Nikasil Failure

[A5 XKC]

Brought car back in September from what I thought was honest chap within one month wouldn't start Jaguar Specialist eventually got going said he thought Nikasil linings going and starting would get worse! then again December failed again. HA Fox looked at when non starting again, they have confirmed Nikasil Linings US saying seller must of known and suggested he may have poured oil down linings to achieve compression?, bearing in mind I have only done about 1K since Sept, their quote £6500, have found place in Twickenham who will do with steel linings for £3K with 5yr/60K warranty, sounds good! anyway what can I do about seller even though sold as seen??? please help.
Despite this car has still cost less than forecourt price and am sure will now give fault free motoring?

>> Edited by on Tuesday 21st February 19:31

[NormanD]

I feel if you can get HA Fox to put in writeing

A5 XKC said:

HA Fox looked at when non starting again, they have confirmed Nikasil Linings US saying seller must of known and suggested he may have poured oil down linings to achieve compression?,

you may well have a case, best of luck

[triple7]

Have you got it in writing from the seller that is was 'free of any known fault.' it would help your case? I'm no lawyer, but there are many on Pistonheads, post thread on one of the more general sections asking for legal advice I'm sure someone can hellp you more.

Sorry to here about your engine.

G

>> Edited by triple7 on Sunday 8th January 17:30

[DrDeAtH]

send him a big steaming dog poo in the post.

[Prof Beard]

Were you given blow-by test figures prior to purchase? I've been told that one should always ask for this if a Jag has a Nikasil engine?

[Vesuvius996]

If it said "sold as seen" on the receipt you are bd.

Mail me off if you need more advice.

[A5 XKC]

Here are the details e-mailed to me by seller, I think it's pretty clear as to engine condition

'I have the V5 plus three sets of keys. The engine is the original but does not suffer from any excesive oil use, the car has mostly used for a long daily motorway commute. So no liner problems. In addition the gearbox has just been serviced and the aircon has been regassed.'

Is there anyone out ther who can help???

Andy

[triple7]

He knew his engine was duff, but I don't think an email will account for much. You need paper and his signiture. Failing that call the police and say you want them to accopmany you to his house coz you think the guy is 'violent' Then see if you can scare him into giving you your money back. Thats unless you know some Italians in Chicago!

Ask Vesuvius, he has offered you help.

G

[Vesuvius996]

Interesting - as you say he specifically mentioned the liners - so he might have a problem here!!

Mail me again and we can discuss.

[mattbgbr]

OK doke

So your in the UK

have you purchased from a dealer ?

If so, you can contact Trading Standards who will advise on best approach.

Also note that "Sold as Seen" is not allowed in the UK and use of such should be reported to your local Trading Standards Office.

Essentially the dealer is obligated to provide a "remedy".

Read their web site at "www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/calitem.cgi?file=ADV0003-1011.txt"

It should bring some relief

Cheers

Matt

[jimbro1000]

Vesuvius996 said:

Interesting - as you say he specifically mentioned the liners - so he might have a problem here!! Mail me again and we can discuss.

Not necessarily - Jaguar have a big problem with the nikasil liners failing (rather like BMW have) and it would not be beyond the ordinary for someone to mention it if they are aware of the problem.

We have one in the workshop at the moment with the exact same problem - looking at a rebuild (with steel liners) to fix it.

[octanebooster]

The e mail also mentions that the gearbox had been serviced. I thought they were a sealed unit on Jaguars and non servicable but I might be wrong.

[A5 XKC]

He had new / reconditioned gearbox bill was £2300 which I have

Regards Andy

[kend]

I looked at your profile, the car is a 98 plate and has done 100,000 miles. I would expect it to be down on compression. Do you have the results of the blow by test and the wet/dry compression test. You do not say if you are burning oil which is a symptom of worn linnings/rings.
Ken

[A5 XKC]

Compression as follows

Bank One 0~30~40~0
Bank Two 0~25~25~0

Have had bill for new engine etc this afternoon

Engine £2548
Crankshaft £675
Clean engine Breather system £48
Waterpump £167
Thermostat £19
Air Filters £38
Coolant Level sensor £76
Oils £25
Antifreeze £18
Sundries £25

Total inc VAT £4453.18

[groomi]

Can't really add anything other than to say that I know exactly how you feel.

The price you have been quoted looks good. Is there any way you can find out what that engine is? If it's pre-2000 then it will still have Nikasil liners and dodgy timing chain tensioners. I'd be worried that you might spend all that money and have the same problems again further down the line.

I take it you had no warranty?

[A5 XKC]

Engine has steel liners so should be no problems, this I checked prior to agreement with garage, it also has 5yr / 60,000 warranty, once bitten

[groomi]

Looks like you've got yourself a good deal.

[james s]

Are you sure its definately gone. Mine absolutely will not start if it floods and it absolutely always floods if I start it to shunt it round the drive and switch it off quicky.

The thing is, even a couple of mechanics were convinced the engine had gone kaput as it has no compression when it floods and just spins round.

I have done 60k on the same engine since it first happened - it still happens about once a year, but I know how to clear it now, remove the air box lid , take out the fuel pump fuse and crank it a couple of times. Once it starts to catch or make a couplle of differnt noises then replace the fuse and try again. Usually takes about 20 minutes.

A number of people have advised me that oil use goes up massively when nikosil fails, but I don't have any definative evidence

[A5 XKC]

Thanks for info, unfortunately been down that road twice already, tried as you described to no avail previously. What strikes me as strange you have said something that HA Fox said moving short distances can cause flooding so advised that if cleaning push!!! but surely this is a design fault on Jaguars part? what can be done to prevent this occuring?
Andy