I installed Real Gauge from Jagwrangler years ago, I was a beta test. It was a simple install and has worked flawlessly for many years. As someone here mentioned, having an accurate temperature read when dealing with an aluminum engine is a must!

@ToTheGarage

3 жыл бұрын

Ive seen many positive reviews of the Jagwranglers products

Im glad you covered this issue. Especially important in the earlier XK8s that were plagued with water pump issues and wouldnt indicate high temps until it became very overheated. I was also going to mention the aftermarket kit made by Jagwrangler, but you have that covered. He has advertised this kit in the Jaguar Forum for many years. (I am not affiliated with Jagwrangler nor this product). Great stuff and please keep em' coming!!

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Curtis👍

Another brilliantly simple fix. Thanks for sharing!

I had an XJ6 in the same colour scheme as the one you showed in your video back in the day. As one of the later cars, it was very reliable. I think the only thing I changed on it in 30,000 miles (apart from routine service) was the coolant level sensor.

My 2000 has Nav Screen which was nice in 2000 but now obsolete and the center gauges are aesthetically appealing... love your videos keep up the good work...

@DeidresTravelAdventures

5 ай бұрын

Same! I asked my mechanic at the Jaguar dealership if I could swap the nav system out for the gauges and he said it wasn't possible 😞

I used to have a Porsche 924 and both the voltmeter and oil pressure gauges were showing real time data. It's sad that Jaguar didn't do that on the XK8. But you are right, some customers don't understand how the oil pressure works and that's a source of claims. Thank you for showing us all these details.

Hi John. Enjoying your videos. I have just purchased a XK8 Coupe 1997. Very helpful tips thank you.

@ToTheGarage

4 жыл бұрын

Geoff Minors thanks Geoff. What colour did you go for?

@gsminors

4 жыл бұрын

@@ToTheGarage Black on Black

@brownnubian1768

3 жыл бұрын

@@gsminors There’s one here in my town 1997 with 110,000 miles on in great condition and the ticket price is $5000- is it worth it????

@gsminors

3 жыл бұрын

@@brownnubian1768 5k seems very cheap. Make sure it's in good condition and get it inspected

Hi John. Have you covered the XJR? I've just bought a red '99 in from Japan. There's a 3/4" bung on top of the supercharger intercooler. Many times the Allen key, to undo that bung, is missing. I used an Audi steering arm that has 3/4" hex adjusters. I made six 1" 'Allen keys' out of one 6" Audi shaft, and then simply use a socket and bar to undo the Jag bung. So I have 5 left if anyone wants one. If anyone finds 'mayonaisse' in the top of their intercooler fluid, there's a reason. Happy to share that info. I just sold my gold '03 XK8, done 35k miles. I confess to having just found your site.. and subscribed. Thanks. Paul. NZ.

Hello John. Excellent advice for the Jag owners . If I may add some Info for the gages: There is an OBD II Reader , but this one is without the cable. It's with Bluetooth , and by installing the relevant app on your smart phone you are able to see the exact figures of the instruments as well the correct consumption. Other parameters are coolant, fluid and transmission temperature to boost, oxygen sensors and manifold pressure. It takes immediate reading from the ECU ( ENGINE control Unit ) . I'll try to find the link and add it as well. Cheers .

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Nicholas. I used to use 'Torque' which I found very useful, but it only works on Android and these days I'm all apple. Do you recommend any apple apps for OBD II?

@NicholasSpartan

5 жыл бұрын

@@ToTheGarage hahaha I'm a Samsung guy John, hence android. But I think definitely there's one for iOS as well mate. Cheers.

Nice info yet again. Thanks!

