'92 XJS Sovereign - After Sitting For Three Years:

'92 XJ6 Sovereign

Thanks, Bill for the response and information. As a follow-up, here are My responses to the four problems:

1) Unfortunately, the leaking IS getting worse and something needs to be done SOON. If I understand correctly, The solution is a replacement head gasket? That will fix the leak from around the Distributor housing? Can I fix just the distributor housing leak without pulling the head?

2) Can I clear out any obstruction to the fuel tanks venting to cure the problem? I was originally told that whenever this sort of problem arises it has something to do with a "barrier" being closed between the main fuel tank and the "reserve" tank which is why I can only get a maximum 9 gallons of fuel in at a time. Something akin to another electrical problem. Anything to that?

3) I know that the Mineral Oil reservoir tank is under pressure as is all of that system. Could it be something as simple as a faulty seal on the cap/tank or a replacement of the tank/cap altogether?

4) I do not have the aformentioned paper tag on My hood. After getting the radio serial number who or where do I contact. My local Jaguar dealer is of no help. All they said was to contact Jaguar but gave Me no contact information.

I can help! :)

1) You have a leaking head gasket. XJ40s, especially 88-92s are famous for this and we see it all the time. Leaks at base of distributor, right? What happens is that there is a high-pressure oil passageway in that general section. however, Jaguar decided that just ounching a little hole in the head gasket would work. Bad idea. Updated head gaskets have a sort of impregnated o-ring there. This does NOT necessarially mean that you have a traditionally bad head gasket. It's an external oil leak and a PITA, but not a "You fix this or you replace engine" type of deal. You can sorta live with this one for now depending on how bad it is.

2) Tank vent problem.. or.. and I hope it ISNT this but it may well be, collapsed tank. Pull back the piece of carpet that's behind the spare tire and check. New Tanks are expensive. Used tanks exist, there's lots of these in salvage yards and due to their location in the car they are not prone to external weather damage. That's what it sounds like. I don't have a 91-92 Owner's Manual with me to check to see what that code means though. Maybe someone else does?

3) Not normal. Either something is clogged/plugged or a pressure valve is sticking. This I would take to a specialist. I suspect perhaps a faulty pressure release switch near the pump.

4) Bollocks. This is easy, I just got a code for a 199 Sovereign! LAST WEEK! However they will need the radio serial number, to do this you need to yank the radio out. Now, before we get into that.. check under the hood, erm, Bonnet. Driver's side.. at the top.. in the corner.. there's a paper tag with the code. However after 11 years it's probably illegible but it should be there if the hood is original. Otherwise radio is coming out.

TO yank radio:

Pull off leather shifter gate surround and chrome plastic trim piece. Carefully or you'll break the tabs!

Unscrew center console insert.. pull it out. Then remove ashtray assembley. Again, be careful so you do not damage the wood. You'll want to unplug the cigarette lighter wires to yank it, makes it easier.

In front of that.. under the back edge of the big "ski slope" piece of wood are two white plastic thumbscrews. Undo them, and, starting at that area, carefully remove that piece of wood. DO NOT FORCE IT IT WILL CRACK THE VENEER! Remove that.

Now you have a great big ole mess! :)

OK.. now you can unscrew the 5 or 6 screws that hold in the A/C controls, clock, lock switch, radio, etc. Undo those and you can remove the radio. Serial # is on the back of it.

Now put it back together and write the radio code on the aluminum brake booster with a Sharpie :)

Hope this helps, if you get stuck, feel free to lemme know!

Bill Weismann
JCOF
vpcatdriver.com
407-765-4110 cell