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11.30.2011
Cool Cat
I went out for my lunch today and the rainy morning had turned into a blizzardy afternoon. As you might expect this created some less than ideal driving conditions, and for the first time this season I got to feel the joy of my car sliding on ice. This isn't nearly as tame as the first snowfall we had a few weeks ago. Fingers crossed it doesn't last.
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11.29.2011
Heating and Air Conditioning
We've become spoiled in terms of the things our cars can now do. These random info graphics from a 1973 brochure demonstrate how the heating and air conditioning options for Jaguar cars work. Nowadays things like this are a given and are expected in most entry level cars.
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11.28.2011
New Banner
The latest banner for Jeeves and the Jaguar is from a road trip I took to Lethbridge this fall. I wanted to simplify the look of this site and I think the new banner does that while still highlighting my experience with my XJ8. You'll also notice that the background has changed to highlight some of the instagram snapshots I took this summer.
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11.22.2011
1971 Jaguar XJ6
This 1971 brochure released in the USA presents the brand new Jaguar XJ6. Its styling (along with the XJ series for the next few decades) became recognizable as the iconic shape of a Jaguar.
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11.21.2011
Jaguar XJ220 Concept Car
The Jaguar XJ220 was a supercar that the company produced in the early nineties between 1992-1994. It went on to hold the highest top speed of any production car at 350km/h until the release of the McLaren F1. Below is a poster commissioned in 1988 for the XJ220 when it was just a prototype. Also below, an image of the actual Jaguar XJ220.
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Jaguar XK-120 in Monte Carlo
I love this 1955 print ad for the Jaguar XK120 (mislabelled as an XK140). It's another classic example of how the brand has succeeded by romanticizing driving and the open road.
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11.17.2011
Removable Hood Ornament
After the recent incident of my hood ornament being stolen, for the second time I might add, I was left with three choices. I could either replace the hood ornament and treat it like a temporary decoration that someone was going to steal again, I could replace the Jaguar leaper altogether and simply put a badge in its place, or I could come up with a removable option. While not the easiest choice of the bunch, you know by the title of this post which one I decided on.
The modification was actually pretty simple. When my leaper was stolen the original base was left intact on the hood. There is a metal wire that connects the leaper to that base via a spring, and as always, it's the wire disconnecting from the spring that allows the hood ornament to be removed. The wire is actually fairly sturdy though, so what I did was remove the leaper from the spring and left the wire in place to let it act like a tensioner clip. All I have to do is squeeze the wire and place it in the hood and it hold firmly in place. Removing it is as simple as pulling up on the ornament and squeezing the wire again to make it release.
This is actually an incredibly simple solution that looks completely normal when in place, but that actually allows me to remove it without hassle when I park. In all honesty I probably won't fuss with the hood ornament everyday, but it's nice that I at least have the option now. It's one of those iconic parts of the car so it seems unfortunate that I should have to lose it simply because some people are idiots.
I'm happy knowing that I don't have to worry about this issue anymore.
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The modification was actually pretty simple. When my leaper was stolen the original base was left intact on the hood. There is a metal wire that connects the leaper to that base via a spring, and as always, it's the wire disconnecting from the spring that allows the hood ornament to be removed. The wire is actually fairly sturdy though, so what I did was remove the leaper from the spring and left the wire in place to let it act like a tensioner clip. All I have to do is squeeze the wire and place it in the hood and it hold firmly in place. Removing it is as simple as pulling up on the ornament and squeezing the wire again to make it release.
This is actually an incredibly simple solution that looks completely normal when in place, but that actually allows me to remove it without hassle when I park. In all honesty I probably won't fuss with the hood ornament everyday, but it's nice that I at least have the option now. It's one of those iconic parts of the car so it seems unfortunate that I should have to lose it simply because some people are idiots.
I'm happy knowing that I don't have to worry about this issue anymore.
11.14.2011
1971 Jaguar XKE
These images are from a 1971 brochure released in the USA for the Jaguar XKE (or E-Type as it was known in the UK). There's no question what an iconic model this was for the company.
