brake problem on startup
Discussion
For the last few weeks, I've been experiencing a problem with the barkes on starting my xj8.
When I hit the problems, they seem to be working at only 25%, feeling dead and spongy with a lot of travel on the pedal. This only lasts a minute ot two.
Had it taken to the Jag garage who replaced a hose on the brakes. Problem is still there.
Anyone have any ideas what could be causing it?
Thanks.
When I hit the problems, they seem to be working at only 25%, feeling dead and spongy with a lot of travel on the pedal. This only lasts a minute ot two.
Had it taken to the Jag garage who replaced a hose on the brakes. Problem is still there.
Anyone have any ideas what could be causing it?
Thanks.
New one on me that Angelis, sounds like a problem with the power assist though. As though you've lost all power assist on the brakes. (usually vacuum operated from the inlet manifold) I stand to be corrected!! 
Make sure you've not got a leak in the vacuum hose from the inlet manifold to the brake servo. I might be wrong, but worth a check!
>> Edited by 8Pack on Tuesday 31st August 01:38
Make sure you've not got a leak in the vacuum hose from the inlet manifold to the brake servo. I might be wrong, but worth a check!
>> Edited by 8Pack on Tuesday 31st August 01:38
It's back at Woodford now.
I waited all morning for them to pick up, but no one came. So I called them and it appears the car was'nt booked in for a pick up. So I arranged to have it picked up on thursday.
The mechanic (I think) called me up saying that three testers have checked the car on a rolling road and not found a problem. The brakes were fine.
"Yes", I said. "The brakes are fine, they only have a problem on start up after a day".
Seemed no one told him.
Surely it can't take them this long to find out what the problem is? I mean, don't they have a database or book they can look up and find out the problem.
They've also charged me £120 for the first fix which.......did'nt fix it.
I waited all morning for them to pick up, but no one came. So I called them and it appears the car was'nt booked in for a pick up. So I arranged to have it picked up on thursday.
The mechanic (I think) called me up saying that three testers have checked the car on a rolling road and not found a problem. The brakes were fine.
"Yes", I said. "The brakes are fine, they only have a problem on start up after a day".
Seemed no one told him.
Surely it can't take them this long to find out what the problem is? I mean, don't they have a database or book they can look up and find out the problem.
They've also charged me £120 for the first fix which.......did'nt fix it.
I'll ask around Angelis in the next few days. Should think that someone (i.e. motor mech.) must have come up against this somewhere.
Still think it may be Brake Servo related though, can give some very strange symtoms. Best one I had was on a Sunbeam Rapier years ago, started losing brake fluid but couldn't see a leak anywhere, next thing I notice when I started up was a cloud of white smoke from the exhaust. The brake servo seals had gone and it was actually sucking the brake fluid out of the system and feeding it into the engine via the inlet manifold!
I'll post in a few days if I find anything out, in the meantime, good luck!
Still think it may be Brake Servo related though, can give some very strange symtoms. Best one I had was on a Sunbeam Rapier years ago, started losing brake fluid but couldn't see a leak anywhere, next thing I notice when I started up was a cloud of white smoke from the exhaust. The brake servo seals had gone and it was actually sucking the brake fluid out of the system and feeding it into the engine via the inlet manifold!
I'll post in a few days if I find anything out, in the meantime, good luck!
Just got my car back. They can't find the problem with the brakes and say everything is ok.
No charge for the that and they even washed my car.
But here's what pissed me off.
They were supposed to call me on saturday morning, but did'nt. So I called them at 12:30, not knowing they closed at 12:00. Later in the afternoon I thought I'd pop by the service centre as something was troubling me. Surely they would'nt leave the car parked outside in an industrial estate for the whole weekend.
Yep...they did.....and was I pissed off.
And they also manged to park it in the worse part of the car park as well.
If you take your car their and they are keeping it overnight, make sure u ask them to park it inside. The car should'nt get stolen, but there's nothing to stop some twat jumping over the 2.5' wall and vandalising your car. They are putting in new fencing soon so that should solve the problem. But until then.....be careful.
No charge for the that and they even washed my car.
But here's what pissed me off.
They were supposed to call me on saturday morning, but did'nt. So I called them at 12:30, not knowing they closed at 12:00. Later in the afternoon I thought I'd pop by the service centre as something was troubling me. Surely they would'nt leave the car parked outside in an industrial estate for the whole weekend.
Yep...they did.....and was I pissed off.
And they also manged to park it in the worse part of the car park as well.
If you take your car their and they are keeping it overnight, make sure u ask them to park it inside. The car should'nt get stolen, but there's nothing to stop some twat jumping over the 2.5' wall and vandalising your car. They are putting in new fencing soon so that should solve the problem. But until then.....be careful.
Nice one Angelis, so I take it all's well now? Hadn't got to the chap I wanted to see yet (ex motor mech.inc. jaguars) take it you don't need him now then.
Thought it may have been the vacuum pipe from the manifold though, glad it wasn't anything more serious.
As far as garages are concerned, I've wondered about independent Jag' garages. Mines out of warranty now and wonder if it's worth continuing with the main dealer all the time. I don't do a BIG yearly milage in it as I have a "shopping trolley" as well, so this year a friend changed the oil and filter for me only. Thinking of a full service every 2 years given about 6000M / yr Max. with an oil & filter change every year.
Answer is I suppose: find a good garage and stick with them!
Thought it may have been the vacuum pipe from the manifold though, glad it wasn't anything more serious.
As far as garages are concerned, I've wondered about independent Jag' garages. Mines out of warranty now and wonder if it's worth continuing with the main dealer all the time. I don't do a BIG yearly milage in it as I have a "shopping trolley" as well, so this year a friend changed the oil and filter for me only. Thinking of a full service every 2 years given about 6000M / yr Max. with an oil & filter change every year.