Hello John, Sorry I have not replied to you sooner about the erratic gauge readings I was getting on my 1999 XK8. You suggested checking the amps at the battery. I had planned to do that when I returned from a four day holiday we were taking. In any event, the car sat untouched for about a week. When I started it and ran an errand, the gauges, except for the fuel gauge seemed to be at normal (the fuel gauge might be accurate, will check when i refuel).. They are still at normal after a week or so. Thanks for the response before and I enjoy all of your videos. Howie Crotin

@ToTheGarage

3 жыл бұрын

Good News Howie👍

Converted my '05 XK8 with nav to 3 gauges a little while ago. As I was going to be running cables through to the dash cluster I got a mod kit from a chap in the USA to give a more linear reading, much nicer actually seeing whats going on, and having gauges that aren't just glorified warning lights

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

I prefer the look of the three dial dash bit was not aware that anyone modded them from sat nav to 3 Dial. Was it your own 'creation' or did you get some sort of conversion kit? Thanks for sharing

@defjenjag5220

5 жыл бұрын

@@ToTheGarage For the oil pressure and water temperature there is a small module that a guy in the USA produces that drives these gauges and will display true readings, and also has an audible alarm. For peace of mind a good modification, Jagwrangler is the company. Little bit of repinning required on the dash binnacle connectors but an easy fit

Thing with that voltage gauge, properly operating alternator Is usually about 14.5 volts.

Another thing I did not really think about. I have watched that temp gauge and marveled at what I thought was some amazing system that kept the temp so precisely in the middle of the gauge. Small trained hamsters opening and closing coolant valves or such.

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

John Doe I prefer your theory john!🐹

@timjones1863

5 жыл бұрын

Wow

Hi John, I have a 97 xk8 convertible In which video shows how to raise the rear windows when the roof is down. .

Had many. Thanks for the info

@ToTheGarage

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Paul👍

At my job we have a fleet of Chevrolet Express vans (USA market) that have the full compliment of gauges (oil pressure, volts and coolant temp) and believe it or not, they actually work! Oil pressure rises and falls with engine load as does the volt meter. Go up a long hill, especially in the summer and the coolant temp gauge will rise slightly. Go down a long hill and it will fall. I can even tell when the diesel exhaust filter is about to go into cleaning mode when the temp gauge rises slightly higher than normal. I'd wager they're the last of their kind, at least in a new vehicle in our market.

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

Its the way it should be. But I fear you are right and new vehicles will all shy away from true live readings.

question? my xk8 jerks alil when switching from 1 to 2 i notice 1 is a very short gear is this just my car or does urs do this to??

Fake gauges are quite common in newer cars. They're basically glorified idiot lights.

I was wondering what Phil Collins did after Genesis.

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

😉👍

After I had an oil change my temperature light and low fuel light is staying on. Im scared... Whats wrong?

I got caught out by this a couple of years ago on my 2001 XK8. Stuck in heavy traffic, hot day, suddenly temp gauge flicks up to the red! Pull over and Bang! Steam all over the place & water running down the gutter. The expansion box (plastic) had ruptured & I lost all the water. It was mainly due to the second electric fan being U/S. In other words, the gauge is useless, gives you no warning!

@ToTheGarage

4 жыл бұрын

Yes by the time it moves, its too hot. rather than 'warming up'

wow, I have always thought this was true but not 100% positive. I think the Temp gauge in the 95-03 XJR is the same, it stays in the middle all the time, well, not when you first start up, but the entire day in the same position? thoughts? Damn, I never knew what that was in the center console..

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

Most people won't ever need it. Let alone notice it Mitch😁. I think I may be obsessed🤔

The volume is very low, even with my laptop volume right up. It does improve at just over 6 minutes.

cool trick

Ah I didn't know this, on my XJR (x308) the temp gauge sometimes goes slightly above center, but my obd reader is always at 90 degrees .. odd

@skelejp9982

4 жыл бұрын

U read obd while driving? I notice when I am back after like 30 mintutes , the Temp is still 90, when longer sometimes like 80. I always give engine time to warm up. Greetings !

Hello John, with all respect, at 7.44; your gas/petroldail is almost at "full" And yet the range of miles is just 163 miles... That should be more. I recently had a defect petroldail, so the it went up and down, also very fast down, during driving. I have it replaced, so it's better now. But the range should be at least 350 miles or even more. With a full tank, I can drive 600 km, or 370 miles. To my mechanic, a defect petrolgage is a common thing on Jaguars.

@ToTheGarage

4 жыл бұрын

Hi madelief47. Don't worry. The range is showing low because of all the idling and manoeuvring on my drive way to film stuff. So the car thinks its doing about 15 to the gallon!

