Secrets of the XK8 Ep 34. Jaguar Shut line adjustment

[@peterstrachan2394]

Hi John. I am the proud owner of a 98 XK8 and an 03 XKR. I have to say many many thanks to you for all the help your youtube channel has given me. I live in Guernsey so not the best place to find specialist help but I have managed to solve a number of issues thanks to you. One thing I was struggling with on the XK8 which has just come out of a full repaint, was getting the boot to open on the dash button. You could hear the lock motor working but it would not open. After lots of fiddling and taking it apart I discovered that there is a lever on the lock itself with a red cap. This has to be UP for the boot to open on the dash button. Clearly whoever reassembled the car didn't realise this. I'm sure you knew this but I thought I'd mention it in case anyone else has the same problem. Once again thank you Peter

[@ToTheGarage]

@PETER STRACHAN Hi Peter. Great comment. Yes, I am aware of the little lever and the bother it can cause. I thought a couple of times about sharing it as a secret. But I have two issues. a) Because it's completely covered I couldn't imagine how it could be accidentally activated and cause anyone an issue. However, as you have discovered if someone rebuilds it without knowing how important it is to have that red lever in the up position...... b) I have never discovered the WHY? I imagine its a part reused from the ford part bin where that lever has a useful and accessible function. Or is it for the factory to disable the button on the dashboard for certain markets? You Know what Peter. I think I should create this video anyway (in your honour👍) as a way of inviting our fellow subscribers to provide the real answer. Someone will know. Thanks again and stay safe my friend

[@erwinderidder7373]

Dear John , this is the first time in my life that I comment to someone at all. John you are amazing you have it all and my knowledge of my XK8 has improved to a higher level . I have seen all your XK8 videos and they are marvelous. Greetings from Holland , Erwin de Ridder

[@ToTheGarage]

Thank you so much for watching Erwin and for taking the time to comment. I love making the videos and will continue making them until things to fix or talk about run out. (no time soon😉) Enjoy your XK8 Best regards, John 👍

[@sallswell]

Haven't seen all chapters but I love this series!!! Made my xk8 my best project ever...kudos!

[@ToTheGarage]

Thanks Steve. Glad you are enjoying them.

[@stefanoliessi8722]

Would like to add something to your video. You are spot on with what you shared, good on you. Just a note, when setting gaps (shut lines) you have to remove the hydraulic shocks (the black things on the hinges ) once the gaps are set then re install. The same goes for latches or strikers. This will give you an accurate fit, without friction. Hope that helps out.

[@ToTheGarage]

A really good tip Stefano. Many Thanks.

[@TrevorHeathPhotography]

another excellent video John, also the language tool is a great tip I wasn't aware of so thanks for that too! Now off to find that squeaky dash video of yours, just need to check how you remove that little cover. cheers mate!

[@ToTheGarage]

Thanks Trevor

[@daygon128]

Thanks very much John for making this! Been waiting for this one. Will definitely try this on my coupe!

[@ToTheGarage]

Cheers Corey

[@aligucci1599]

one more secret disclosed, thanks John

[@ToTheGarage]

Cheers Pal👍. I enjoy sharing

[@bernardpullon4632]

Thanks John, very interesting. As I live down a dusty gravel road, I noticed dust getting into the rear of the boot, below the licence plate generally. I will try to adjust the threaded rubber knobs but it looks to me that while all the lines are good, the boot lid is a little buck-toothed in that it protudes a little too far backwards at the rear face. The rest of the boot lid is positioned correctly so if the knobs don't pull it in, I guess the bend that separates the top and rear faces is not quite the right angle. It's not due to a rear end impact (seen no evidence of that). Anyway, I watched avidly hoping you might cover that angle but alas, no. Still, it was very useful and feeds into the solution. I would never have picked the top two adjustment screws. Thanks again, 'shut lines', even having a name for a problem helps immensely.

[@ToTheGarage]

Hi Bernard. It may be the air outlet vents that have got stuck in the open position. I did do a video on where they are and I will put a link here for you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYWnnax4iJV8htE essentially two big holes sealed off by rubber flaps that allow air to escape when you slam the boot lid

[@bernardpullon4632]

@To The Garage I figured it out and fixed it. What it was, and I think it was this way since the factory by looking at the paint around the 4 main bolts that connect the boot to the hinges, was the whole boot lid was fitted to rearward so it had 'over-bite' at the rear. All the shut lines were perfect except looking across the rear vertical plane. So with the boot open, just dropped it down about 6mm and now it's upgainst the rubber along the bottom of the rear window correctly and closed the gap at the rear. It was sort of an Eureka moment, very satisfying 😌 Thanks John, without your video, I wouldn't have checked it. It's the one angle your video didn't cover and I guess whoever fitted it in Coventry didn't look that way also back in May 1998. Cheers.

