[AkatsukiDesign]

There's a lot I'm liking about Dixie, but I'm also finding the odd thing I'm not so keen on compared to my S type, the big one being the lack of fold down rear seats. On three separate occasions now, I've been unable to get something in the boot and had to swap cars for the S type The three things? A replacement light fitting for my mums kitchen, (a long LED fluorescent replacement unit), a bicycle, and a pair of tyres for my Capri. None would fit in the XJ boot (well, one tyre would, but couldn't get both in and shut the lid, and the light fitting wouldn't fit inside the cabin either, as too long), but all were swallowed up easily in the S type with the rear seats folded down


Wish I had a £ for all the times I've heard sentiments like that recently . Auto boxes have come on a long way since the old Borg Warner things of old I hated automatics back then, but other than my classics, wouldn't go back to a manual now. I'd even prefer my Transit to be auto, but there wasn't many around when I was looking.

Oddly, Dixie always feels much more like it does want to be raced everywhere. It's the same engine, box and running gear as my S type, but feels much more sporty and willing, just a bit big . I put it down to the lighter alloy body?

I actually took folding seats out of my 2.2 X-Type in favour of fixed rear seats, partially to ensure I didn't have to do a tip run with that car for anyone lol but also because I got seats from an earlier X-Type as the sport seats on them had much deeper bolstering.

As for auto boxes I remember how bad they were with the minis, Mazda 626 and the like, this one does seem better by a long way. Still prefer manual though but the less effort is a nice thing.
Don't get me wrong the XJ isn't slow, definitely lively in sport mode when you catch it right but I've had far faster cars where they feel like they want you to put your foot down, this car doesn't feel that way. It'll shift if I want it to but it's not tempting me to do silly speeds which is good. Need to get into that habit as if anything happens to this one the next will definitely be an XJR 😁

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

Sounds like you've got a great mix going on with work done yourself and outsourcing other jobs to the benefit of time used and money spent.

Good call on the diff, got to mine too late at around 60 odd thousand miles with the previous owner and had a slight leak, although changed it out twice was to far gone and a replacement needed, luckily under warranty.
Fingers cross that the cabling around the diff area is your issue and you don't have to chase down A N Other problems for that.


Great news on the suspension and a cheap fix.
That squeaking is actually embarrassing, one of my mates had the same issue and drove in / out of my street years ago, horrendous noises and from a Jaaaag!

Got a light scraping sound from mine at the moment, looks like the dust shield on nearside loose and likely scraping against brakes, hopefully resolved tomorrow along with new brake discs and pads

Jim

I've got a few Land Rovers and I definitely know how important it is to change the diff oil, I tend to service them every 3000 miles and diff oil every 10,000. Gearbox at the same time. I don't believe in sealed for life nonsense and with having Landys I have a paranoia about the Jag because I'm used to the "if it's not leaking it's empty" mentality and I've not seen any drips from the Jag yet 😂

The squeaking was highly embarrassing. I thought people were looking at my nice car then one day with the windows down I heard it and I realised why they were looking. Absolutely diabolical 😂

Dust shield for brakes coming loose is a rare one. I've heard them being loose because they are corroded and hanging off but not just loose. If you're refitting or replacing maybe a dab of loctite or fit them with nordlock washers, won't come loose then 👍

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

Latest update..

Couldn't be bothered waiting for the weekend so fitted the cargo area power socket. I was tempted to fit a grey one but black seemed to fit better especially with the elastic ribbons to secure items and I located it close to them so if something was on charge in the back it could be secured by them.

Loom tape wrapped as per yesterday:

Fitted into conduit to ensure cable is protected:

Socket installed into right hand side area:

Inline fuse added, currently with 7.5 amp fuse as I don't expect to run much through it but cable capable of much more:

Looks alright, it's pretty tucked out the way but tested and working and with it being JLR parts, plug etc it at least doesn't look out of place, bonus is I can run a USB plug in it so best of both worlds

 

[Ruby351]

Lovely tidy job that, and another feather in your cap - nice one

 

[orsom weels]

I actually took folding seats out of my 2.2 X-Type in favour of fixed rear seats, partially to ensure I didn't have to do a tip run with that car for anyone lol but also because I got seats from an earlier X-Type as the sport seats on them had much deeper bolstering.

I can't remember the last car I had that didn't have fold down rear seats, and I miss them terribly. That alone could be the make or break as to whether I keep Dixie or not

As for auto boxes I remember how bad they were with the minis, Mazda 626 and the like, this one does seem better by a long way. Still prefer manual though but the less effort is a nice thing.