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11.09.2011
Grace, Pace & Space
This video from the Swedish Jaguar Club showcases a wealth of historical and promotional footage of Jaguar cars, right up to the XJ8 (or X308). It's pretty cool to see this progression of technology and styles edited together and see how the brand has evolved over the years. You could say I'm an easy target, but videos like this make me proud that I've put so much work into my Jaguar.
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11.07.2011
Awesome Jaguar XKR Commercial
With a subject like the Jaguar XKR it's presence can only be improved with skillful cinematography and editing. This commercial is incredibly successful at capturing the energy and excitement behind the brands most agile offering.
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11.06.2011
11.04.2011
Running Rich - P0172 & P0175
Since late in the summer I had been having an intermittent problem with my 1999 Jaguar XJ8 running rich on idle. This would cause the 'restricted performance' light to come on along with the check engine light, and my scanner would show the codes P0172 and P0175 - running rich on both banks.
For those who are unaware, running rich means that your car isn't getting the right air to fuel ratio and is getting too much fuel or not enough air. On the other side of things, running lean means your car isn't getting enough fuel or too much air.
The way these codes would present themselves only when I was idling and then disappear lead me to believe that there was an incompatibility with my TPS sensor because I had worked on it in the summer and transplanted the part from a salvaged throttle body. It turns out that wasn't the case however. As I started to get the codes more frequently I began doing more cleaning experiments with my electrical connections, focusing largely on the mass air flow sensor (or MAF sensor). It always seemed like the cleaning had a temporary effect, but the problem would return in the same way.
The way in which the codes were presenting themselves consistently helped me rule out that the MAF sensor had actually gone bad, but a bit of research about it helped me pinpoint the problem. What I discovered is that there wasn't a solid enough connection between the pins of the MAF and the connector. I took the MAF out and then slightly bent the pins so that they'd be pressing harder against the connector. My Jag seemed to cough and wheeze a few times after this as it seemed to be recalibrating or working out a new ratio. You could smell that the car was running really rich when it started still, however the running rich codes had stopped popping up.
After a few days the car was back to normal without incident and was able to idle without throwing codes anymore. It was such a simple and straightforward fix that it only readdresses some of my biggest frustrations with this car and the necessity to keep the components under the hood as clean as possible. In any case, bending the pins on the MAF sensor worked!
I've highlighted where the mass air flow sensor is located above. It is only held in with a couple of screws and you can use electrical contact cleaner on the wires, but be careful not to touch them directly as they are very sensitive. The pins for the connector can be cleaned with a toothbrush and I bent them using a kitchen knife. Pin It
For those who are unaware, running rich means that your car isn't getting the right air to fuel ratio and is getting too much fuel or not enough air. On the other side of things, running lean means your car isn't getting enough fuel or too much air.
The way these codes would present themselves only when I was idling and then disappear lead me to believe that there was an incompatibility with my TPS sensor because I had worked on it in the summer and transplanted the part from a salvaged throttle body. It turns out that wasn't the case however. As I started to get the codes more frequently I began doing more cleaning experiments with my electrical connections, focusing largely on the mass air flow sensor (or MAF sensor). It always seemed like the cleaning had a temporary effect, but the problem would return in the same way.
The way in which the codes were presenting themselves consistently helped me rule out that the MAF sensor had actually gone bad, but a bit of research about it helped me pinpoint the problem. What I discovered is that there wasn't a solid enough connection between the pins of the MAF and the connector. I took the MAF out and then slightly bent the pins so that they'd be pressing harder against the connector. My Jag seemed to cough and wheeze a few times after this as it seemed to be recalibrating or working out a new ratio. You could smell that the car was running really rich when it started still, however the running rich codes had stopped popping up.
After a few days the car was back to normal without incident and was able to idle without throwing codes anymore. It was such a simple and straightforward fix that it only readdresses some of my biggest frustrations with this car and the necessity to keep the components under the hood as clean as possible. In any case, bending the pins on the MAF sensor worked!