[@peterfoss3147]

Enjoy your video's, keep them coming. Would like to see the cleaning of the breather on the differential, maybe you will be crawling underneath soon???

[@ToTheGarage]

Yes but not crawling!. My Scissor lift arrives this week. Very Excited Peter😁

[@nrick6800]

Hi John, Another great video, thanks for this amazing job you’re having. Need your knowledge to change my inside mirror and the back sheets speakers of my 99 convertible XKR, hope you could show us how to do so ... And again thanks for all those videos ! It’s so perfect and well explained, heaven for those like me that aren’t that fluent in English! Henrique

[@nrick6800]

Back seats ! 😁😂

[@jacobstein7179]

For the rear view mirror you need to go to a glass shop or dealer.

[@lyndonpetrillose2077]

Hey John thanks for the info in the trunk but it's good on my car. I have an 05 XK8 convertible. Both my doors have sagged, enough that they strike the lower frame as they open. I have adjusted the striker post up so that they lineup when closed. Is this sag common? Also I've gotten several different ways to fix it from body shops and I wonder what you think. Some shops think the fenders should be remove to get to hinge adjustments. Are these hinges bolted on to the body? Others think the adjustment should be done in the door by welding or other. I love your videos keep it up. Thanks Lyndon

[@jacobstein7179]

I almost bought an XK8 with sagging doors. I thought you needed to replace the hinges.

[@ToTheGarage]

Hi Lyndon Not common but not unique. First check First check that the hinge pins are not worn by lifting back age of the door edge of the door and feeling for any slack movement. This will also show up if any of the bolts loose. Next inspect the metal on the door and the door and A pillar where the hinges are attached. Look for any signs of cracks in the metal. Finally, though hard to believe. you can adjust the doors the same way as they did in the factory. This is to lift the back edge of the door very hard in order to stretch the metal near the hinges. This was literally done by hand in the factory or with the long wooden lever. It is pretty daunting if you have never seen it done, and you can get it wrong (over stretch the metal. If you have a friend who has worked on the 'finals' line in any car plant, then they will have seen this technique in use and may be able to assist you. Some people have even put a bottle Jack under back edge of the door and used this to lift it. I have never tried this technique. So. My final comment on this one is . If you are not confident, pay someone else to do it

[@kendrickfidler]

Thank you John!

[@ToTheGarage]

My pleasure!

[@stevefarmer15]

Hi John, love the videos, loads of good info, thanks. Any chance you can do something on the kickdown switch behind the throttle pedal? I recently kicked mine off and not sure if I replaced it correctly. Regards.

[@ToTheGarage]

Hi Steve. Must admit I don't even know how its attached!. You have made me want to find out though👍

[@lyndonpetrillose2077]

Also please do a video on the cabin air filter. Show where it is and how to replace it. And maybe what years they had it and didn't.

[@garyvanremortel5218]

Apparently none of the US cars had them.

[@garyvanremortel5218]

Does a cabin air filter even make sense on a convertible?

[@ToTheGarage]

Hi Lyndon. I believe its quite a rare option but can it can be retro fitted (if you can find the housing kit) I will do a video showing where it goes but the quick answer is below the grey trim pannel that your wipers emerge from

[@lyndonpetrillose2077]

@@garyvanremortel5218 Well my car seals pretty well and when I get stuck behind a car burning oil I wish I had one. I think a carbon filter would helps filter that out plus pollen.

[@garyvanremortel5218]

@@lyndonpetrillose2077 Please let us all know how it works if you install one. I heard that install on a left hand drive car is difficult if not impossible.

[@harryscott1445]

Hi John, Good info as always. Will you be doing same for bonnet? I've not been happy with Mick2 since back from painters....bonnet not quite closing as it should!

[@jacobstein7179]

You can fix this by adjusting 2 bolts I believe. It happens when the bonnet isn’t closed from the center. Most Jaguar specialists will fix this for free.

[@harryscott1445]

Jacob Stein cheers Jacob, will investigate.

[@MitchGrooms]

GREAT jOB

[@ToTheGarage]

Thanks pal

[@robertbongiovanni5957]

The trunk is hard to open with key what can I do to fix it?

[@ToTheGarage]

Hi Robert. If the key is not badly worn then the Lock mechanism is starting to sieze up. Best solution is to remove it. (easy once you have removed the trim panels in the boot, and then soak it overnight in a tub of penetrating oil. However a liberal squirting of WD40 via its thin red straw, through the key hole, and then jiggling the key in the lock does wonders

[@garyvanremortel5218]

I've been accused of being a cunning linguist on occasion.

[@ToTheGarage]

Ooh you rogue👏