trickle charger) and order the optional cig. lighter adaper for it. I have one of these for each car I have, just leave them on trickle charge, the BT shuts down automatically when the battery is full. If the battery is that low after 10 days I would say something may be wrong, and that something may just be a weak battery. If you must store outside you can find solar chargers that plug into the cig. lighter outlet. I think on Jags the lighter outlet is "hot" regardless of key position.
You may want to measure current draw on the battery with the car "off", if it's excessive (I don't know what normal should be) you can pull each fuse in turn, take out #1, if no change in current draw, put it back and go to #2, etc.
Depending on how DIY you feel, you can get buffing supplies for your wheels from Eastwood, probably you'll end up stripping off the clear coat, polishing, then you have the option to re-do the clear coat or just leave them bare metal and polish occasionally. I'm assuming the wheels are polished aluminum with clear coat, and not painted aluminum as BMW does. In any case you can get stuff from Eastwood, Griot's Garage, Car Care Specialties, etc. Alternatively, any decent body and paint shop can refinish the wheels.
Suggest you get aquatinted with the local British Car club, there must be one in Tuscon, ask around about good mechanics. Usually dealers are not much use once a car gets over 10 years old.
Good luck with the car. A little more positive spin on Drover's comment is that anybody can love British cars, but unless you are a Real Car Guy right to the core, and able to do most of your own work, the British car won't love you back.
I am a retired, widowed, senior citizen.....who recently gave himself a birthday gift!!!! I found (without intentionally looking) a 1996 JAG xjs 2+2 convert w/ 44000 miles. (6 cyl, 4.0 L, double O.H. cam).(It is my understanding that this is the last year before "FORD" began to "stick their fingers in the pie" and began to make changes.) Original owner, all service records, always garaged and in VERY good (excellent/mint) condition. Sooooooo, I sold some things I needed to get rid of and bought this Jag. Boy am I happy!
WOW, Montana Griz . . . I am both impressed and jealous.
Any ten year old vehicle with 44k plus miles will require some maintenance and, unfortunately, Jaguars probably require a little more, however, the positives will be far greater than the negatives, especially here in Southern Arizona where Top-Down Weather is routine.
As for a Good Mechanic . . . Bucks Automotive on First Avenue near Wetmore is probably the best and most honest shop in town and if Buck feels he is not the right guy for your Jag, I am certain he'll be up front and recommend someone who would be more qualified.
Another thing to consider is to contact John's Cars ( http://www.johnscars.com/ - broken link) out of Texas--------he sells conversion kits to swap in an easy to fix Chevy 350 V8/700R4 AT combo in lieu of that potentially problematic Jag Six.
Congratulations Montana. I'm trying to remember what I had done on my 91 Soverign.
It seems to me that the electrical system was the weak point of that car. I had the spark plug wires replaced with heavy duty ones because of rusting and put in an American car relay for under $10. It would pay you to get a fuse tester so you don't have to pull out every last one in all compartments considering there are so many. I'd also suggest getting a car book for your model as it will come in handy and you can look up the codes.
Be aware that the car takes considerably more oil than a regular car when you change the oil. I also only put high test in as that's what it called for. What ever you do don't ever use a pressure washer on it as the clear coat will magically disappear.
This is one of the most comfortable and fastest cars (had mine up to 110 and it sat right down) that was ever produced and I've ridden in Rolls and prefer the Jag to my Porsche. Have Fun!
I am a retired, widowed, senior citizen.....who recently gave himself a birthday gift!!!! I found (without intentionally looking) a 1996 JAG xjs 2+2 convert w/ 44000 miles. (6 cyl, 4.0 L, double O.H. cam).
I have a '94 XJ6 (4.0 L inline six cylinder) but I can't think of any reason as to why your battery is being drained. A dead cell in a battery will sometimes act this way though.
You will definately want to register (free) at Jag-Lovers.org forums. The fellows over there were extremely helpful when my MAF sensor recently failed and I began getting a "Check Engine" light and an error code.
Also I will recommend that you be extremely careful if you decide to wash your engine with water. They say cats don't like water, but Jags especially hate it! In fact, they may may reward for the cleaning by sitting in your driveway for a week or two until you can figure out what electrical connector got wet.
Good luck with your Jag. When they are running right they "run like a scalded dog!"
Yes but I wouldn't dare put water on my cat,....again. As the old saying goes, "I've been there, done that and got the T-shirt." And that T-shirt says, "CATS DON'T LIKE WATER!"
And too, I was just giving dogs a break since no car has ever been named after a dog yet several cars like the Jaguar, the Cheetah, and the Cougar have cat names. Please note that I did not say "ran like a dog." I've owned some of them.
Location: Approximately 50 miles from Missoula MT/38 yrs full time after 4 yrs part time
2,308 posts, read 4,120,376 times
Reputation: 5025
Thanks to all of you for replying.....I really appreciate all the information and comments.
I really feel very lucky to have 'accidently' found this car. I was in northern Florida for part of last winter, to get out of this Montana winter weather. While driving past a Jag dealership, I happened to see this car just being parked next to a brand new convertible, and two men standing next to the 2cars. I made a "U" turn, pulled in and parked about 50 feet away. A few minutes later one of the men came over to my car (2007 Yukon w/ MT plates) and courteously asked if he could help me in any way. I said; " I was struck by how 'eye-catching' the two convertibles were, sitting there side by side". He said the other gentleman was just taking delivery on the new one and was ready to sell the old one........and was I interested in talking to the owner?
Well, one hour later I was the new owner of the 1996 XJS... NOTE>>> (in the preceeding 6 months I had just sold my late wife's car; sold my pick-up and camper, sold my own sedan, bought the SUV I was driving and had the urge to 'spoil my-self a little'. ) At age 76 you tend to do that occasionally.
It had been purchased from this dealership (new) by this gentleman, always serviced there (I got all the service records) and truly is immaculate.
I towed it (in an enclosed 19' car trailer) 3350 miles back to MT and have had numerous comments from all age groups when I drive it locally here in the Bitterroot Valley of western MT.
Thanks again for your help.
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A cat that can run like a scalded dog!