@madelief47

4 жыл бұрын

@@ToTheGarage Hahaha! You fooled your car! And the filmcrew of 30 men is also involved? I mean, you make a serious job of your "Secrets of the XK8" I must say, you show a lot of smart and wise things, we, XK8 owners hardly or not know? Many Thanks! Are you a mechanic, speciallized on this car?

@ToTheGarage

4 жыл бұрын

@@madelief47 Flattered that you might think so🤗. No. I am an enthusiastic amateur. But I do have a background in Car and car component manufacture so have a little different perspective to add to my enthusiasm for this model and an eye for the details.

To John or anyone else who may know: I would keenly like to learn more about this decision on Jaguar's part, as I think it would make a perfect case study for a history-of-technology journal article. If anyone can point me to any sources, I'd be grateful.

Can't wait for you to replace a headlight

@detox2778

5 жыл бұрын

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

This is why I think they don't install temperature gauge on motorcycles. They would fluctuate widely and I can only imagine what it would look like when I Am sitting in Traffic and the engine baking my legs. I feel like its even worse if I turn off the engine.

Love the XK8s, but made me smile seeing you have a full tank of fuel but the range is saying just 163 miles! 😁

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

Hah You should be eagle eye rather than red eye!👍

@logan86123

5 жыл бұрын

It's a bit odd actually because I have a 2004 XK8 coupe with the 4.2, and with my fuel gauge in that position it would say at least 363 miles, and that would be accurate. Did the convertibles have a much smaller tank than the coupes?

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

logan86123 More to do with me having some fun round the local lanes and then engine idling on the driveway, generating a very low average mpg .

John the Temperature gage or gauge works just fine. My water pump (plastic impeller) broke and the temperature gage would be all over the place depending on if I was idling or driving down the road. I replaced the water pump (metal impeller) and have had no problems for 15 years. Another item of interest was the thermostat housing. The stock plastic one has captured nuts that can break loose if you need to replace the thermostat. Don't replace with the plastic one GET A METAL one! Review this WEB site kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZZijt7KidsjXYco.html

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

Hi Elvin. Thanks for the tip. I do have a metal thermostat housing. Only problem is, it is on a shelf in my garage rather than on the engine😔. Must sort that soon. I have also had the water pump disolve on me. Like you, I am now a metal impeller guy. 👍👍

I do kinda dislike how U cannot see Voltage and Oil on a Daimler Super V8, X308 build. Just to mention nowadays, there re kits available for older cars with Cassette Radio, to connect via Bluetooth phone ect, but also show the Cars Voltage ! These kits are made to fit on Cigarette Lighter Socket. Greetings !

@ToTheGarage

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Skele Joop. My solution to the Voltage readout is very similar to your suggestion. See Secrets of the XK8 episode 55 out today

@skelejp9982

4 жыл бұрын

@@ToTheGarage Well I was thinking bout maybe installing something like Torque Pro App , to be able to see some Car Diagnostics while driving. The great thing bout these age older Cars , we can install many kinda gadgets, while also leave the car in it's original state. For example newer types have an outdated screen, with outgraded software. I want to thank U, for all the effort making these Videos, U are like the Jaguar Doctor ! And U give much confidence to the new breed of the type(XJ,XK8,XKR) Jag/Daimler buyer/owner. I have a Question regarding the right lubrication for my x308 2000 Build Doorlock, Ignition, Trunk lock? Greetings !

U cant tell they are fake cos they are showing right things if u look at oil pressure gauge is doesn't show u on how many bars of pressure u are for example xk40 wash showing true pressure. Xk8 is showing oil pressure is good or to low or to high there is no numbers to show on how many bars u are now so think oil pressure gauge is not fake. Next one battery is showing good as my voltage regulator went few weeks ago and was showing over 17v when i checked with multimeter was showing over 18v so again they are doing the job ...

My temperature gauge reads below centre when the outside temperature is low.

@ToTheGarage

3 жыл бұрын

Are you sure its not been modded to 'Real gauge' prior to your ownership Steve?