I was never a great fan of those AP auto's in Mini's and 1100/1300's etc, it always seemed wrong to use dirty old engine oil in an automatic gearbox
I still like a manual for a bit of fun driving, but I prefer the auto for everyday driving just getting from A to B, especially in traffic

Don't get me wrong the XJ isn't slow, definitely lively in sport mode when you catch it right but I've had far faster cars where they feel like they want you to put your foot down, this car doesn't feel that way. It'll shift if I want it to but it's not tempting me to do silly speeds which is good. Need to get into that habit as if anything happens to this one the next will definitely be an XJR 😁

Dixie just wants to go! I have to be quite mindful when accelerating away from junctions etc, so as not to have TC kick in, and I have actually started using ASL to stop it running away with itself, otherwise I find myself doing silly speeds if I'm not keeping an eye on myself all the time Acceleration is right up there with my XK, in fact, with Mrs O driving Dixie, and me following in the XK, I genuinely had to work the XK hard, and use sport mode, to keep up. I've only once used sport in Dixie, by accident, when the button got pressed when I chucked my mobile on the console, and for a moment, I wondered what the hell was going on
I've had lots of big, powerful fast cars over the years, and still got a few, but Dixie continues to impress in that department. Just a shame the seats don't fold down

 

[JimC64]

Latest update..

Couldn't be bothered waiting for the weekend so fitted the cargo area power socket. I was tempted to fit a grey one but black seemed to fit better especially with the elastic ribbons to secure items and I located it close to them so if something was on charge in the back it could be secured by them.

Loom tape wrapped as per yesterday:

View attachment 94604

Fitted into conduit to ensure cable is protected:

View attachment 94605

Socket installed into right hand side area:

View attachment 94607
View attachment 94606

Inline fuse added, currently with 7.5 amp fuse as I don't expect to run much through it but cable capable of much more:

View attachment 94608

Looks alright, it's pretty tucked out the way but tested and working and with it being JLR parts, plug etc it at least doesn't look out of place, bonus is I can run a USB plug in it so best of both worlds

View attachment 94609

That's a very tidy job, looks like it came that way from the factory!

Jim

 

[JimboV8]

Latest update..

Couldn't be bothered waiting for the weekend so fitted the cargo area power socket. I was tempted to fit a grey one but black seemed to fit better especially with the elastic ribbons to secure items and I located it close to them so if something was on charge in the back it could be secured by them.

Loom tape wrapped as per yesterday:

View attachment 94604

Fitted into conduit to ensure cable is protected:

View attachment 94605

Socket installed into right hand side area:

View attachment 94607
View attachment 94606

Inline fuse added, currently with 7.5 amp fuse as I don't expect to run much through it but cable capable of much more:

View attachment 94608

Looks alright, it's pretty tucked out the way but tested and working and with it being JLR parts, plug etc it at least doesn't look out of place, bonus is I can run a USB plug in it so best of both worlds

View attachment 94609

Excellent work, nothing better than a professional job on wiring.

 

[Little George]

Talking about speed in the XJ. I leave mine in sport since I found the button. Have to behave myself at times though, and yeah lose a couple miles a gallon but its much faster than my BMW 520 was. ( which I did get done for speeding in. I framed the picture ) I like the response in sport its like how I drive a manual but without having to do the gears.

Impressive job on the Rear socket. Perfect for a cool box.

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

I can't remember the last car I had that didn't have fold down rear seats, and I miss them terribly. That alone could be the make or break as to whether I keep Dixie or not



I was never a great fan of those AP auto's in Mini's and 1100/1300's etc, it always seemed wrong to use dirty old engine oil in an automatic gearbox
I still like a manual for a bit of fun driving, but I prefer the auto for everyday driving just getting from A to B, especially in traffic


Dixie just wants to go! I have to be quite mindful when accelerating away from junctions etc, so as not to have TC kick in, and I have actually started using ASL to stop it running away with itself, otherwise I find myself doing silly speeds if I'm not keeping an eye on myself all the time Acceleration is right up there with my XK, in fact, with Mrs O driving Dixie, and me following in the XK, I genuinely had to work the XK hard, and use sport mode, to keep up. I've only once used sport in Dixie, by accident, when the button got pressed when I chucked my mobile on the console, and for a moment, I wondered what the hell was going on
I've had lots of big, powerful fast cars over the years, and still got a few, but Dixie continues to impress in that department. Just a shame the seats don't fold down

See for me while fold down seats are a useful thing, because I have other means of carting about big stuff I never wanted my X-Type to be asked to carry furniture or even a load of trash to go to a tip I made sure it couldn't be done by fitting the fixed seat. Only ONCE in what I think was 9 years with the 2.2 was there an occasion where having them fold would have been used which was my own doing for having a giant subwoofer taking up a full 1/3rd of the space meaning some shopping had to go on the back seat, had the seats folded down I'd of not driven home worried about the leather being marked but it all worked out fine and no damage so it was okay.

Minis tbh were terrible in a lot of regards. Even those with a manual box, the 1275GT was an absolute rot box, wasn't really all that fast and drank more than Keith Floyd during a cookout.
My preference for manual cars comes from having 4x4's I've always liked the control especially in winter you get with a manual, I know plenty who like to do steep climbs prefer an auto but rock crawling you can't beat a manual. My cars are kinda agricultural and raw and there is that connection to the machine that an auto would just spoil. However, with the XJ it's not an issue, from the soundproofing to the suspension to the auto box everything about that car is made to cocoon you away from the outside which is a new novelty to me and I really appreciate the comfort it brings.

ASL, that's a feature I absolutely love, I've only just realised you can cancel and resume it like you can with cruise control too so you don't have to reset the speed each time too. Should have read the manual really. But the feature is brilliant it means I can set and forget when there are speed cameras around.
I've had in the dry once my car trying to break traction in a straight line by flooring it when sport mode was enabled because I wanted to see what difference it would make. Turns out a substantial one.
I've not even remapped this one but it showed either the car is powerful or the tyres are garbage. I changed to better tyres, it still tries to break traction so I know the car can be a hooligan tool but to me it doesn't feel like it wants to be. It's happy to sit bumbling along as slow speeds without a care in the world. My Discovery Td5 on the other hand wants to be revved, when that turbo comes into power it feels like it wants to just keep going and I have very nearly got into trouble with that car because it just encourages putting your foot down. Even my V8's are not that bad but the Td5 just wants to go fast.
To me the XJ is happy to do what you ask if it, whenever you ask if it. If you want to go fast it'll do it if you want to go slow it'll do that and it won't complain either way. The Td5 on the other hand has a mind if it's own. Local specialist once said it reminds him of the car from the movie Christine and in some ways he has a point 🤣

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

That's a very tidy job, looks like it came that way from the factory!

Jim

Thanks, that was the idea but I'll have to redo it at some point because one thing that has annoyed me is at some point the previous owner had forced the trim up to access the rear light bulbs and it has a permanent 3/4" bulge on an edge leading to the lights which the more I see it the more it annoys me so will be getting that trim replaced and will recut for the socket on that one too. Think I'll modify the elastic ribbons at that point maybe using leather straps like on a classic car for secure tying down of items. So much for not making many changes to this car 😂

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

Excellent work, nothing better than a professional job on wiring.

Thank you, I always try to make what I do as safe and secure as possible, even though my focus is mechanical engineering I still enjoy doing a fair bit of electrical on the cars.

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

Talking about speed in the XJ. I leave mine in sport since I found the button. Have to behave myself at times though, and yeah lose a couple miles a gallon but its much faster than my BMW 520 was. ( which I did get done for speeding in. I framed the picture ) I like the response in sport its like how I drive a manual but without having to do the gears.

Impressive job on the Rear socket. Perfect for a cool box.

I've recently (this week since getting the car back) tried keeping it in sport mode going to and from work, it definitely as you say seems more normal as it's an almost immediate response to the throttle input. I've seen there are modules or remapping that can be done to sharpen up the throttle response but it seems fine if you're just moderating the speed. It's only when you want to go flat out that it revs and does nothing before it lets slip the dogs of war lol.
As for the socket cool box for sure, maybe if I can fit a socket to run through the parcel shelf discreetly I can also use it to send voltage the other way and have a solar charger on the parcel shelf to trickle charge the battery when it's not in use. It'll definitely be used to keep my tyre compressor charged after the recent issues with tyres going flat that's for sure 😁

 

[Little George]

a solar charger on the parcel shelf to trickle charge the battery when it's not in use. It'll definitely be used to keep my tyre compressor charged after the recent issues with tyres going flat that's for sure 😁

Solar Charger. What an excellent Idea

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

Solar Charger. What an excellent Idea

I have had one for a while but the connecting it to the battery on the Landys then hoping it doesn't get the cable damaged by the closed door running it in the car prevented it's use.
Plan is with the XJ maybe make a flush mount discreet 2 pin plug in the parcel shelf for it to connect to, wires running under the shelf to either a plug that can go into the new socket, or maybe hard wiring to the back so socket is still in use. If the latter is the case needs a diode setup on the positive line so the power only goes to the battery and not away from the battery, prevents shorts and stops the panel draining the battery when it's dark out and left connected

 

[JimC64]

Thanks, that was the idea but I'll have to redo it at some point because one thing that has annoyed me is at some point the previous owner had forced the trim up to access the rear light bulbs and it has a permanent 3/4" bulge on an edge leading to the lights which the more I see it the more it annoys me so will be getting that trim replaced and will recut for the socket on that one too. Think I'll modify the elastic ribbons at that point maybe using leather straps like on a classic car for secure tying down of items. So much for not making many changes to this car 😂

Lol I had been thinking on that quote from some time ago, but.....

