Whether you've recently purchased a brand-new or certified used Jaguar, you're probably already enjoying the smooth ride and powerful performance of this luxury brand. And while these vehicles are known for their reliability and comprehensive warranties, there are several steps you can take to help you get hundreds of thousands of comfortable miles from your new Jaguar. Read on to learn more about some preventive maintenance you can perform to ensure your vehicle remains as perfect as the day you bought it.
What preventive maintenance will your Jaguar need?
Like all vehicles, Jaguars have a specific maintenance schedule you'll need to follow to ensure it remains in good running condition.
After the first 1,000 miles, you'll want a comprehensive set of services performed. This includes changing the oil, checking and topping off of all engine fluids, checking all hoses and electrical components, and fully checking the exhaust and fuel systems. Technicians will also check your tire tread and pressure and ensure that your tires are still properly aligned. Generally, these components will all be in the same condition they were when you drove the car off the showroom floor -- however, this thorough check will ensure that nothing has jarred loose or broken and can help prevent costly repairs down the road.
In addition to this initial service check, you'll need to have a thorough belt and hose inspection, lubrication, and oil change approximately every 15,000 miles (known as the "B interval" inspection). The C interval inspection should be performed every 30,000 miles (beginning when your vehicle has reached 15,000 miles), and involves a more extensive check of the items inspected during the B interval check. And at 30,000 and 75,000 miles, your Jaguar will need a flush of its transmission fluid and new spark plugs.
Sticking to this maintenance schedule is important. Although going over by a few hundred miles before you can make an appointment at your local dealership shouldn't be an issue, regularly delaying this scheduled maintenance can allow debris to enter the delicate interior components of your engine, potentially causing significant damage.
How can you solve common issues that may come up?
There are a few minor engine and interior problems to which Jaguars are particularly susceptible. However, in some cases, simply being aware of these potential weaknesses may help you avoid any issues, and in other cases, the repair is relatively simple.
The plastic cup holder in your Jaguar may break its hinge, causing the cup holder to flap open when in the closed position. Although you'll still be able to use the cup holder (unless the damage is severe), you won't be able to keep it closed. However, avoiding jolting the cup holder or ripping drinks out roughly will generally prevent any damage to this hinge. If you do break the hinge, your local Jaguar dealership should be able to order and install an inexpensive replacement.
Another Jaguar XJ8 problem that some owners have struggled with is the breakage of the timing chain tensioner, generally after you've put around 80,000 miles on the original engine. Because this tensioner is composed of plastic, it's not quite as durable as a tensioner made of metal and may weaken over time and with exposure to high heat from the engine. Although this can be an expensive repair if the engine has been allowed to run without a tensioner (causing further damage) for a few hundred miles, you can opt to have this tensioner preemptively replaced with a more durable metal part at your 75,000 mile service appointment or earlier to avoid any problems with this component.
Share22 June 2015
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