Jaguar XK8 fans faulty? or just need better access? Take them out.

[@gsanborn5672]

Very informative video, John. Thank you! I studied it carefully in anticipation that I might have to remove the pack in order to replace the two belts on my 2003 XKR. I read numerous descriptions of replacement techniques, most of which said I had to remove the pack. A couple of posts described ways that avoided that step. I found an actual shop manual on line a couple of years ago and the description for belt replacement on the XKR said that the connector on the bottom of the fan on the right side needed to be removed, but not the pack. I feared that I could get the connector off but not get it back on again, because there was barely enough room to get my hand down to push it off. I had my wife standing by with smaller hands to pull it back on, just in case. I was able to get the connector off, without breaking the bracket, thanks to your description. Even with that, the fit was next to impossible to get the belt removal tool into position and on the belt tensioner. The shop manual shows a special tool that has a slight bend to it at the end, to deal with the offset, but couldn't find one on line to buy. As difficult as that was, getting the belts off and the new ones on was a b#$@h because the clearance to slip the belts behind all the hardware on and off is only about an additional thickness of the belts, when turned sideways. Mission accomplished after numerous scrapes and cuts on my hands and terrorized neighborhood children who heard some new words if they were within earshot during this exercise. The engineers who designed this rats nest went up on my wall of shame and, in penance for such idiocy, should be condemned to replace serpentine belts on XKRs daily, for all eternity. I bookmarked this video, in case I face a project requiring fan pack removal in the future. I took pics and videos of my belt replacement saga and plan to do a KZbin post, in the new year. I am also about to embark on replacing my original nav, hardwiring a dashcam, installing a rear view camera and replacing the cigarette receptacle with a double USB port and, if successful, will post a video, as well.

[@ToTheGarage]

Thanks very much for sharing. I can feel the scrapes on my wrists and forearms as im reading it😁. It would be great to see you completed wiring projects when you have completed them. Sounds like my sort of fun👍

[@asifhasnain6852]

You have the patience of a saint in working through the car and making the video. Thanks!

[@ToTheGarage]

Patience. Bit obsessed. enjoying talking to myself. All the signs of a well adjusted personality? 🥺👍. Thanks Asif😁

[@craigoliver4631]

Another comprehensive video explained to a T. THanks again John and keep them coming, Craig

[@ToTheGarage]

Thank you Craig

[@MitchGrooms]

OMG John, I thought I was the only one who has issues with ugly working parts. I get steel wool and polish all my exhaust under the car, even in the fender wells in the rear. People on the Jaguar page have made fun of me, but that is what I do.. Great video

[@AndyK.1]

The big rad in the engine bay is for coolant. The silver pipes (with purple nuts) are for the gearbox oil cooler, which is tiny and in the left hand end cap. The air con is at the front and thin.

[@ToTheGarage]

Thanks Andy, Thanks Gary. you are of course both correct. My quick 'point at all the rads' element, was proper dodgy. I have (I think!) extracted it from the video in case it incorrectly directs those less well informed than yourselves. Next time i have the nose off or the rads out, i will do a proper job of 'radiator pointing & identification' in your joint honour. Thanks for getting involved guys. I need this sort of support in order to ensure our little community remains a source of good source of info, as well as entertainment, for us all. Me Included!👍

[@Kellier1916]

Ask me how I know that that silver pipe is to the gearbox oil cooler 😅, some of us have to learn the hard way.... On the upside it's a good place to splice in an easy gear box fill option if you are that way inclined.

[@richardmorgan314]

I’ve taken my fan pack in and out a few times and it’s never as easy as it seems it should be! It always gets snagged on either the top rubber radiator hose or the metal A/C pipe on the other side! 🤦‍♂️

[@mattk7795]

ABSOLUTELY! I've been wrestling with mine for twenty minutes! Any tips?

[@lizanddickie]

@@mattk7795 just keep at it…! From what I can remember you need to angle the bottom in quite steeply to locate it before the top will go into place…

[@garrymoody-ds2lr]

Exactly what happened to me, I did take the top hose off the drvers side to the radiator for better access....I lost a lot of coolant but was doing a water pump and thermostat change anyway. Would be a better design if the fan pack locating tabs were smaller, making it easier to just pull out between both rubber hose and metal pipe.

