[tmwsccsh]

Hi all,

I have a bizarre theory in life that you don't service cars as, when you do, things start to go wrong. Now on my 3rd Jaguar (an X-Type and XJS before this) and presently with another X-Type 3.0 SE Auto on a 51 plate that has just passed 212,000 miles. I decided a couple of weeks ago to get a minor service done on him and also had the brakes done at the same time. Well, I was driving down the A1 yesterday approaching the WGC / Hatfield exit and this clicking sound started coming from the engine. Clicking then became a clacking and got progressively louder. I pulled off the A1 and got about 20 yards from the traffic lights on the roundabout at which point the clacking was so loud and unbearable that the engine just gave up and ceased on me. I got him started again but the clacking continued so shut it off and called my breakdown people.

So there I sat until they came, had a nice chat with the policeman that came to see me as well, to be told that the engine has gone - suspect big end but not sure. I have been recovered to home but more than moving him off of the recovery truck to the driveway I can't drive him.

It would appear to be new engine time, and I am aware this is going to cost a bit! I am hoping for a reconditioned unit (3 litre V6, not sport) and then the fitting thereof. Found a place on-line that reckons around £1250 plus VAT for a recon unit and fitting but that's a bit more than I was ophing to pay. Does anyone know of anywhere in the Beds / Herts / Bucks / North London area that may be able to help with this at a reasonable price for the pauper that I am? I have already emailed a few places I found on-line and in Jaguar World magazine but you can't beat word-of-mouth recommendations and the guidance of forums such as this.

Thanks in advance for any information given.

Regards

tmwsccsh

 

[motco]

Firstly "clicking" does not accord with big end failure to me. Clonking, or knocking would, but clicking suggests valvegear - cam shaft perhaps, or a valve stuck. It could also be a broken piston ring visiting the piston crown and that is as expensive as big end. See someone a little bit more authoritative than Mr Plod before you despair.

 

[sid_james]

I'm not much help here, but you need to start by calling it "her". ,-)

 

[tmwsccsh]

Sorry, slightly badly phrased on my part above - it wasn't Mr Plod that gave the info but the breakdown guy. Also advised the same by the recovery guy (as I couldn't be towed) when he listened too.

Have now contacted about 16 places for their thoughts so will see what comes back.

tmwsccsh

 

[tmwsccsh]

I'm not much help here, but you need to start by calling it "her". ,-)

Oh its definitely a he - a black cat called Salem like the one in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Did I just admit to knowing that...?

tmwsccsh

 

[djdex]

I'm presuming his breakdown people told him that, rather than plod, I don't think it matters much either way, valvegear or bearings, nasty sounds from your engine internals are always going to be enormously expensive, if it's making that sort of noise every revolution is making it worse. Absolutely get professional diagnosis, but the only way you're going get it much cheaper than that is buy an engine from a breakers and have it fitted, but tbh it's not going to be that much cheaper imho, unless you have a 'mate' who's handy with the spanners.

 

[jimbo20]

Might be worth calling G & D Autos - a Jag indie in WGC. They are less than a mile from where you broke down. I've used them for years to service mine. I've never needed anything 'serious' doing, but they know their stuff.

Welcome to G&D Auto Services - Home

HTH
Jim

 

[motco]

Valvegear failures are usually confined to the cylinder head provided that bits haven't dropped into the bores. It is not going to be cheap because of the word 'Jaguar' which is usually pronounced C-O-S-T-L-Y. There's an engine builder/repairer in Wimbledon - Naismith Engineering - who will rebuild an engine to a high standard but it will be expensive, sadly. Breakers products are a gamble inasmuch as you might spend a good deal of time/money fitting a lump of scrap iron. Likewise the companies that advertise recon engines fitted for fifteen bob in certain magazines and on t'web have a chequered reputation to say the least. I am sorry for anyone in this position - it last happened to me with a 1960 Triumph Herald...

 

[tmwsccsh]

Might be worth calling G & D Autos - a Jag indie in WGC.

They are actually one of the 16 I contacted and, bizarrely, are based in a building I used to work in!

tmwsccsh

 

[BarryS]

With the car on 212,000 miles, isn't it just easier to scrap the car and put whatever you get for it and the cost of fixing the engine towards another car?

 

[tmwsccsh]

Until the engine went bang there was nothing wrong with him and he's a fully loaded one, so to me it is worth getting the repair done. I can't afford to replace it and would need to spend out much more than the replacement engine to get the same spec back again, so from a cost-effective perspective this is the right thing to do.

The mechanic from the breakdown company even said that it is too good a car to scrap so that's the route we are going down.

TMW

 

[jagryan85]

Good choice, its a Jag after all. These are meant to be loved, not neglected!

 

[floydthe1]

So sorry to hear about your (black cat), I had mine serviced in January & in march my engine did blow-up (only 19000 miles) and it happened on the A1 near Peterborough, It turn out to be a con-rod going through the block, thankfullyi was covered with warranty... i do hope you get it all sorted

 

[tmwsccsh]

Hi all,

Well, some good news.

After a bit of a problem with the supplyof the replacement engine which resulted in me having to find yet another one he is now back on the road with a unit that has done 62,000 miles in it. Also got a lip spoiler fitted at the same time and then changed the scratched and scuffed glove box for a replacment one from fleabay.

Drives perfectly and it's great to have him back!

TMW

 

[R.S.]

Good to hear, unfortunate that it happened, but atleast now its sorted. Anyway can i ask how much it cost. Also how much did the front lip spoiler cost to buy, spray and fit, and where from, because i need a replacement as mine is broken. Thanks

 

[motco]

Did you find out what the problem was?

 

[Rdholmes]

Yep, good news your back in the game. Nice one.

 

[tmwsccsh]

Good to hear, unfortunate that it happened, but atleast now its sorted. Anyway can i ask how much it cost. Also how much did the front lip spoiler cost to buy, spray and fit, and where from, because i need a replacement as mine is broken. Thanks

Hi,

Total cost in the end was £1,600 fitted so not as bad as it could have been.

With regards to the lip spoiler, it was a boot lip spoiler, not a front one I'm afraid. However, for info, it was £46 I think delivered from Taiwan from an eBay seller - that included spraying to the correct paint code. Engine fitter installed it for me as part of the engine swap.

TMW

 

[Lardy man]

" See someone a little bit more authoritative than Mr Plod before you despair ".

Shows no respect for the Police and how do you know the Officer was not a trained Jaguar mechanic ???

Hope you get the car sorted mate, let us know

 

[inditime]

tmwsccsh, where did you get your replacement engine from? ANd what happened to the old one, did you find out why it went bang?