@stevejones9290

3 жыл бұрын

@@ToTheGarage The car has been owned by my family since 2004. It wasn’t modified then. One previous owner from new (97)

Well I didn’t know the volt meter was fake as well. I thought the end of the key could unscrew the gear bung.

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

I need to go check out that idea re the key and the bung. I really want it to work👍

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

Damn couldn't get the end of the key to work☹️ Thanks for the idea though Andy

Not sure how you get a 'high' oil pressure reading as it's driven by a switch which only has two positions.....low (less than approx 12psi) or ok (above approx 12psi). The voltmeter has a 'normalised' reading to avoid variations & the temperature gauge is the same as pretty much every oem car for the last 30+ years whereby the gauge reads 'normal' between about 65-105 deg C. Once the temp goes above this then the gauge starts to rise quickly reaching the top of the red somewhere between 115-120 deg C. Cars like the XK have this characteristic programmed into the instrument cluster processor whereas the older stuff relied on the non linear resistance characteristics of the temperature sender on the engine itself. Not sure any of this qualifies as 'secret' or 'fake' just manipulated to avoid normal operation causing unfounded concern. You maybe amazed that the HVAC temperature setting bears very little correlation to the actual target temperature in the cabin & the offset is nothing like linear either....

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks S B 👍. I think on reflection you have a point on the high oil pressure. Although I was convinced it could show a High value, It does indeed essentialy only have only a switch to control it🤔 I may have to re think that statement. Absolutely agree on the reasoning behind these simulated or normalised readings. Its so they can provide the instruments without the unnecessary worry that 'true' or live readings would cause in many drivers. Re the HVAC setting and target not being equal. Really interesting! What do you think the logic is there? is it related to what the car needs to chill the interior down to in order for the driver to "feel' like its that cold due to the effects of being behind glass?

there are no measurment references, such as lbs per sq inch on the gauge, that surely tells the driver the gauge is faux, same for the gauge with battery symbol, it could be measuring how many bananas I have just purchased, it leaves the guillible to ASSume

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

Good point re the lack of measurements. Also I wish I had thought of the word Faux. Its so much more appropriate than Fake in the context of the video i made. Damn it😫

@paulhanck1123

5 жыл бұрын

are you for real? do you really need a volt meter to have a v on the scale for you to know it is reading volts???????? as for the oil pressure guage, it doesnt need the units to be on the scale, its all relative as you are supposed to look at it and compare it to the previous journey ,the only important part is the needle position. next you will be telling me that you need the clock to have hours and minutes on it for you to be able to tell the time

Almost as complicated as my wife....lol

Not just Jaguars - the oil pressure gauge in the MX5 is a 'simulation' aka fake!

@dpicazo465

5 жыл бұрын

the ones prior to 95 were legit

Here is the address for the" Real Gauge" conversion kit, it comes from America www.thejagwrangler.com/

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Keith

So basically your saying toss those out and put in some digital ones that actually work.

@ToTheGarage

4 жыл бұрын

Nope. They are too pretty as they are.👍 Just be aware. Or upgrade the electronics behind them if it worries you.

@Level_Up_Nation

4 жыл бұрын

@@ToTheGarage lol they don't worry me was just messing with you. You wouldn't happen to know of anyone who sells aftermarket seat brackets for these cars?

lmao thats crazy

Absolute bullshit. The oil pressure is controlled by a relief valve which sets a maximum and the voltmeter is showing 13volts because that is what the alternator is pushing out when charging. If he' taken the surface charge off the battery by putting the headlights on it would have dropped to 12 volts. I didn't bother to watch anymore.

@ToTheGarage

5 жыл бұрын

A little rude John. Yes there is a pressure relief valve. Just like most engines. However the 'Static' Oil pressure gauge is not just reflecting a superbly engineered pressure relief system. It Cant! The car has no oil pressure sensor! Only a pressure switch triggered by the presence or absence of pressure. Thank you for watching.

@paulhanck1123

5 жыл бұрын

its all true, the oil guage will always move to the middle of the scale when the engine is running as does the volt meter. do you actually have an xk8? my guage read 13 volts when i had 14.2 at the battery.