If it is who you are, then that's going to happen. Bring it on

Jim

 

[JimboV8]

Thank you, I always try to make what I do as safe and secure as possible, even though my focus is mechanical engineering I still enjoy doing a fair bit of electrical on the cars.

Following good engineering practices whether mechanical or electrical will undoubtedly lead to something that not only works but looks good too.

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

Lol I had been thinking on that quote from some time ago, but.....

If it is who you are, then that's going to happen. Bring it on

Jim

Yeah I can't help but tinker with stuff. The only saving grace is I've got so many parts, sensors, plugs, cables and tools that most stuff is costing nothing and allows me to clear out some of my home office of stored parts. Difference is though the X-Type was messed about with a lot to make up for the fact it was not an XJ, and no lights turbo, remap or updated interior compares to the car I have now, so far what I've done on this one has been limited to useful or needed, exception being the X358 front grill just because I like them and it has less chrome than the standard Sovereign one.
I think next jobs that will most likely be done will be:
Belt service and diff oil.
Sagging roof lining replacement.
Rear amber grab handle accent lights changed for green. Maybe centre roof console one too that shines at the J-Gate, though that one may leave as the amber there works well with the walnut at night, the rear amber though just seems wrong.

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

Latest update:
Didn't get to even mess about with the XJ until two hours ago. Spent all day doing other stuff.
Fitting android car play module, screen and reverse camera into a RAV4 for a customer, pressure washed the driveway as the concrete really needed it, sorted the gardens front and rear, stopped to make food and then got time to wash the pollen off the car. Managed to break out the Ammo Hydrate and coupled with the paintwork correction I did it definitely reflects well, doesn't need direct sunlight on items reflected to get definition of them, it's just so shiny so I now need to tackle the hood/bonnet as that's got some marking where a previous owner never cleaned it enough to prevent issues from screen wash remaining on it. Front bumper needs the same treatment but that may need to be sprayed as it has some marks from stone chips that's needing to be sorted.

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

Latest update, car hasn't been used in a couple weeks now? Been flitting between land rovers, but in the time it's been stood it looks like it's eventually lowered itself. Front drivers side is definitely lower than front passenger. By about an inch though this could be due to how it's parked on the drive but I'm like 99% sure the car isn't sitting at the correct ride height.
I started it up for a few minutes and it looks no different. There was no sound of a pump activity and there's no warnings on the dash so unless it only pumps up when driving I'm not sure what it's problem is.
I've got a few more days of work on one of the Discovery's then I'll swap over to the XJ and see if it changes when driven. If not then the code reader is going on it to see if there's something amiss.

 

[AkatsukiDesign]

Latest update:
With 25 days to go before an MOT is needed and still working on the interior of the Td5 I've switched back to using the XJ for now. The car has been sat for a few weeks and unfortunately the driver's side front had dropped on the air suspension. No warnings on the dash so either a height sensor or a slow leak. Given mine is an X356 it will only have one height sensor at the front so as the other side was fine I guessed a slow leak. Starting it I could hear no pump or solenoid noise so figured it would only activate while driving so took it for a 10 minutes drive and by the time I got back home I can fit 2 fingers between the top of the tyre to the arch on both sides at the front they are within a few millimetres of each other so that seems okay now.
While driving home I was thinking of how I could monitor the pressure on all four air bags to ensure that they are within range of each other but I'm not sure that without a lot of faff the car would give me that data without some OBD nonsense.
I figured if I make a four way manifold block where I can fit a Schrader valve for each line I can use a tyre pressure monitor system and that way it can send the data real time to the little display unit I can hide away in the ash tray. Bonus with this is if the pump ever fails I could manually inflate the air bags as a temporary measure to ensure it's not stuck low.

Just an idea at present but I'm sure if the idea won't work some of the gurus on here will let me know. I'm more Land Rover experienced (V8, 300Tdi & Td5) so I'm not that clued up on these air ride cars yet.