[@Metropolis223]

Very informative - thank you John, keep 'em coming !

[@ToTheGarage]

Thank you. And I will👍

[@drsuffcatr8319]

Great as usual, Just a heads up, on the XKRs, the upper radiator hoses connected to the crossover pipe need to be removed for fan access.

[@ToTheGarage]

Good share David👍. Take note all you XKR-ists

[@JCP1152P]

Another fantastic video John, Thanks. I couldn't help notice your engine oil cooler lines are the old style. Do you worry that they might burst and damage your engine? Mine are now 20 yrs old and beginning to worry me.

[@flyurway]

Doing this on my s/c '04 to change the water pump. So far I have doubts about pulling this fan pack being worthwhile, but I'm 1/2 way there. Is that like a UK lingo thing to refer to a metal tube as a "hose"? Not picking, actually curious! And here's a follow up; took me at least 3 hours to get that out ... and that's with the car up & down 5 times on a lift! With bungee cords hooked to the hood pulling up, while finagling things from beneath, those wedge shaped parts got caught on everything from a/c fittings to radiator hoses, no idea how I'll get it back in, but they're getting modified!!

[@olepetter866]

Excellent video and great explanation

[@ToTheGarage]

Glad you liked it. Thank you

[@louisgrillo9218]

Great video as usual John. You mentioned the water pump. I understand that the factory water pumps on early XKs had a plastic impeller. Do you recommend replacing it with a pump that has a metal impeller? Thank you, Lou

[@ToTheGarage]

Certainly the plastic impellers do brake down, Also they can spin on their shafts (one did on my previous car). However it does not seem to be a universal thing and many cars have original pumps well beyond 100,000 miles. My opinion is that if you have any reason to remove a water pump and find that it has the plastic impeller then I would change it as a matter of course for the steel impeller variety (they are not too expensive). I have another job to do at some stage involving removal of the thermostat tower and will change mine then.

[@drsuffcatr8319]

Yes, it's a fairly easy job, especially on the Xk8 cars, on the XKRs, it's a little more involved. I wouldnt rush to do the job though. The original pump is fairly robust, I personally never had one fail. But, it never hurts to upgrade.

[@sc5759]

The fans in my 98 XK8 are coming on about two miles into any journey no matter the outside temp. They will run for the entire trip and for a few minutes after the engine is shut off. I have had the thermostat replaced and a coolant flush but neither has helped with the fan issue. Do you have any advice to help correct this? It just started out of the blue a few months ago.

[@pierrebouchard3069]

Hello, I own a 1997 Xk8 jaguar, I live in Canada. My question is this: Why are the two lights (red and yellow) in the dashboard flashing? Yet I use my car to travel and it does not seem to have any impact on the car. I have no lights on, and no check gear. Is it possible that I miss the right and left front seat modules to activate the seats. They blink. Thank you

[@ToTheGarage]

Hi Pierre glad to have you on board. Were the xk8's popular in Canada? or are you considered the owner of a 'quirky exotic'?

[@lipsee100]

Cor I wish Rover had taken a leaf out of Jaguars book when they designed the 75...The fan on the 75 is a right pain.... probably BMW had something todo with it!!!!

[@ToTheGarage]

If they made it easy you wouldn't have to go to see them nice garage service folk😁

[@garyj467]

I thought that bottle brush looking cooler was for power steering???? Part number: MJA8084AB

[@AndyK.1]

Gary J It is.

[@ToTheGarage]

Thanks Andy, Thanks Gary. you are of course both correct. My quick 'point at all the rads' element, was proper dodgy. I have (I think!) extracted it from the video in case it incorrectly directs those less well informed than yourselves. Next time i have the nose off or the rads out, i will do a proper job of 'radiator pointing & identification' in your joint honour. Thanks for getting involved guys. I need this sort of support in order to ensure our little community remains a source of good source of info, as well as entertainment, for us all. Me Included!👍

[@AndyK.1]

Humm. Don’t both fans run at matching speeds like they do on the XJ and most other cars. I.e both slow or both fast.

[@ToTheGarage]

Mine definitely kick in seperately. Maybe its another variation confined to the first couple of months of production?