XJ-S

1975-1996 / Coupe / Convertible / United Kingdom

All XJ-S problems All workshop issues

Minor Electrical

Central locking failure

Symptoms

Doors won't lock or unlock centrally. Some doors lock, others don't. Boot won't unlock.

Cause

Individual door lock actuators fail (vacuum-operated on some cars, electric on others). Vacuum lines perish. Microswitches wear out.

Fix

Diagnose which actuator has failed and replace it.

Check vacuum lines and replace if perished.

Budget $100-300 per door.

Cost mentioned in fix

Budget $100-300 per door

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// More XJ-S problems

Other known issues

Common Electrical

Air conditioning system failure

A/C doesn't blow cold, blows warm on one side, or doesn't work at all. Compressor clutch won't engage.

Minor Electrical

Electric window and mirror motor failure

Windows won't go up or down, or move slowly. Door mirrors don't adjust.

Common Electrical

Instrument cluster and gauge failure

Gauges read incorrectly, flicker, or die. Warning lights come on randomly.

Minor Engine, V12

Cooling system failure

Engine overheats, temperature gauge climbs into the red, coolant boils over. In severe cases, head gaskets fail and coolant enters the oil.

Common Engine, V12

Head gasket weeping

Coolant appears around the head gasket line (external weep), or coolant contaminates the oil (internal failure, mayonnaise under the filler cap, white exhaust smoke).

Common Engine, V12

Lucas ignition system failure (pre-1989)

Misfiring, rough idle, hard starting, power loss, sometimes total ignition failure.

View all 23 XJ-S problems