Edited on 2008-04-08 0:04:48

Hello all, I am brand new to Jaguars and recently took ownership of an excellent 89 XJ-S convertible (with 16K original miles, yay!) and have a question. It was imported from out of state into TX, and requires a safety and emmisions test (annual inspection) for registration purposes. My local service station declined to perform an annual inspection due to what reportedly is risk of damage to the transmission - apparently, it doesn't like to run at 2500 RPMs in park (which is how they do the emission test here in central TX, as opposed to running the car on rollers).

They suggested I try the Jaguar dealer, who turned out to be willing to do the inspection, still using the high/low idling method, but mentioned the same risk and that they wouldn't take any responsibility for transmission damage. Their service rep even said that "I wouldn't want to run a 20 year old car at 2500 RPMs, stationary, for 90 seconds, anyway".

So now I'm partly at a loss, and partly paranoid. Any suggestions as so whether this is a real issue/risk with the transmission, as if so, how to best address it? I believe they have started doing the roller-type emission tests in the Dallas and Houston metro areas, but would like to avoid the 5+ hour trek (round trip) each year, if possible.

Thanks in advance for any pointers!

Submitted by michael@kan.com on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 14:01

David,
Antique and Classic plates both require the car to be older than 25. the Classic plate allows you to drive the car without limits.
Additionally, safety and not smog testing is for all cars over ten years of age!
Go figure, they have nothing to do with each other!

Submitted by michael@kan.com on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 13:59

David,
Antique and Classic plates both require the car to be older than 25. the Classic plate allows you to drive the car without limits.
Additionally, safety and not smog testing is for all cars over ten years of age!
Go figure, they have nothing to do with each other!

Submitted by michael@kan.com on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 09:19

David,

Both operating wipers and the exhaust are part of the safety inspection.
If you bought the car in Texas, you did not need to get a green sheet, and as long as you are driving with the registration tag in the window, you will never be pulled over in an antique car. I have been pulled over, but only for the trooper to admire the car from close by!
Most repair shops can do an exhaust replacement, and I am sure someone in the local Austin club can assist you with the wiper motor issue.

Submitted by michael@kan.com on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 01:27

Perhaps a bit too late to the partyy, but since the age of the car is over ten years, they only need to do a safety check. Test brakes, lights, wipers, etc. to issue the green sheet needed for registering.
I did it with a '95 XJ-S with 15K miles, and several other cars.

Michael

Submitted by vidar@thesaeth… on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 22:35

Good point, Dick - I realized this a bit later when I did some research. The GM400 does indeed seem quite common, sounds like the DPS is misinformed on that point.

I ended up going to a Jaguar dealer, who inspected (and passed) the car. Their solution was actually to not even run the 2500 RPM test, just the low idle portion - apparently that's acceptable based on the type/age of car. Either way, I'm good and no longer have an issue.

Submitted by rcmaury@bellso… on Tue, 04/08/2008 - 14:41

The 1989 XJS does not use a XF transmission. It uses a GM TH400 which is in untold numbers of Chevys on the road. The ZF transmission was only in the XJS model from 1993-1996 in the 6 cylinder models. The 12 cylinders switched to a different GM transmission in 1994, not a ZF.

Submitted by vidar@thesaeth… on Tue, 04/08/2008 - 12:10

Edited on 2008-04-08 12:24:10

Edited on 2008-04-08 12:22:29

Just some more info/update to the original post:

The TX Department of Public Safety (DPS), who oversees the annual inspection program, issued a bulletin to inspection stations warning them against testing certain BMW, Peugeot, Volvo and Jaguars with a ZF-type transmission, and that customers should be referred to the respective dealers. I've included a link to the relevant chapter of the bulletin below. Also came across a similar bulletin from Nevada - appears to be an issue with certain cars from the 1980s that have the transmission type in question (they specify 1984-89 XJSs in terms of Jaguars).

Spoke to the DPS as well this morning, they acknowledged the bulletin but had not heard of ZF transmission failure cases due to emission testing, and reiterated the recommendation to use a Jaguar dealer. The bulletin seems to be a precautionary measure to ensure that somebody qualified with ZF transmission experience performs the test, as opposed to your random local Jiffy Lube.

Unless somebody advises me against doing so, I think I'll take my chances with the local dealer.

Submitted by zurdo_1@univis… on Tue, 04/08/2008 - 08:47

I have never heard of such an issue, but if two technicians say the same thing, there must be a reason, like Experience with similar cars. I can run both my engines in Park at 2,500 rpm for 90 seconds without any problem, and they are over 20 years old each, so I do not understand why this particular model cannot. In that situation, the 5 hour treck might be cheaper then.