I've highlighted where the mass air flow sensor is located above. It is only held in with a couple of screws and you can use electrical contact cleaner on the wires, but be careful not to touch them directly as they are very sensitive. The pins for the connector can be cleaned with a toothbrush and I bent them using a kitchen knife. Pin It
11.02.2011
Preparing My Jaguar for Winter
There is an unfortunate irony in the fact that I went out of my way this spring to prepare my car for a summer of road trips only to be greeted by one maintenance issue after another - leaking coolant, a faulty TPS sensor, and even a windshield replacement. Here we are in the thick of autumn now and with my car handling better than ever I have to start preparing for the hassle that is winter driving.
I don't actually have a big routine, but there are basic things that I do. The first is to give my car a thorough cleaning inside and out. The fact that I don't have a garage really limits the amount of work that I want to be doing on my car (not to mention that natural light is in short supply) so basic things like cleaning electrical connections and making sure everything looks tidy under the hood is something I did as soon as the temperature started to shift.
Winter tires are a big deal with a rear wheel drive vehicle like mine and I just bought a brand new set at the beginning of the year. That's all taken care of, but I'm in no rush for the snow.
From there I went to the spray and wash to clean the exterior and apply a thorough coat of wax. Cleaning my car in the winter becomes a necessity to remove salt from the roads and protect my paint job. Admittedly, it's a challenge to wash your car when you have to leave it outside afterwards. Even after drying my car and leaving it sit in a garage for a few hours, I still nearly froze myself out once last winter.
Inside my XJ8 I did a thorough dusting and buffed the seats with leather protector. I replaced the original carpeted mats last year with heavy duty rubber ones that will stand up to all the rocks and snow. Due to one of the seals on my door wearing out last winter, I then went over all of the seals again (including the one on the sunroof) to make sure that they weren't cracked. I did notice that cold air was coming in from underneath the steering wheel when I was traveling on the highway so I put a cloth in there to seal it up.
I bought myself a brand new premium wiper to replace the one I put on last year (I've got to use that Canadian Tire money sometime) and also purchased a heavy duty snow brush. Then I removed the car washing supplies and other random things that I had in my trunk that can't really hold up to the cold.
The only thing I've really got left to do is figure out if I can get my heated seat to work properly. When I purchased the car in 2010 it never really worked properly, but I never made much of an effort to do anything. It could be something as simple as a loose wire or bad fuse, which would be an easy fix. I'll have to do a bit more research.
Winter, I'm ready when you are.
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I don't actually have a big routine, but there are basic things that I do. The first is to give my car a thorough cleaning inside and out. The fact that I don't have a garage really limits the amount of work that I want to be doing on my car (not to mention that natural light is in short supply) so basic things like cleaning electrical connections and making sure everything looks tidy under the hood is something I did as soon as the temperature started to shift.
Winter tires are a big deal with a rear wheel drive vehicle like mine and I just bought a brand new set at the beginning of the year. That's all taken care of, but I'm in no rush for the snow.
From there I went to the spray and wash to clean the exterior and apply a thorough coat of wax. Cleaning my car in the winter becomes a necessity to remove salt from the roads and protect my paint job. Admittedly, it's a challenge to wash your car when you have to leave it outside afterwards. Even after drying my car and leaving it sit in a garage for a few hours, I still nearly froze myself out once last winter.
Inside my XJ8 I did a thorough dusting and buffed the seats with leather protector. I replaced the original carpeted mats last year with heavy duty rubber ones that will stand up to all the rocks and snow. Due to one of the seals on my door wearing out last winter, I then went over all of the seals again (including the one on the sunroof) to make sure that they weren't cracked. I did notice that cold air was coming in from underneath the steering wheel when I was traveling on the highway so I put a cloth in there to seal it up.
I bought myself a brand new premium wiper to replace the one I put on last year (I've got to use that Canadian Tire money sometime) and also purchased a heavy duty snow brush. Then I removed the car washing supplies and other random things that I had in my trunk that can't really hold up to the cold.
The only thing I've really got left to do is figure out if I can get my heated seat to work properly. When I purchased the car in 2010 it never really worked properly, but I never made much of an effort to do anything. It could be something as simple as a loose wire or bad fuse, which would be an easy fix. I'll have to do a bit more research.
Winter, I'm ready when you are.
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