Answer is I suppose: find a good garage and stick with them!
8pack, the hose was fitted the first time round.
This time they could'nt find anything. I have'nt started it up yet, but i'm guessing the problem is still there.
Low mileage? Bet you aint gonna get lower than me. Last year I only drove it about 1,500 miles.
Registered April 1998 = Mileage to date 21,000.
Not worth selling it as I'd probably only get about £10-12,000. You can't even get a Golf for that much. So I guess it's here to stay.
This time they could'nt find anything. I have'nt started it up yet, but i'm guessing the problem is still there.
Low mileage? Bet you aint gonna get lower than me. Last year I only drove it about 1,500 miles.
Registered April 1998 = Mileage to date 21,000.
Not worth selling it as I'd probably only get about £10-12,000. You can't even get a Golf for that much. So I guess it's here to stay.
Ah! Sorry I mis-understood Angelis, I'm unexpectedly working tomorrow (friday) I'll see if I can get hold of the chap and have a word. Looks like they were thinking along the same lines though, wonder if it's the servo it's self. This ONLY happens after the car has been left to stand for a while does it?
Hi Angelis, Sorry about the delay, Mike, the chap I told you about is a difficult man to pin down.
However I spoke to him today and described your problem. He seems to think that a problem with the servo is very unlikely, although he doesn't totally rule it out. He thinks it far more likely that you have air in your brake system.
Brake systems these days have to be pressure bled and is not a DIY job, but the good news is of course that you DON'T need an expensive Jag dealer to do it.
As he said, you should be able to feel a solid pedal even if it needs one or two pumps, with the engine stopped. Any spongy feel is air.
Hope that helps Angelis, I'm off to Scotland now for a week so will not be able to reply to anything until next week. Good luck with it!
However I spoke to him today and described your problem. He seems to think that a problem with the servo is very unlikely, although he doesn't totally rule it out. He thinks it far more likely that you have air in your brake system.
Brake systems these days have to be pressure bled and is not a DIY job, but the good news is of course that you DON'T need an expensive Jag dealer to do it.
As he said, you should be able to feel a solid pedal even if it needs one or two pumps, with the engine stopped. Any spongy feel is air.
Hope that helps Angelis, I'm off to Scotland now for a week so will not be able to reply to anything until next week. Good luck with it!
Sorry 8Pack, I've only just seen your reply.
Well, they finally sent one of their main technicians round to check the car. And a good bloke he turned out to be.
I made him reverse the car out of my garage and to test the brakes out. He found the same problem as me. Suggested the brakes be bled and new brake fluid added.
How come they could'nt diagnose the problem when they had the car there on two occasions for over a week.
And it's not something you'd expect after the car is given a 60,000 mile service for £900 plus. (Cars only done 21,000)
Boy.....am I pissed off with Woodford Jaguar. If it was'nt for the chap who came round, I'd be sending it to Grange Motors.
Well, they finally sent one of their main technicians round to check the car. And a good bloke he turned out to be.
I made him reverse the car out of my garage and to test the brakes out. He found the same problem as me. Suggested the brakes be bled and new brake fluid added.
How come they could'nt diagnose the problem when they had the car there on two occasions for over a week.
And it's not something you'd expect after the car is given a 60,000 mile service for £900 plus. (Cars only done 21,000)
Boy.....am I pissed off with Woodford Jaguar. If it was'nt for the chap who came round, I'd be sending it to Grange Motors.
8Pack said:
Ah! Glad it's sorted for you then Angelis.
I wish!
They had'nt bothered to even call me to book the car in. I had to call them three days later. I booked it in for next wednesday. Did'nt even get an apology from them for the waste of my time.
But.....as soon as i got off the phone from them it suddenly hit me. Why the hell am I taking it back to the crap garage that could'nt find the fault while having the car for over a week?
So I've booked it into Grange motors in Brentwood. Who will now be getting all my business. And I'm getting the XJR mesh grille put in as well.
WARNING: Avoid Woodford garage at all cost!
I don't know what it is, but I seem to notice more and more bad customer service everywhere I go. Maybe it's because I'm getting older I notice it more.
Or maybe coz no one gives a shit anymore.
I'm setting up a new business and customer service will be a priority. Then again, it is an estate agency I'm setting up.
Or maybe coz no one gives a shit anymore.
I'm setting up a new business and customer service will be a priority. Then again, it is an estate agency I'm setting up.
Phew! For a minute there Angelis I thought you were going to say an insurance co. 
now they realy are direct descendents of horse thieves.
Wish you well in your venture, there's certainly room for good service with a personal touch in the business. Takes time to develope a good reputation but well worth it in the end. I think you need to offer something that others don't. Good luck, hope it works out for you.
Well, getting that time of year to put the big cat into hibernation again and give it some TLC. Run a Ford Granny as well as a shopping trolley now, but still a very reliable go anywhere car, I'm lucky in that I have a company vehicle also so that I don't use either car that much day-to-day.
Let us know when you get yours sorted, be interested to know what the problem was. Cheers, 8Pack.
now they realy are direct descendents of horse thieves. Wish you well in your venture, there's certainly room for good service with a personal touch in the business. Takes time to develope a good reputation but well worth it in the end. I think you need to offer something that others don't. Good luck, hope it works out for you.
Well, getting that time of year to put the big cat into hibernation again and give it some TLC. Run a Ford Granny as well as a shopping trolley now, but still a very reliable go anywhere car, I'm lucky in that I have a company vehicle also so that I don't use either car that much day-to-day.
Let us know when you get yours sorted, be interested to know what the problem was.
Cheers, 8Pack. Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff